• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Lock on Stair Discharge

LGreene

LGreene

REGISTERED
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
1,162
Location
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Per the stairwell reentry requirements, if stair doors are locked on the stair side, they need to be able to be unlocked via the fire alarm or fire command center to allow someone to leave the stair and find another exit. The egress side needs to be unlocked at all times to allow access to the stair. There is an exception (#1) for the stair discharge door, which has to be unlocked on the stair side but can be locked on the opposite side. The question has come up regarding the attached partial plan, whether it's acceptable per the IBC to lock the corridor side of the door swinging out of the stairs. The stair side allows free egress to the corridor. There is an identical stair, stair discharge door, and exterior door at the other end of the corridor, with no locked doors in between. The corridor side of the stair door does not unlock on fire alarm or a signal from the fire command center.I think it's acceptable to lock the corridor side of the stair discharge door, but I've been asked to confirm, so what say you?Here's the partial plan: View attachment 1471Here's the IBC 2009 text in case you want to review it:1008.1.9.10 Stairway doors. Interior stairway means of egress doors shall be openable from both sides without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort. Exceptions: 1. Stairway discharge doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side.2. This section shall not apply to doors arranged in accordance with Section 403.12.3. In stairways serving not more than four stories, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side, provided they are openable from the egress side and capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center, if present, or a signal by emergency personnel from a single location inside the main entrance to the building.

View attachment 1727

View attachment 1727

/monthly_2012_10/572953e709edc_StairPartialPlan.jpg.89dd74a6f42ced1fd004ab7a71f61c06.jpg
 
Will have to check some other books

I kind of take that to mean an exterior door
 
It looks to me this is the level of discharge with an exit to the exterior, I would say it's acceptable to lock it on this level on the corridor side. If I am understanding the scenario correctly.
 
If the stair is allowed to discharge not to the exterior, then I would say it could be locked against reentry....I think it is in 1023? 2003 IBC maybe for leaving an enclosure and reentering a structure....
 
Doors 1 & 4 would have to unlock from the direction of egress or would have to be delayed egress locks (if permissionable by code for the occupancy and hours of operation)

Door number 5 could lock from the corridor side but must be readily avialbe for use in emrgencies.

Door number 6 is a bi directional door..... what type of hardware is being installed on this door?

Of course, the plans do not indicate number of stories or if the building/stairway is provided with a smoke control system.
 
appears legal......... I still think more intended for doors directly to the outside
 
Builder Bob said:
Doors 1 & 4 would have to unlock from the direction of egress or would have to be delayed egress locks (if permissionable by code for the occupancy and hours of operation)Door number 5 could lock from the corridor side but must be readily avialbe for use in emrgencies.

Door number 6 is a bi directional door..... what type of hardware is being installed on this door?

Of course, the plans do not indicate number of stories or if the building/stairway is provided with a smoke control system.
Click to expand...
Hi Builder Bob -

Doors 1 and 4 both are free for egress from the inside.

The pair of doors marked 6 are double egress doors each with panics from the push side held open with magnets tied to the fire alarm.

The building is a 2 story building. The floor plan is for the first floor. The second floor has no exits other than through the stairwell shown and the clone stairwell at the other end of the main corridor. There are exits signs over door 1 and its clone on the other end of the hall.

Emergency personnel have access to floor 2 through use a master key in the knox box.
 
fatboy said:
It looks to me this is the level of discharge with an exit to the exterior, I would say it's acceptable to lock it on this level on the corridor side. If I am understanding the scenario correctly.
Click to expand...
I think you're understanding the scenario correctly - this is the first floor and there are doors to the exterior at each end of the corridor that the stairs are dumping into.
 
steveray said:
If the stair is allowed to discharge not to the exterior, then I would say it could be locked against reentry....I think it is in 1023? 2003 IBC maybe for leaving an enclosure and reentering a structure....
Click to expand...
This is kind of a different topic - whether the stair is allowed to discharge into the corridor instead of to the exterior, but I got curious so I looked it up. This is from the 2009 IBC:

1027.1 General. Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide direct access to grade. The exit discharge shall not reenter a building. The combined use of Exceptions 1 and 2 belowshall not exceed 50 percent of the number and capacity of the required exits.

Exceptions:

1. A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity of the exit enclosures is permitted to egress through areas on the level of discharge provided all of the following

are met:

1.1. Such exit 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 exit 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 exit enclosure.

1.3. The egress path from the exit enclosure 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 exits.

2. A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity of the exit enclosures 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 exit 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.

3. Stairways in open parking garages complying with Section 1022.1, Exception 4, are permitted to egress through the open parking garage at their levels of exit discharge.

4. Horizontal exits complying with Section 1025 shall not be required to discharge directly to the exterior of the building.



From the Commentary:

Up to 50 percent of the exit stairways in a building may use either Exception 1 or 2; therefore, neither exception is viable for a single-exit building. In a two- or three-exit building, either a lobby or a vestibule can be used for exit discharge for one of the exit stairways. In a four-exit building, two of the exit stairways can use either a lobby or a vestibule for exit discharge. An interior exit discharge lobby is permitted to receive the discharge from an exit stairway in lieu of the stairway discharging directly to the exterior. A fire door must be provided at the point where the exit stairway discharges into the lobby.

This isn't my area of expertise, but if there are only 2 exit stairs in the building, are both allowed to exit through a lobby/vestibule rather than directly to the exterior? Or does one have to go to the exterior?
 
Can you think of a reason that it would be ok/safe to lock an exterior stair discharge but notan interior stair discharge?
Click to expand...
If you mean locked on the non-egress side, then security of the bldg. occupants comes to mind.

.
 
LGreene said:
This is kind of a different topic - whether the stair is allowed to discharge into the corridor instead of to the exterior, but I got curious so I looked it up. This is from the 2009 IBC:1027.1 General. Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide direct access to grade. The exit discharge shall not reenter a building. The combined use of Exceptions 1 and 2 belowshall not exceed 50 percent of the number and capacity of the required exits.

Exceptions:

1. A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity of the exit enclosures is permitted to egress through areas on the level of discharge provided all of the following

are met:

1.1. Such exit 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 exit 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 exit enclosure.

1.3. The egress path from the exit enclosure 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 exits.

2. A maximum of 50 percent of the number and capacity of the exit enclosures 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 exit 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.

3. Stairways in open parking garages complying with Section 1022.1, Exception 4, are permitted to egress through the open parking garage at their levels of exit discharge.

4. Horizontal exits complying with Section 1025 shall not be required to discharge directly to the exterior of the building.



From the Commentary:

Up to 50 percent of the exit stairways in a building may use either Exception 1 or 2; therefore, neither exception is viable for a single-exit building. In a two- or three-exit building, either a lobby or a vestibule can be used for exit discharge for one of the exit stairways. In a four-exit building, two of the exit stairways can use either a lobby or a vestibule for exit discharge. An interior exit discharge lobby is permitted to receive the discharge from an exit stairway in lieu of the stairway discharging directly to the exterior. A fire door must be provided at the point where the exit stairway discharges into the lobby.

This isn't my area of expertise, but if there are only 2 exit stairs in the building, are both allowed to exit through a lobby/vestibule rather than directly to the exterior? Or does one have to go to the exterior?
Click to expand...
there is also "continuity" if the stair shaft is, say, two hour rated, than that two hour rating has to be maintained till you get out of the building. so if the stair dumps back into the building the corridor or area has to carry a two hour rating. Hope i did not miss a pesky exception??????
 
The stair shaft and lobby area would only have to meet the one hour construction rating due to building being two story. However, doors (4,5,6) on the plans would have to be a minimum of 60 minutes since they are no longer corridor doors but now considered to be a part of the stair shaft extension.

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 exit enclosure.

Shaft, exit enclosure and exit passageway walls - Fire Resistance Rating 1 hr. ; Opening Protective 1 hr.
 
globe trekker said:
If you mean locked on the non-egress side, then security of the bldg. occupants comes to mind.
Click to expand...
Securing the building from the exterior is definitely a priority, but in this building the 2nd-floor occupants need security from the more "public" 1st floor. I can't find anything in the code or in terms of common sense that says that the stair doors can't be locked on the corridor side.
 
Builder Bob said:
The stair shaft and lobby area would only have to meet the one hour construction rating due to building being two story. However, doors (4,5,6) on the plans would have to be a minimum of 60 minutes since they are no longer corridor doors but now considered to be a part of the stair shaft extension.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 exit enclosure.

Shaft, exit enclosure and exit passageway walls - Fire Resistance Rating 1 hr. ; Opening Protective 1 hr.
Click to expand...
So is the area marked "Lobby" actually an exit passageway?
 
So is the area marked "Lobby" actually an exit passageway?
Click to expand...
Yes! Section 1002 - Definitions, from the 2006 IBC:

EXIT PASSAGEWAY. An exit component that is separated from all other interior spaces of

a building or structure by fire-resistance-rated construction and opening protectives, and

provides for a protected path of egress travel in a horizontal direction to the exit discharge

or the public way.

.
 
Securing the building from the exterior is definitely a priority, but in this building the2nd-floor occupants need security from the more "public" 1st floor. I can't find anything in

the code or in terms of common sense that says that the stair doors can't be locked on the

corridor side.
Click to expand...
Section 1008.1.8.7, from the 2006 IBC doesn't require the non-egress side to be

locked. I did not find any other requirement either!

.
 
Without seeing the rest of the floor plan plus wall ratings

Kind of doubt it meets exit passageway requirements

Construction. Exit passageway enclosures shall have walls, floors and ceilings of not less than 1-hour fire-resistance rating, and not less than that required for any connecting exit enclosure. Exit passageways shall be constructed as fire barriers in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 712, or both.

Plus opening requirements
 
LGreene said:
So is the area marked "Lobby" actually an exit passageway?
Click to expand...
No, but to comply with the exception listed -"The entire area of the level of exit discharge is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating for the exit enclosure."

The exit enclosure is the stairshaft....... If it is rated, then the path from the stairway to the exterior(a.k.a. Lobby per plans) must be maintained as the same rating for the stairway,,,,,,
 
OK - I've got a yes (globe trekker) and a no (Builder Bob) on whether the lobby is an exit passageway. If it's not, then the area between the stair and the exterior would either need to be per Exception 1 or 2 (1027.1 above), and only 50% of the stairs can be per the exceptions (both exceptions combined). This building only has 2 stairs and both have the exact same configuration, so I don't see (yet) how it's ok for the stairs to discharge to the interior unless the lobby is an exit passageway.
 
Lori,

If it is a new building, or depending on the level of alteration, 1027 (1023 in my code)may apply and only 1 of your 2 may be able to leave the "protected exit stair" remoteness may also be an issue if they dump in the same corridor.....Maybe we should start a new thread before we get too OT?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top