IBC 1010.1 openings?

[sergoodo]

Multistory sprinkled building with corridor ~elevator lobby from elevator that has openings into office area, multipurpose area: No door. A situaltion where the elevator is in the middle and the exit at each end of the building with circular access to both around the elevator lobby. Can bead strings (1960's hippy decoration} be hung in one of the openings? Considering as drapes and only ok if that portion of the opening is not a part of the egress path. Otherwise, just bad taste will prevail unless somebody here can direct me to IBC reference preventing ceiling hung bead stings in openings. Thankyou.

 

[steveray]

Does the opening have an exit sign? What is the flame spread on the beads?

 

[sergoodo]

Does the opening have an exit sign? What is the flame spread on the beads?

In this scenario, no exit signs and the beads are non flammable, flame spread meets IBC requirements.
BUT, This is a good point: What if the beads block the view of an exit sign? I say yes, no matter what, the bead strings are blocking the exit sign view. This would mean that you would have to put a directional sign exit sign above the beads that NOW would be now obstructing an egress path for peoples stepping off the elevator.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Two years ago a local amusement park (not small -- one location of a major national chain of amusement parts) created an indoor Halloween maze in their major assembly building. There were several locations where such bead strings obscured the view of exit signs. I asked them to remove or trim the bead strings. They objected. The Fire Marshal told them he agreed with the Building Department.

They trimmed the bead strings.

The fact that an opening doesn't have an exit sign over it doesn't mean that opening isn't part of a means of egress path of travel. Can you post a link to floor plan?

 

[sergoodo]

Two years ago a local amusement park (not small -- one location of a major national chain of amusement parts) created an indoor Halloween maze in their major assembly building. There were several locations where such bead strings obscured the view of exit signs. I asked them to remove or trim the bead strings. They objected. The Fire Marshal told them he agreed with the Building Department.

They trimmed the bead strings.

The fact that an opening doesn't have an exit sign over it doesn't mean that opening isn't part of a means of egress path of travel. Can you post a link to floor plan?

Do not have floor plan. My logic is that since any exit sign will be obscured the bad taste is verboten.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

The opening in question is the (or one of the) openings from the lobby/corridor into [one of] the office area?

How large is the office area beyond the opening? What is its occupant load? How many remote exit access routes are there out of that space?

Is there an exit sign in the lobby/corridor that can be seen from inside the office space if the beads were not there? Is there an exit sign over the opening in question on the office side?

 

[sergoodo]

The opening in question is the (or one of the) openings from the lobby/corridor into [one of] the office area?

How large is the office area beyond the opening? What is its occupant load? How many remote exit access routes are there out of that space?

Is there an exit sign in the lobby/corridor that can be seen from inside the office space if the beads were not there? Is there an exit sign over the opening in question on the office side?

Opening is from an elevator lobby into multipurpose type business occ load space. Usually a door in location, but whole floor tenant. There is an 1 exit sign that will be obscured from elevator lobby. From the multipurpose space, 1 exit sign will be obscured. I found IBC 1010.1 egress doors shall not be obscured. Location is where a door would be placed if floor had 2nd tenant.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

IBC 1013:

1013.1 Where required. Exits and exit access doors shall be
marked by an approved exit sign readily visible from any
direction of egress travel. The path of egress travel to exits and
within exits shall be marked by readily visible exit signs to
clearly indicate the direction of egress travel in cases where the
exit or the path of egress travel is not immediately visible to
the occupants. Intervening means of egress doors within exits
shall be marked by exit signs. Exit sign placement shall be
such that any point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway
is within 100 feet (30 480 mm) or the listed viewing
distance of the sign, whichever is less, from the nearest visible
exit sign.

Seems pretty clear to me. If "stuff" is hanging in front of it, it's not "readily" visible.

From the Commentary for 1013.1:

The illumination may be internal or external to the sign.
The signs should be visible from all directions in the
exit access route. In cases where the signs are not visible
to the occupants because of turns in the corridor
or for other reasons, additional illuminated signs must
be provided indicating the direction of egress to an
exit.

 

[sergoodo]

IBC 1013:



Seems pretty clear to me. If "stuff" is hanging in front of it, it's not "readily" visible.

From the Commentary for 1013.1:

Yes, Thanks. That is how I solved the problem. The egress path- no beads. install a privacy door, exit signs, and flank each side with NFPA 701 compliant beads. Now tasteless the only violation left.

One thought I passed by is all the pre op and post op curtains for surgery centers/hospitals; with 6-8 beds for each that can put upwards of 30 people behind drapes. Like magical free code compliance when you just label the drapes "curtains". Should have just identified as "bead curtains" and not jumped in the rabbit hole.