Fire Stair Enclosure Exits to a 2nd floor patio with Open Stairs to Grade?

[Seanior]

Here the situation: 3 Story Building (Group B with some assembly spaces, 2 Fire Stairs. 1 goes from third floor to grade per typical. The other, the owner wants to exit to an elevated patio (that has some occupied space below but is mostly balcony) and from there have open grand stairs to grade. I am aware that stairs are required to be enclosed to the level of exit discharge, and the person would basically be outdoors on the patio, but the code seems to not address stringing exit access components as such. The Construction Type is IIB With Sprinkler.

I can't find anywhere in the code that this could be allowed (except for the vague egress balcony section, but I have seen it in new construction many times. Any help finding some definitive verbiage that would allow/revoke this situation would be fantastic.

 

[steveray]

What edition IBC? Look at exit discharge 1027 2012 IBC....Might be allowed...

 

[Seanior]

IBC 2012...

 

[ADAguy]

is balcony incombustable?

 

[Paul Sweet]

Walls within 10 ft. of exit path will have to be fire rated. There are probably several other hoops to jump through.

I missed the raised part. The floor also has to be rated.

 

[steveray]

Exceptions:
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:
1.1. 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.
1.2. 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.
1.3. 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.
2. A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity
of the interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted
to egress through a vestibule provided all of
the following are met:
2.1. The entire area of the vestibule is separated
from areas below by construction conforming
to the fire-resistance rating for the
enclosure.
2.2. The depth from the exterior of the building
is not greater than 10 feet (3048 mm) and
the length is not greater than 30 feet (9144
mm).
2.3. The area is separated from the remainder of
the level of exit discharge by construction
providing protection at least the equivalent
of approved wired glass in steel frames.
2.4. The area is used only for means of egress
and exits directly to the outside.

EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF. The story at the point at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge begins.
The term is intended to describe the story where the
transition from exit to exit discharge occurs. At this
level, the occupant needs only to move in a substantially
horizontal path to move along exit discharge
[see Figure 202.5(4)]. Since the level is a volume
rather than a horizontal plane, exterior exit steps may
be part of the exit discharge when they provide
access to the level that is closest to grade.

 

[Builder Bob]

Does not meet the intent of section 1022.1 - basically , once a level of protection id\s provided upon entering the exit, it cannot be diminished until reaching exit discharge.

 

[steveray]

BB....Do you disagree with what I posted from 1027? 50% can leave the protection of the exit enclosure.....?

 

[Builder Bob]

I do not as long as the exit path is continuous and does not re-enter an exit across a roof. The problem I have is when a level of protection is attained, it cannot diminish until you reach the exit discharge.

Steve Ray, the best way I can address that is if you are using the requirements of 1027 for exterior stairways and ramps, the exit path should be continuous to the exit discharge of the exterior stairway (which are limited to 6 stories or less)

Section 1028 Exit Discharge only has exceptions for interior exit stairways and ramps as listed in exception # 1 and Exception # 2 and horizontal exits in exception # 3.

 

[steveray]

You are using 15 (1028) and we are on 2012 (1027)...got it...Exception 1 allows leaving the rated exit as long as you meet the requirements such as sprinklers and protection from the floors below, etc...

 

[Seanior]

Thank you guys for the comments. I spoke with AHJ, and they weren't too thrilled about it either. Every where I turned, there seemed to be another hoop to jump through, we were in SD, so I convinced parties to move the stair. Problem solved! Thanks again.