Existing Building

[mtlogcabin]

Yes I am home now but I will provide the code section later. I came in in the 2006 edition

 

[texasbo]

I'm at home too, but I'm a geek and have an '06 - I'll look it up. Thanks.

Edit - 1006.1 Illumination required. The means of egress, including the exit discharge, shall be illuminated...

Uh, if that's what it means, then we may have some buildings that don't comply... or they comply despite us.

Or, more likely, the plans examiners and inspectors are smarter than I am, and everything is cool.

 

[fatboy]

That's the way we interpret it, illumination on the exterior.

 

[texasbo]

So you guys are requiring emergency power for them as well, then?

 

[fatboy]

That is correct.......

 

[texasbo]

Thanks guys.

 

[Papio Bldg Dept]

I'm at home too, but I'm a geek and have an '06 - I'll look it up. Thanks.Edit - 1006.1 Illumination required. The means of egress, including the exit discharge, shall be illuminated...

Uh, if that's what it means, then we may have some buildings that don't comply... or they comply despite us.

Or, more likely, the plans examiners and inspectors are smarter than I am, and everything is cool.

not typically enforced in many jurisdictions, but if you read the definition for exit discharge, it describes a means of egress to a public way. now you have to ask yourself, is a light over the exit door good enough, or do I now need site lighting to the public way too?

 

[mtlogcabin]

It is only required at the landings

2009 edition

5. Exterior landings as required by Section 1008.1.6 for exit discharge doorways in buildings required to have two or more exits .

 

[Papio Bldg Dept]

It is only required at the landings2009 edition

5. Exterior landings as required by Section 1008.1.6 for exit discharge doorways in buildings required to have two or more exits .

2006 IBC

Are talking about the requirement for illumination emergency power (1006.3), or required means of egress illumination (1006.1), including the exit discharge (that portion of a means of egress system between the termination of an exit and a public way)? I agree emergency power for illumination may stop at the exterior landing, but as I read it, MOE illumination shall continue to a public right of way.

 

[mtlogcabin]

1006.3 Illumination emergency power.

The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises' electrical supply.

In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

1. Aisles and unenclosed egress stairways in rooms and spaces that require two or more means of egress .

2. Corridors , exit enclosures and exit passageways in buildings required to have two or more exits .

3. Exterior egress components at other than their levels of exit discharge until exit discharge is accomplished for buildings required to have two or more exits .

4. Interior exit discharge elements, as permitted in Section 1027.1, in buildings required to have two or more exits .

5. Exterior landings as required by Section 1008.1.6 for exit discharge doorways in buildings required to have two or more exits .

The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Chapter 27.

Exterior Emergency Illumination includes exterior egress components located above the level of exit discharge and landings located at the level of exit discharge. I admit #3 is contrary to #5 in the wording seems to require the entire exit discharge to be provided with emergency illumination

 

[Papio Bldg Dept]

1006.3 Illumination emergency power.The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises' electrical supply.

In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

1. Aisles and unenclosed egress stairways in rooms and spaces that require two or more means of egress .

2. Corridors , exit enclosures and exit passageways in buildings required to have two or more exits .

3. Exterior egress components at other than their levels of exit discharge until exit discharge is accomplished for buildings required to have two or more exits .

4. Interior exit discharge elements, as permitted in Section 1027.1, in buildings required to have two or more exits .

5. Exterior landings as required by Section 1008.1.6 for exit discharge doorways in buildings required to have two or more exits .

The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Chapter 27.

Exterior Emergency Illumination includes exterior egress components located above the level of exit discharge and landings located at the level of exit discharge. I admit #3 is contrary to #5 in the wording seems to require the entire exit discharge to be provided with emergency illumination

Just to clarify, a MOE shall be illuminated to the public right of way, however, in the event of a power supply failure, only the areas listed in items 1-5, shall be required to be illuminated by emergency power?

 

[TJacobs]

The requirement for exit discharge illumination, including emergency lighting, has been in the BOCA building code since at least 1975.

In 1975 it only required emergency lighting of the "exitway discharge" in "department stores of over 5,000 square feet area, places of public assembly, schools, institutional buildings and hotels with sleeping accomodations for more than 25 persons..."

1999 BOCA:

1024.1 Artificial lighting:

All means of egress in other than occupancies in Use Group R-3, the interior of dwelling units in occupancies in Use Group R-2 and Use Group U which are accessory structures to an occupancy in Use Group R-3, shall be equipped with artificial lighting facilities to provide the intensity of illumination herein prescribed continuously during the time that conditions of occupancy of the building require that the exits be available. All stairs within or serving a dwelling unit shall be provided with illumination and controls in accordance with Section 1207.0. Lighting shall also be provided to illuminate the exit discharge. Means of egress lighting in occupancies in Use Group R-2, other than lighting within a dwelling unit, shall be wired on a circuit independent of circuits within any dwelling unit. The disconnecting means and overcurrent protection device shall not be located within a dwelling unit or such that access to such devices must be obtained by going through a dwelling unit.

1024.4 Power source:

Means of egress lighting in all buildings, rooms or spaces required to have more than one exit or exit access shall be connected to an emergency electrical system that complies with Section 2706.0 to assure continued illumination for a duration of not less than 1 hour in case of emergency or primary power loss.

 

[Builder Bob]

Thanks for all the replies..... I am presently muddling thru the 2000 IBC to see if any code language in it applies differently than what has been presented. I promise to have a formal response to the forum in the next few days.

Once again, to add to what Mtlog stated - Thanks for playing along.

Builder Bob -

King of typos and bad grammar!

 

[Builder Bob]

OK - Here we go.

In the review of the codes from 2000 IBC, it appears that the requirements for exterior stairs have remained relatively unchanged. In other words, what you see wrong today, was wrong in 2000.

Installation is allowed by section 2006 IBC Section 1023.6 Exception # 1. (1026.6 Exception 1 in 2009 IBC)

The Main items that appear to be deficient are:

Emergency illumination - 1006.3 (2006 and 2009 IBC)

Handrail Extensions (1012.5 -2006 / 1012.6 - 2009)

Guards - Required where walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade ----- The handrails (34 to 36") and guards (42") are required to be at two different elevations (1013 - 2006 & 2009)

Open Risers - Must be unable to pass a 4 inch sphere (open risers are allowed but the openings exceed the allowable - (1009.3.3 - 2006 ed / 1009.4.5 -2009 ed.)

Weather Protection - Unfortunately, the steps are not sloped and allow accumulation of water (1009.5.2 - 2006 ed. / 1009.6.2 - 2009 ed.)

The landings here are in accordance with the building code - the stairway width is 36" and the landings meet the minimum 44 inches in width.

Kudos to the individual who stopped the tripping hazard on the fourth step from the top - It was a humane rat trap sitting on the step....

Thanks to everybody who participated, I hope to post these types of photos on occasion.

 

[Builder Bob]

One other possible code section to discuss - IBC 1009.6.3 -2009 ed. Last part of paragraph

There shall be no enclosed usable space under exterior exit stairways unless the space is completely enclosed in 1 hour fire-resistance-rated construction.

The open space under exterior stairways shall not be used for any purpose.

Does the Air Compressor in this photo violate this code section? What is your interpretation of this and why ?

 

[jar546]

How about emergency lighting? I doubt that light is on an EL circuit

 

[steveray]

One other possible code section to discuss - IBC 1009.6.3 -2009 ed. Last part of paragraphThere shall be no enclosed usable space under exterior exit stairways unless the space is completely enclosed in 1 hour fire-resistance-rated construction.

The open space under exterior stairways shall not be used for any purpose.

Does the Air Compressor in this photo violate this code section? What is your interpretation of this and why ?

Not enclosed Bob....not a problem until it is....No combustible storage, but I wouldn't be concerned about that setup.....did anyone mention 1009.6? Maximum rise of 12'...that thing looks tall....