Emergency exits/dead end hallways

[Swiss]

Our agency is moving into a new space that is currently being built and some of us have concerns. While there are 3-4 different ways of exiting the building to the outside (all space in first floor) there is an interior hallway with office space, restrooms and storage space with no windows approximately 50-60’ of hallway and approximately 150’ from farthest corner of room to nearest exit. But in order to get to any of the exits you need to get to the top of the hallway to make a left or right turn to get to any of the exits.

Believe the building has sprinklers (will have to confirm) and they keep citing a 400’ measurement for being “in code”, but looks like that distance is for factory type settings, not office space.

I’m doing some internet searching I see in chapter 10 reference to a 75 or 100 foot of travel reference in a chart along with 200 or 300 foot of travel distance in another chart…so not sure what actually applies in this scenario.

There is an option discussed of putting an exit only door in one of the farthest rooms in that hallway that would exit into the vestibule if the neighboring set of suites, but that was not followed thru with because they say it’s not required.

Hoping to get some outside opinions before potentially ruffling feathers.

 

[arwat23]

The 75-100 foot is usually spaces with one exit or the "exit access travel distance", the distance from any point in the building to a point where you have two options for an exit. Think something like a single hallway where it splits into two hallways which both lead to an exit - that 75 feet are from the furthest point back in the single hallway to where the hallway splits.

The 200-300 foot is the entire travel distance to the nearest exit from any point in the building. "Exit" meaning a few things, like exit stairs, exterior doors, sometimes rated lobbies, etc.

400 feet for exit access travel distance is NOT for office buildings. Office building with sprinklers are allowed up to 300 feet of exit access travel distance (IBC 1017.2)

Edit: dead end hallways are a different matter. If the building is sprinklered, you can have a 50 foot dead end hallway.

 

[Swiss]

The 75-100 foot is usually spaces with one exit or the "exit access travel distance", the distance from any point in the building to a point where you have two options for an exit. Think something like a single hallway where it splits into two hallways which both lead to an exit - that 75 feet are from the furthest point back in the single hallway to where the hallway splits.

The 200-300 foot is the entire travel distance to the nearest exit from any point in the building. "Exit" meaning a few things, like exit stairs, exterior doors, sometimes rated lobbies, etc.

400 feet for exit access travel distance is NOT for office buildings. Office building with sprinklers are allowed up to 300 feet of exit access travel distance (IBC 1017.2)

Edit: dead end hallways are a different matter. If the building is sprinklered, you can have a 50 foot dead end hallway.

Thank you for the info…so I guess I’m still not sure about the difference between 75/100 to get to an exit point and 50’ of dead end hallway…would the 100 foot assuming there are sprinklers be measured from the farthest office doorway to end of hallway to turn for exit options or from the farthest spot (corner) in the farthest office? And the 50’ would be pure hallway length (assuming from farthest office doorway if hall continues on a tad and is pure unused dead space beyond the last doorway) to the same spot where you’d have option of left or right to get to an exit?

 

[arwat23]

Thank you for the info…so I guess I’m still not sure about the difference between 75/100 to get to an exit point and 50’ of dead end hallway…would the 100 foot assuming there are sprinklers be measured from the farthest office doorway to end of hallway to turn for exit options or from the farthest spot (corner) in the farthest office? And the 50’ would be pure hallway length (assuming from farthest office doorway if hall continues on a tad and is pure unused dead space beyond the last doorway) to the same spot where you’d have option of left or right to get to an exit?

It's hard to explain without a floor plan... Here's a few example plans I found online.

Basically, the 75-100 feet can be from anywhere; the center of a corridor, a room, etc. The dead end corridor is specific to corridors. Looking at the image below, you can see how the dead end corridor ends IN the corridor and doesn't extend into the suites that are end the end of the corridor. There can be dead-end corridors within a suite though.



Here's a plan showing what the 75-100 foot distance is. In this example, the "common path of egress travel" is the 200-300 foot distance. The "travel distance" is the 75-100 foot distance. Dead end corridors are not shown in this image.

 

[Swiss]

It's hard to explain without a floor plan... Here's a few example plans I found online.

Basically, the 75-100 feet can be from anywhere; the center of a corridor, a room, etc. The dead end corridor is specific to corridors. Looking at the image below, you can see how the dead end corridor ends IN the corridor and doesn't extend into the suites that are end the end of the corridor. There can be dead-end corridors within a suite though.

View attachment 15468

Here's a plan showing what the 75-100 foot distance is. In this example, the "common path of egress travel" is the 200-300 foot distance. The "travel distance" is the 75-100 foot distance. Dead end corridors are not shown in this image.

View attachment 15469

Thanks! That’s basically how I was reading both situations…will have to take a look at the blueprints and see how close both measurements are.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

As others have touched on, there are two exit access travel distances that must be considered: the travel distance from a remote point to the nearest exit, and the common path of exit access travel distance -- which is the distance from a remote point to a point where the occupant has a choice between two paths of egress travel.

Under the NY State Building Code (courtesy of UpCodes), for a sprinklered Business occupancy the exit access travel distance is 300 feet (not 400 feet), per Table 1017.2. But the maximum common path of travel is 100 feet, per Section 1006.2.1 and Table 1006.2.1.

1006.2.1 Egress Based on Occupant Load and Common Path of Egress Travel Distance. Two exits or exit access doorways from any space shall be provided where the design occupant load or the common path of egress travel distance exceeds the values listed in Table 1006.2.1. The cumulative occupant load from adjacent rooms, areas or spaces shall be determined in accordance with Section 1004.2.

Bottom line: An occupant cannot need to travel more than 100 feet before either reaching the entrance to an exit, or being offered a choice of at least two paths of egress travel to two (or more) remote exits.

By the way, arwat23's floor plan is incorrect. Exit access travel distance is not measured along a diagonal except in very rare circumstances.

Finally, there's also a code requirement limiting the length of dead end corridors.

1020.5 Dead Ends. Where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, the exit access shall be arranged such that dead-end corridors do not exceed 20 feet (6096 mm) in length.

Exceptions:

1. In Group I-3, Condition 2, 3 or 4, occupancies, the dead end in a corridor shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).

2. In occupancies in Groups B, E, F, I-1, M, R-1, R-2, S and U, where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, the length of the dead-end corridors shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).

3. A dead-end corridor shall not be limited in length where the length of the dead-end corridor is less than 2.5 times the least width of the dead-end corridor.

4. In Group I-2, Condition 2 occupancies, the length of dead-end corridors that do not serve patient rooms or patient treatment spaces shall not exceed 30 feet (9144 mm).

 

[arwat23]

By the way, arwat23's floor plan is incorrect. Exit access travel distance is not measured along a diagonal except in very rare circumstances.

Yes, I'm aware. This is just a simplified example. Diagonals are only allowed when the space is fully designed (all walls and equipment shown) and furniture is shown (at least that's what're required where I work). My apologies for not stating that.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Yes, I'm aware. This is just a simplified example. Diagonals are only allowed when the space is fully designed (all walls and equipment shown) and furniture is shown (at least that's what're required where I work). My apologies for not stating that.

We don't allow using the diagonal even if the furniture is all designed and laid out, because the next occupant may not utilize the same furnishings and the same layout.

 

[arwat23]

We don't allow using the diagonal even if the furniture is all designed and laid out, because the next occupant may not utilize the same furnishings and the same layout.

Well damn. That's news to me. I've only been forced to use 90 degree angles for one project in the past 5 years.

 

[Swiss]

Thanks! That’s basically how I was reading both situations…will have to take a look at the blueprints and see how close both measurements are.

Follow up question…received a direct message from someone that seemed to indicate the 50 foot dead end rile wouldn’t apply if a second exit wasn’t required…how is that determined? Is that where the 300 foot measurement comes into play?

Sorry for all the questions but trying to pull info together to make my case for this being a safety concern for us in the office.

 

[arwat23]

Follow up question…received a direct message from someone that seemed to indicate the 50 foot dead end rile wouldn’t apply if a second exit wasn’t required…how is that determined? Is that where the 300 foot measurement comes into play?

Sorry for all the questions but trying to pull info together to make my case for this being a safety concern for us in the office.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Follow up question…received a direct message from someone that seemed to indicate the 50 foot dead end rile wouldn’t apply if a second exit wasn’t required…how is that determined? Is that where the 300 foot measurement comes into play?

Sorry for all the questions but trying to pull info together to make my case for this being a safety concern for us in the office.

Yes ... and no.

As arwat23 has cited, the dead end corridor requirement applies when/where more than one means of egress is required. BUT ... that doesn't automatically take you from 20/50 feet to 300. Spaces and stories with a single means of egress are still subject to the maximum allowable common path of travel. Refer to IBC 1006.2.1 and Table 1006.2.1. For Business occupancies in a sprinklered building, the maximum exit access travel distance for a single means of egress is 100 feet.