Interior Stairway Classification

[DKnoch]

I have a Business Occupancy with an enclosed stairway in it. The plan reviewer has deemed it to be an exit access stairway and says it does not require a rating. This is the sole means of egress from the second floor (23 occupants on that floor). I would classify it as an interior exit stairway and would say a 1 hour rating is required based off of Chapter 2 definitions, 1023, and an exit passageway would be required to point of exit discharge per 1023.3 Exception. Plans examiner is using 1019.3 #1 as a reason why it does not need to be rated. I disagree that it can be an Exit Access Stairway as being the sole path of means of egress from the second floor, and the code section he's using grants an exception for a shaft enclosure (only if it's classified as an exit access stairway). The travel distance from 2nd floor to the exit discharge is over 100 feet, so I would also question only having one exit from the second floor per Table 1006.3.2(2). Exception b grants extension from 75 to 100 feet. This is based off of 2015 IBC.

 

[cda]

How many floors is the building ??

Fire sprinkler system??

And you keep saying only exit,,,

Is there only one exit from the 2nd floor??

 

[cda]

Exception one, does allow for open stair

Check 712.1.9

 

[DKnoch]

2 story building and yes it is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, which granted the rating exception of the corridor on the first floor per T1020.1. When I was saying one means of egress from the first floor, I was addressing that there is only 1 stairway. Table 1006.3.2(1) talks about stories with one exit, but I did overlook the wording of Common Path of Egress Travel. So that may or may not be applicable for a second exit from the second story (I will measure it). I will look more into 712.1.9, as that may be applicable here. Thank you

 

[mark handler]

There are 3 parts of any egress. The Exit Access, The Exit and the Exit Discharge. There are many different types of egress components, door, corridor, etc. All components are part of one of the 3 means of egress.

The exit access has no fire protection separation like the exit does.