Exit Passage Way - Ratings and supporting construction

[Kevin]

Using IBC 2018 - Pennsylvania

I have a 3 story building with a basement. There are two interior exit stairs, but not every tenant spaces has access to the two exits. The building will be sprinklered and business use. I'm just over 100 feet travel distance to the common space that connects to the 2-hr rated stair tower. I would like to make the partitions that enclose the common space, rated fire barriers to qualify the common space as an exit passageway to meet Table 1006.2.1 (Spaces with one exit/ B-use/ 100 ft travel max)

My understanding is that because this space connects to the 2 hour rated stairs, the partitions will need to be 2 hour as well, and that the supporting floor will also require a 2 hour rating. Glazing for the tenant doors and sidelights will need to be 120 minute Fire rated glazing per Table 716 Fire Window Assembly Fire Protection Rating.

IBC 1024.1 states that an exit passageway shall note be used for any purpose other than a means of egress and a circulation path. The exit passageway would provide access to the Janitor's closet, Restrooms and Elevator in addition to the exit stairs and tenant entrances, but it's still a circulation path.

Do I have any issues, or is my understanding correct. The commentary doesn't elaborate too much about the any purpose that than egress or circulation path much.


Hopefully this image comes through:
lhttps://freeimage.host/i/31jtb3b

 

[Yikes]

2018 IBC 1024.5
Except as permitted in Section 402.8.7, openings in exit passageways other than unprotected exterior openings shall be limited to those necessary for exit access to the exit passageway from normally occupied spaces and for egress from the exit passageway.

I would not consider the janitor room, elevator or restrooms to be “normally occupied” spaces.

IBC 202
OCCUPIABLE SPACE. A room or enclosed space designed for human occupancy in which individuals congregate for amusement, educational or similar purposes or in which occupants are engaged at labor, and which is equipped with means of egress and light and ventilation facilities meeting the requirements of this code.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Yikes is correct. Just like an exit enclosure, an exit passageway cannot have openings to/from not-normally-occupied spaces opening into it. That includes janitor's closets, toilet rooms, storerooms, etc.

 

[RLGA]

There are two interior exit stairs, but not every tenant spaces has access to the two exits.

How is this possible? How are you in compliance with Section 1006.3?

 

[Kevin]

How is this possible? How are you in compliance with Section 1006.3?

I'm not on the 2nd floor. Originally, I was thinking I just need to meet Table 10063.3(2), but travel distance is limited to 75 ft for upper floors. Plans were originally laid out with single tenant per floor in mind.

On a related question. Have you or anyone tracking this conversation ever seen language requiring 2 exits from a stair tower? We have an exit directly to the exterior from inside the stair tower, but the hardware vendor brought that concern up if there was a fire on the lower floor. I've never heard of this and can't find anything in IBC that pertains to this.

 

[TheCommish]

Does the stair tower serve as part of an exit from the first floor? That would be exiting through the lower portion of the stair tower?

 

[Kevin]

Does the stair tower serve as part of an exit from the first floor? That would be exiting through the lower portion of the stair tower?

Yes, on the first floor you can either exit to right where i have the "circulation to stairs, common spaces and tenant" note, or you can go plan north, through the stair towers and down half a flight of steps to grade/exterior.

 

[TheCommish]

2 exit from a stair tower at the bottom? No requirements that I know of. The tower is rated with opening protectives, with everything except that is servicing the stair tower prohibited, mitigating the risk of ignition sources and fuel in the space.

 

[Paul Sweet]

Can you rearrange the plan to have the restrooms, janitor, & elevator open off a corridor that is separated from the exit passage?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Yes, on the first floor you can either exit to right where i have the "circulation to stairs, common spaces and tenant" note, or you can go plan north, through the stair towers and down half a flight of steps to grade/exterior.

This does not sound like an exit. This sounds like a door from those spaces into the exit stairway.

IBC definition of "Exit":

[BE] EXIT. That portion of a means of egress system between
the exit access and the exit discharge or public way. Exit
components include exterior exit doors at the level of exit
discharge, interior exit stairways and ramps, exit passageways,
exterior exit stairways and ramps and horizontal exits.

 

[Kevin]

This does not sound like an exit. This sounds like a door from those spaces into the exit stairway.

IBC definition of "Exit":

There's an exterior exit to ramp/landing outside where I have the "circulation to stairs, common spaces and tenant" note. I agree, my concept of an exit passage, isn't actually an exit passage per code.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

On a related question. Have you or anyone tracking this conversation ever seen language requiring 2 exits from a stair tower?

the rated stair towers ARE THE EXITS, why would you need two exits from the exits?

 

[Kevin]

the rated stair towers ARE THE EXITS, why would you need two exits from the exits?

Agreed, I never heard of this either. The question was raised by a consultant and I didn't want to dismiss it.

 

[steveray]

Agreed, I never heard of this either. The question was raised by a consultant and I didn't want to dismiss it.

You need a new consultant......Or Philly has some goofy codes...

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

There's an exterior exit to ramp/landing outside where I have the "circulation to stairs, common spaces and tenant" note. I agree, my concept of an exit passage, isn't actually an exit passage per code.

If something isn't an exit passage "per code," then it isn't an exit passageway -- it's a corridor.

Definition from the 2021 IBC:

[BE] EXIT PASSAGEWAY. An exit component that is
separated from other interior spaces of a building or structure
by fire-resistance-rated construction and opening protectives,
and provides for a protected path of egress travel in a
horizontal direction to an exit or to the exit discharge.

Your diagram shows the stair as a box, with no doors. Is that diagram for the story of exit discharge, or is that for one of the upper floors? Where is the door leading into or discharging from the stair?