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Exit Access Travel Distance to Exit #2 - Any limit?

nealderidder

Sawhorse
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
431
Location
Sacramento, CA
I've seen opinions posted on this board that the max EATD applies only to one exit and that a second exit has no distance limit. The use of the article AN was given as justification for this. As in - Maximum EATD to an exit cannot exceed...

I'm in California and I see exiting plans that seem to be using this same logic but I don't see that AN in the CA code (1017).

Anyone in CA have any experience getting a second exit that exceeds the max travel distance approved? Did you have to fight for it?

Thanks,
Neal
 
Should not be a problem,

If the plan reviewer knows how the code should be applied.

And if the plan is questioned, ask for a code reference, to see what section is being applied
 
If there is still a question throw the RGLA flag at the plan reviwer


"""Positive Side of Travel Distance

Establishing the maximum distance that occupants must traverse before reaching an exit is essential to an effective building code, even though the distances may seem a little restrictive from a design viewpoint. On the positive side, the limitations are only applicable to one of the available exits; if other exits are provided, they may be at distances greater than the permitted travel distance. """


http://www.specsandcodes.com/articles/code_corner/The Code Corner No. 29 - Travel Distance.pdf
 
although only somewhat related, Chicago has issued a clarification about this issue (only applicable in Chicago of course) stating the same fact, that the distance is measured to only one of the required exits, and the travel distance to other required exits is essentially unlimited.
 
If travel distance applied to all available exits, buildings would be a lot smaller or have a much greater number of exits...
 
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This question came up today at work..........and voila, here it is. Excellent article from RGLA.
 
In most cases the travel distance to the next exit shouldn't be much farther, because the occupant in the next room also has the same maximum travel distance.
 
RGLA, you are the "Man". Does your book include all previous code corners or are back issues available?
Are they updated periodically? The travel distance is 8 years old?
They remind me of the old "Pencil Points" for draftsmen. Yours are the 'keys" to codes.
 
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