• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

Hallway Width

O

orlando77

Registered User
Joined
Aug 21, 2021
Messages
12
Location
HOUSTON, TX
Hello all.

I have another question.

What is the minimum width required for an exit hallway?

Per table 1020.2 minimum corridor width, it states a 44-inch minimum.

This will be a sports bar group A-2, occupancy 300.

Would 48 inches be better if there is a room or will 44 inches please the ADA gods haha.

The door in the hallway leads to a back service road. It serves as the 2 exit door requirement.

I also think I might be violating the 1018.4 dead-end corridor code. It must be less than 20 feet or 240 inches. I have 243 inch. Will this work or do I have to fix it.

Please see the attached drawing.

hallway width.PNG
 

Attachments

  • hallway width.PNG
    hallway width.PNG
    40.4 KB · Views: 4
Last edited:
The things I see are that the 44" would be a clear dimension, not a dimension to framing; you'd need to check the capacity required to be accommodated to make sure you have enough width for that; check that there is enough clear space at the push side of the men's room door; and that the exit door at the end meets whatever accessibility requirements you have (you may need the 12" clear space on the latch edge if the door has a closer and a latch).
 
Without full floor plan, hard to give good answer

Anyway

No dead end issue


Just minimum width is required , minimum for ada also
 
Sleepy said:
you'd need to check the capacity required to be accommodated to make sure you have enough width for that; check that there is enough clear space at the push side of the men's room door
Click to expand...
Thanks for your input Sleepy.

I am assuming you are referencing this code:

1005.3.3 Other egress components. The capacity, in inches, of means of egress components other than stairways, shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such component by a means of degree capacity factor of .2 inch per occupant.

There are 2 exits, with a 300 load capacity, does that mean 150 will go to one door and 150 to the other which gives us a 150 x .2 = 30 inches minimum hallway width. But that value is smaller than 44 inches Per table 1020.2 minimum corridor width so 44 overrides 30 inches.

But considering there is a men's door in the aisle both closer and latch that would mean there has to be 48" minimum hallway width.

door.PNG
 
Last edited:
orlando77 said:
Thanks for your input Sleepy.

I am assuming you are referencing this code:

1005.3.3 Other egress components. The capacity, in inches, of means of egress components other than stairways, shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such component by a means of degree capacity factor of .2 inch per occupant.

There are 2 exits, with a 300 load capacity, does that mean 150 will go to one door and 150 to the other which gives us a 150 x .2 = 30 inches minimum hallway width. But that value is smaller than 44 inches Per table 1020.2 minimum corridor width so 44 overrides 30 inches.

But considering there is a men's door in the aisle both closer and latch that would mean there has to be 48" minimum hallway width.

View attachment 8253
Click to expand...

“””There are 2 exits, with a 300 load capacity, does that mean 150 will go to one door and 150 to the other””””

If they are well trained and can count.

I wish I knew where they teach that.


Not sure I would be in the corridor section.
 
cda said:
I wish I knew where they teach that.
Click to expand...
I am actually taking a course at Houston Community College on Codes and my professor told me that's how they calculate exit rules. I wanted to get confirmation from this forum. But you are right it's not in the IBC.
 
cda said:
Because you can walk out the door and out of the building.
Click to expand...
orlando77 said:
I am actually taking a course at Houston Community College on Codes and my professor told me that's how they calculate exit rules. I wanted to get confirmation from this forum. But you are right it's not in the IBC.
Click to expand...


There is the rule, I hope is taught

For assembly the main entrance/ exit , it has to handle 50% of the occupant load


Keep up the educating

A good site for info::;


 
Yikes, I see another issue.

Can anyone comment on the minimum exit door width?

I'm afraid if the door is greater than 32 inches it will not clear the 12-inch minimum clearance on the left and 4" on the right of the door. assuming the hallway is at 48".

Does it have to have a closer mechanism out the back of the building?

Can I just use a push side?
DOOR DIM.PNG

12 inch.PNG
 
Last edited:
Can’t talk to the 12

Panic hardware required

3 foot door is all that is needed

Not near the book to do the math.

Building code wise,,, no closing device required
 
Not on topic, but check your men's bathroom for toilet requirements, 1/40 comes to mind, see IPC Section 424 for the urinal substitution rule. Also see footnote d, if there is outdoor seating.
 
orlando77 said:
I am actually taking a course at Houston Community College on Codes and my professor told me that's how they calculate exit rules. I wanted to get confirmation from this forum. But you are right it's not in the IBC.
Click to expand...
a student eh? See the IBC interpretive manual for more info. A dead end means no door at the end.
 
orlando77 said:
There are 2 exits, with a 300 load capacity, does that mean 150 will go to one door and 150 to the other which gives us a 150 x .2 = 30 inches minimum hallway width.
Click to expand...
If both means of egress have the same width door, yes maybe. If the main entrance was a double door, my diagram would show 200 there and 100 at the rear.

In reality, it's quite clear from research that in an emergency almost everyone will try to leave by the way they came in, which they are familiar with and know was clear, hence the main entrance rule for 50%. It may not affect your design, but may be useful.
 
orlando77 said:
Yikes, I see another issue.

Can anyone comment on the minimum exit door width?
Click to expand...
I do think that is a problem. I'm not aware of any requirement for a closer in this location (unless the door is fire or smoke rated), but you probably want one just for functionality. As e hilton said a nominal 32" door won't comply with the accessibility requirement for a 32" clear opening, normally you would use a 36" door. You could explore taking some of the void space and widening the hallway at the exit door, providing enough room for the required clear space.
 
orlando77 said this is a bar. Most bars try to limit underage people from sneaking in by having their exit doors locked from the outside. so, you have a latch. Does the owner also want a closer, so that the door doesn't get propped open in case someone exits? OR maybe they just want to put an alarm on the door, to alert security staff, and not have a closer... if that's the case, then you wouldn't need the 12" on the push side, because it it does not have BOTH a closer AND a latch.
See ADA Standards figure 404.2.4.1 (c) below.

1633024801509.png
 
It's very dangerous to design to minimums. Or,, call out minimums in dwgs. They don't read and will frame it to 44". Framers don't care about gyp bd. or baseboard, etc. Save yourself the headache and go a couple inches over.
 
The door in question leads to a back service road alley for employee parking. It will not be used for paying customers. I think a closer would be nice to have so that people don't leave the door open. 52" is the sweet spot I think or should that be 60".

52.PNG
 
orlando77 said:
The door in question leads to a back service road alley for employee parking. It will not be used for paying customers.
Click to expand...
So if the back door is not available as a customer exit, then it becomes a dead end corridor … right? Is it the second exit required for the space? Then it needs to be 32”+ clear.
 
I believe following this thread it is clearly a required means of egress. It should be a 36" door with a door landing, which I make 60 x 60 and just accept that. I don't know what the interstitial space at hinge side - structure or chase - but it's just a reality. I'd suggest the restrooms move 16", make the corridor 60" full width so people can pass without bumping each other, and push the private restroom a touch into storage. Yes, they loose some storage, but everything else works better and if something goes awry during construction, you got some space.
 
Take the shower out of the private bath, slide the mens room down so the end of the hall is wide enough for a 36” door and clearances.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top