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I would appreciate hearing people's take on this. We are doing a two-story office upfit in a large warehouse building in NJ. Per IBC 1006.3, two exits or access to exits are required. So let's say I have one exit stairway that leads directly to the outside and one exit access stairway that takes you to the first floor and then egress is through intervening space. Since it is only two stories, the exit access stairway does not have to be enclosed per 1019.3 exception 1. Both exits are required to be accessible by section 1009. Section 1009.2 states that both exit stairways and exit access stairways can be components of an accessible means of egress. But then section 1009.3.3 states that all stairways have to either incorporate an area of refuge or be accessed from an area of refuge. So it seems to imply that you can have an exit access stairway as accessible means of egress, but it has to be accessed through an area of refuge. That doesn't really make sense, because if you create an area of refuge at an unenclosed exit access stairway, then you can't leave that area of refuge without passing through an area with a lower level of protection. Aside from that, section 1009.6.2 states that every area of refuge shall have direct access to a stairway complying with 1023, which is the requirement for exit stairways, not exit access stairways. So I'm confused. What I'm reading is that an exit access stairway is allowed, but it has to be accessed through an area of refuge, and an area of refuge has to have access to an exit stairway (not an exit access stairway). Any thoughts?
