Exit stair from 2nd floor R-1

[cda]

http://www.dorma.com/us/en/opening_closing/door_controls/1800_series_ansi/index-144-145-715.html

 

[cda]

Cannot find a stand alone detector. I know they are out there, just not that common any more

 

[mtlogcabin]

The building does not have an alarm system to connect to Mag Holders

This is a new R-1 use and it is required to have a smoke detection system installed to notify the occupants.

 

[cda]

Also sounds like interior corridor

907.2.8.2 Automatic smoke detection system. An automatic smoke detection system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907.5 shall be installed throughout all interior corridors serving sleeping units. [F]

Exception: An automatic smoke detection system is not required in buildings that do not have interior corridors serving sleeping units and where each sleeping unit has a means of egress door opening directly to an exit or to an exterior exit access that leads directly to an exit.

 

[mtlogcabin]

By Definition, occupant load is the number of persons the means of egress of a building or space is designed to serve; not the number of persons a single exit is expected to serve. Therefore, each exit provided is serving the total occupant load of that area.

No there are required exits and additional exits. Each required exit has to serve a percentage of the occupant load based on the number of required exits.A 2500 sq ft R-1 has an occupant load of 13 people. The code only requires one exit. This R-1 being on a second floor requires two exits with an exception for one exit by limiting the travel distance to 50 feet to a protected single exit. The open stairs would not be part of the means of egress and therefore code compliant.

Either way it is your call and I believe you made a good decision based on what codes you have to work with and the time the structure was originally built

 

[retire09]

Alaska has an amendment allowing no more than 16 sleeping units and no more than 2 stories without sprinklers. The building will have smoke alarms per 907.2.11.

Alaska has relaxed some of the sprinkler requirements due to the extreme cold and lack of water pressure and flows. Underground and/or heated water storage tanks and pumps are often required for sprinkler systems here in addition to lots of dry systems

 

[cda]

So it sounds like manual fire alarm system with smoke detectors in interior corridor.

Would require retrofit 1st floor

So now you can require doors which can have magnetic holders

 

[zigmark]

retire09

The rating of the lobby walls is meaningless if there are required rated openings that are unprotected or the walls do not terminate properly.

You are correct about the definition of occupant load. Your question was not about defining occupant load. You asked if the occupant load could be divided by the number of exits provided. If the space was separated that may work, no different than two mezzanines at opposite ends of a building.

ZIG

 

[retire09]

The original issue was; a stair can be unenclosed if serving an occupant load of less than 10. If the occupant load of the floor is 13 does each of the two required stairs serve 6 1/2 or do they each serve 13? Based on the definition of occupant load I made to determination that each serves 13.

 

[cda]

Well you have to convinvce 6 1/2 people to go to each exit.

Unless one is blocked than 6 1/2 and 6 1/2 go to the open exit.