Fire Stair Egress - Office Building

[indyarchyguy]

I have attached a building plan that was used for an interior renovation project. The entire 3 floors of the building will now be utilized and owned, by one company. The original building was a multi-tenant building. The First Floor plan shows where the original corridors/lobby were located on the first floor. There are multiple exterior doors where previous tenants had their own points of entry. This building is located in Indiana (2012 IBC with 2014 In amendments). The building is fully sprinklered and will remain a B-Occupancy, Type II-B Construction. Most levels will have an open office concept. The biggest question is now the egress on the first floor at the point of discharge from the fire stairs. Existing corridors were not rated. What issues do you see? There is egress to the bottom of the plan for the left stair directly to the exterior. I am curious as to comments back. Thank you for the input.

 

[e hilton]

First floor, looks awkward for the lower left Large occupants to go to the exterior double doors at the end of the old hallway.

 

[indyarchyguy]

First floor, looks awkward for the lower left Large occupants to go to the exterior double doors at the end of the old hallway.

The intent is for the lower-left large room area to egress through the lobby doors at upper center. The biggest question I have brought up is the egress from the fire stairs. Basically, the lobby becomes the egress, or through where it says kitchen. It is NOT a Kitchen. It is really a break room (NO COOKING) but is an open room with a walkway.

 

[classicT]

Given that it is a 3-story building, those stairs should be interior exit stairways. This would mean that the "original corridors" and however they are replaced, should be constructed as exit passageways. As exit passageways, they would be constructed as fire barriers and have strong limitations on openings.

1022.3 Termination
Interior exit stairways and ramps shall terminate at an exit discharge or a public way.

Exception: Interior exit stairways and ramps shall be permitted to terminate at an exit passageway complying with Section 1023, provided the exit passageway terminates at an exit discharge or a public way.​

1022.3.1 Extension
Where interior exit stairways and ramps are extended to an exit discharge or a public way by an exit passageway, the interior exit stairway and ramp shall be separated from the exit passageway by a fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. The fire-resistance rating shall be at least equal to that required for the interior exit stairway and ramp. A fire door assembly complying with Section 716.5 shall be installed in the fire barrier to provide a means of egress from the interior exit stairway and ramp to the exit passageway. Openings in the fire barrier other than the fire door assembly are prohibited. Penetrations of the fire barrier are prohibited.

Exception: Penetrations of the fire barrier in accordance with Section 1022.5 shall be permitted.​

​

1022.4 Openings
Interior exit stairway and ramp opening protectives shall be in accordance with the requirements of Section 716.
Openings in interior exit stairways and ramps other than unprotected exterior openings shall be limited to those necessary for exit access to the enclosure from normally occupied spaces and for egress from the enclosure.

Elevators shall not open into interior exit stairways and ramps.

 

[RLGA]

Only 50% of interior exit stairs are permitted to egress through the level of exit discharge (Section 1027.1, Exception 1). The stair on the right should be okay for using this exception. However, that means the stair on the left will need an exit passageway to extend it to the exterior doors. Both stairs egressing through the single main entrance do not comply with the distribution of egress capacity per Section 1005.5.

 

[classicT]

Only 50% of interior exit stairs are permitted to egress through the level of exit discharge (Section 1027.1, Exception 1). The stair on the right should be okay for using this exception. However, that means the stair on the left will need an exit passageway to extend it to the exterior doors. Both stairs egressing through the single main entrance do not comply with the distribution of egress capacity per Section 1005.5.

I like the idea of using IBC Section 1027.1, Exception #1; however, it would be extremely challenging to comply with the requirements of Exception #1, which are shown below.

This is probably feasible in new construction; but in an existing building, who knows. Is the level of exit discharge the lowest level? (Note condition #2) Is the exit readily visible, meaning a direct line of sight? (Note condition #1) Is the existing level of exit discharge sprinkled? (Note condition #3)

1027.1 Exception #1 - A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity of interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through areas on the level of exit discharge provided all of the following are met:

1. Such enclosures egress to a free and unobstructed path of travel to an exterior exit door and such exit is readily visible and identifiable from the point of termination of the enclosure.
2. The entire area of the level of exit discharge is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating for the enclosure.
3. The egress path from the interior exit stairway and ramp on the level of exit discharge is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system. All portions of the level of exit discharge with access to the egress path shall either be protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, or separated from the egress path in accordance with the requirements for the enclosure of interior exit stairways or ramps.

 

[RLGA]

I like the idea of using IBC Section 1027.1, Exception #1; however, it would be extremely challenging to comply with the requirements of Exception #1, which are shown below.

This is probably feasible in new construction; but in an existing building, who knows. Is the level of exit discharge the lowest level? (Note condition #2) Is the exit readily visible, meaning a direct line of sight? (Note condition #1) Is the existing level of exit discharge sprinkled? (Note condition #3)

1027.1 Exception #1 - A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity of interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through areas on the level of exit discharge provided all of the following are met:

1. Such enclosures egress to a free and unobstructed path of travel to an exterior exit door and such exit is readily visible and identifiable from the point of termination of the enclosure.
2. The entire area of the level of exit discharge is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating for the enclosure.
3. The egress path from the interior exit stairway and ramp on the level of exit discharge is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system. All portions of the level of exit discharge with access to the egress path shall either be protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, or separated from the egress path in accordance with the requirements for the enclosure of interior exit stairways or ramps.

How is it "extremely challenging"? The OP did not mention a basement (so I assumed none) and the first story is obviously the level of exit discharge (addresses #2). The OP said the building was fully sprinklered (addresses #3). Also, for the stair on the right, as they come out the main exit is direct to the front and right and they should have no problem identifying it as an exit (addresses #1).

 

[indyarchyguy]

How is it "extremely challenging"? The OP did not mention a basement (so I assumed none) and the first story is obviously the level of exit discharge (addresses #2). The OP said the building was fully sprinklered (addresses #3). Also, for the stair on the right, as they come out the main exit is direct to the front and right and they should have no problem identifying it as an exit (addresses #1).

There is no basement and the building is fully sprinklered.