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exit access travel in 3-story R3 unit

wire89 said:
good way to consider intent. I'll take a read as I don't use the IRC or the Calif version of res code.
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Well wondering from the start, if this was a plain jane house why the ahj is not using IRC???

That is also why the question what is this attached to????
 
cda said:
Well wondering from the start, if this was a plain jane house why the ahj is not using IRC???That is also why the question what is this attached to????
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Looks like the res code ch.1 limits the scope of this code to specific "detached" dwelling types. Since our unit is attached to a commercial space, albeit completely separated with occupancy separations and with its own exit path, we then to comply with the building code.

IF this were a plain jane house however, it appears that we could have a 15,000 sf, 3-story residence with 21+ occupants and an overall travel distance of 500' to only one required egress door. Very different approach.
 
mtlogcabin said:
I believe exception 2 of 1021.2 would support your position for an R-3 occupancy building. However your original post stated it was a mixed use building so I will stay with my original position that you are limited to 125 ft for this project.
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I have been trying to put some weight on this exception as well, though we're not getting far as this particular section is reworded in the Calif code. In terms of the mixed use nature of the building, I think this statement:

"Where one exit, or exit access stairway or ramp providing access to exits at other stories, is permitted to serve individual stories, mixed occupancies shall be permitted to be served by single exits provided each individual occupancy complies with the applicable requirements of Table 1021.2(1) or Table 1021.2(2) for that occupancy."

is intended to address multiple occupancies making use of the same single exit. Our dwelling unit has its own stair and front door, and the commercial unit has it's own entry door. there is no interior communication between occupancies.
 
Using the link cda provided to the CA codes and starting in what I like to refer to as the "Charging Language" which would be 1021 Number of Exits

1021.2 item 3 is specific to R-3 occupancy and states each individual story that complies with Table 1021.2(1) is permitted to have a single exit

Table 1021.2(1) states the MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE is 125 ft

EXIT ACCESS. That portion of a means of egress system that leads from any occupied portion of a building or structure to an exit.

I don't see how you can have more than a maximum 125 ft of travel distance
 
mtlogcabin said:
Using the link cda provided to the CA codes and starting in what I like to refer to as the "Charging Language" which would be 1021 Number of Exits1021.2 item 3 is specific to R-3 occupancy and states each individual story that complies with Table 1021.2(1) is permitted to have a single exit

Table 1021.2(1) states the MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE is 125 ft

EXIT ACCESS. That portion of a means of egress system that leads from any occupied portion of a building or structure to an exit.

I don't see how you can have more than a maximum 125 ft of travel distance
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This is where it turns into a circular argument. Section 1021.2 also has condition 6, which does not refer to Table 1021.2(1) as some of the other conditions do, but instead points back to 1015.1, where there is clearly an exception that R3<21 can have one exit, and then there is the attempt again at an argument that a single exit building has no choice of exits, and therefore no common path of travel limitation.

BTW...I really appreciate everyone's input here, despite my persistent attempt at getting a nod for 250'...thanks.
 
It is not circular as you answered what condition # 6 is addressing in your previous post

In terms of the mixed use nature of the building, I think this statement:

"Where one exit, or exit access stairway or ramp providing access to exits at other stories, is permitted to serve individual stories, mixed occupancies shall be permitted to be served by single exits provided each individual occupancy complies with the applicable requirements of Table 1021.2(1) or Table 1021.2(2) for that occupancy."

is intended to address multiple occupancies making use of the same single exit.

6.1 requires the dwelling unit to comply with 1015.1.

1015.1 has 3 conditions you have to meet

1 gives an exception to the 10 OL load required and permits an OL of 20 so you are good there

2 REQUIRES you to meet the common path of egress travel limitations of 1014.3

3 & 4 are not applicable to your project

No common path of egress travel exceeds 125 ft anywhere in the code

You cannot have a single exit per the code.

 
Even if you create two separate buildings with zero separation distance and built the commercial side under the building code and the SFD under the IRC California limits the travel distance within a SFd to 50 ft to the stairs serving the exit door so you may still have a travel distance issue depending on your design.

See R311.4 in the CA IRC
 
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