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Escape Rooms / SPECIAL AMUSEMENT BUILDING.

C

cda

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Escape rooms


SPECIAL AMUSEMENT BUILDING.


Has anyone treated the escape rooms as special amusement building ??? And required the chapter 4 requirements of IBC??

Never have done one so not sure how you are locked in??

What have you done about exiting??

http://escapetheroom.com/dallas/
 
We just got done reviewing one, had one signed, outward swinging door, with panic hardware. Idea is, to figure out how to get out without using it. Nothing special really.
 
fatboy said:
We just got done reviewing one, had one signed, outward swinging door, with panic hardware. Idea is, to figure out how to get out without using it. Nothing special really.
Click to expand...

So just panic hardware, so they can get out anytime, Just participants are not supposed to use it??

Did you apply special amusement building requirements to it??

If not why?


SPECIAL AMUSEMENT BUILDING. A special amusement building is any temporary or permanent building or portion thereof that is occupied for amusement, entertainment or educational purposes and that contains a device or system that conveys passengers or provides a walkway along, around or over a course in any direction so arranged that the means of egress path is not readily apparent due to visual or audio distractions or is intentionally confounded or is not readily available because of the nature of the attraction or mode of conveyance through the building or structure.




SECTION 411 SPECIAL AMUSEMENT BUILDINGS

411.1 General.
Special amusement buildings having an occupant load of 50 or more shall comply with the requirements for the appropriate Group A occupancy and Sections 411.1 through 411.8. Special amusement buildings having an occupant load of less than 50 shall comply with the requirements for a Group B occupancy and Sections 411.1 through 411.8.

Exception: Special amusement buildings or portions thereof that are without walls or a roof and constructed to prevent the accumulation of smoke need not comply with this section.

For flammable decorative materials, see the International Fire Code.



SPECIAL AMUSEMENT BUILDING.

[F] 411.3 Automatic fire detection.
Special amusement buildings shall be equipped with an automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.

[F] 411.4 Automatic sprinkler system.
Special amusement buildings shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Where the special amusement building is temporary, the sprinkler water supply shall be of an approved temporary means.

Exception: Automatic sprinklers are not required where the total floor area of a temporary special amusement building is less than 1,000 square feet (93 m2) and the exit access travel distance from any point to an exit is less than 50 feet (15 240 mm).

[F] 411.5 Alarm.
Actuation of a single smoke detector, the automatic sprinkler system or other automatic fire detection device shall immediately sound an alarm at the building at a constantly attended location from which emergency action can be initiated including the capability of manual initiation of requirements in Section 907.2.12.2.

[F] 411.6 Emergency voice/alarm communications system.
An emergency voice/alarm communications system shall be provided in accordance with Sections 907.2.12 and 907.5.2.2, which is also permitted to serve as a public address system and shall be audible throughout the entire special amusement building.

411.7 Exit marking.
Exit signs shall be installed at the required exit or exit access doorways of amusement buildings in accordance with this section and Section 1013. Approved directional exit markings shall also be provided. Where mirrors, mazes or other designs are utilized that disguise the path of egress travel such that they are not apparent, approved and listed low-level exit signs that comply with Section 1013.5, and directional path markings listed in accordance with UL 1994, shall be provided and located not more than 8 inches (203 mm) above the walking surface and on or near the path of egress travel. Such markings shall become visible in an emergency. The directional exit marking shall be activated by the automatic fire detection system and the automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 907.2.12.2.


411.7.1 Photoluminescent exit signs.
Where photoluminescent exit signs are installed, activating light source and viewing distance shall be in accordance with the listing and markings of the signs.

411.8 Interior finish.
The interior finish shall be Class A in accordance with Section 803.1.
 
Small, less than 50 occupants, less than 100 sq ft,exit clearly marked and accessible. Plan Examiner and Fire Marshall both approved,after walking through it. To be honest, I didn't know that 411 existed, it looks like we could have possibly made it more difficult, but it appeared quite safe.

Edit-1,000 sq ft
 
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We have a couple in the State that I know of, guys in the next town over chased one out per 411....but I don't believe it was <50 OL...the room maybe, but not the facility...
 
Special Amusement section is definitely enforced in SW Ohio for Haunted Houses. That is why many of them now are switching to haunted cornfields and other non-regulated spaces that are fully outdoors.
 
We have a few in our jurisdiction. We were a little confounded at first but then we require that they install a self-illuminated exit button near the door that releases the electronic strike. A power failure would release the door lock automatically. We also know that a staff person is located just on the other side of the wall and monitoring everything going on - either through a one-way glass window and/or camera. With all of those precautions, these rooms are very safe and fun.
 
"We also know that a staff person is located just on the other side of the wall and monitoring everything going on - either through a one-way glass window and/or camera. With all of those precautions, these rooms are very safe and fun."

Unless the staff person has a heart attack....
 
did I forget to mention the...
" self-illuminated exit button" ???

Coincidently, my team of coworkers and I will be risking our lives in one of these tonight.
 
Regarding the occupant load for determining your occupancy - which "space function" matches with escape rooms? Assembly (gaming rooms) or can you argue it's a Business Area?
 
LB Wilson said:
Regarding the occupant load for determining your occupancy - which "space function" matches with escape rooms? Assembly (gaming rooms) or can you argue it's a Business Area?
Click to expand...

Welcome

Well most escapes I have seen are done in several small rooms

So normally not over 750 sq ft pushing to assembly
 
If my client has a 3,200 SF suite, leased within a larger strip mall - and he wants to put 4 escape rooms (two at 500sf and two at 385sf). Per Table 1004.1.1, would the occupant load of the rooms be classified as assembly? Making the max occupant load 34 & 25 (respectively)? I'm trying to figure out if he can classify this whole suite as a "business area" with an occupant load of 100SF/person. This would put him under 50 people, therefore fewer hoops to jump through.
 
LB Wilson said:
If my client has a 3,200 SF suite, leased within a larger strip mall - and he wants to put 4 escape rooms (two at 500sf and two at 385sf). Per Table 1004.1.1, would the occupant load of the rooms be classified as assembly? Making the max occupant load 34 & 25 (respectively)? I'm trying to figure out if he can classify this whole suite as a "business area" with an occupant load of 100SF/person. This would put him under 50 people, therefore fewer hoops to jump through.
Click to expand...


Yes

Figure occupant load per room, but do not add them up, unless you create a corridor situation

Figure it like you are doing an office setting.

Plus I take it the Building has a fire sprinkler system.
 
Yes, the building has a fire sprinkler system, and the suite is separated from the others with a fire wall.

Each escape room within the larger suite exits into a common corridor that leads you back to the lobby.
 
LB Wilson said:
Yes, the building has a fire sprinkler system, and the suite is separated from the others with a fire wall.

Each escape room within the larger suite exits into a common corridor that leads you back to the lobby.
Click to expand...


Sounds like you have it under control, just do not label any of it assembly
 

We have classified Escape Room Venues as a mixed occupancy: Group B (Business) / A-3 ( Assembly), (IF occupancy is over 49 persons)

A-3 Assembly uses intended for worship, RECREATION or AMUSEMENT and OTHER ASSEMBLY uses NOT CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE

in Group A including, but not limited to:

Amusement arcades
Art galleries
Bowling alleys
Places of religious worship
Community halls
Courtrooms
Exhibition halls
Funeral parlors
Gymnasiums (without spectator seating)
Indoor swimming pools (without spectator seating)
Indoor tennis courts (without spectator seating)
Lecture halls
Libraries
Museums
Waiting areas in transportation terminals
Pool and billiard parlors

Assembly Occupancy:
(1) An occupancy (1) used for a gathering of 50 or more persons for deliberation, worship, ENTERTAINMENT, eating, drinking, AMUSEMENT, awaiting transportation, or SIMILAR USES;
~or~
2) Used as a special amusement building, regardless of occupant load.

The local building Dept / Fire Dept. may try to classify this as Special Amusement (as defined below)

"SPECIAL AMUSEMENT BUILDING":

A special amusement building is any temporary or permanent building or portion thereof that is occupied for amusement, entertainment or educational purposes and
that contains a device or system that conveys passengers or provides a walkway along, around or over a course in any direction so arranged that the means of egress path is not readily apparent due to visual or audio distractions or is intentionally confounded or is not readily available because of the nature of the attraction or mode of conveyance through the building or structure.

We have successfully demonstrated that the escape rooms, as designed do not meet the definition of "Special Amusement Building" :

  1. The building does NOT contain a device or system that CONVEYS passengers or provide a walkway along around or over a course in any direction so arranged that the means of egress path is not readily apparent.
  2. The egress paths are NOT confounded and lighting levels are not reduced. ( Also : Emergency lights and directional signage are provided )
  3. The individual escape rooms are relatively small, with an occupant load of fewer than 50 persons and pose no unusual life safety hazard. (Limited to SIX to EIGHT occupants typically).
  4. The "escape" scenarios do not physically restrict guests against egress.
    Moreover, guests understand that they are provided with free egress at all times; as this information is provided during the pregame briefing.
AHJs should be familiar with the Code’s door locking and latching requirements in 7.2.1.5; the ability of occupants to egress a building at any time without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge or effort is a fundamental tenet of the Code.

NOTE : Occupants can be contained only for safety and security purposes in occupancies such as health care and detention and correctional
– NEVER FOR ENTERTAINMENT.
 
Guess it knew how to make it a link, darn computers get smarter than me everyday.
 
The ICC classification of temporary is located where in the code?

I have two temporary education trailers that are 6-7 years old, was told by the school district they were temporary?

Who determines temporary?
 
A temporary building permit is limited to 180 days (IBC 3103). If they have a full building permit temporary can be almost forever. Several WW2 temporary structures were still standing on federal property or military bases 50 years after the war ended.
 
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