Minimum width to not be a Corridor

[Yikes]

How about this:
If you were inside an apartment and it had a hallway leading from the bedrooms into a living room with a galley kitchen, at what point would that hallway be considered in the code to be a (nonrated) “corridor”? Is such a corridor allowed to terminate (open directly into) into a living room/kitchen area?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

The commentary makes it sound like any enclosed room that has walls to the ceiling could be a corridor.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Hallways are identified within residential R-2, R-3, R-4 IBC units and the IRC.
Corridors are part of the exit access from occupiable spaces.

You do not need to pass through a door to enter a corridor.
[BE] EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY. A door or access point along the path of egress travel from an occupied room, area or space where the path of egress enters an intervening room, corridor, exit access stairway or ramp.

 

[TheCommish]

Massachusetts versions

30.5 Clear Floor Space​

An unobstructed turning space complying with 521 CMR 6.3, Wheelchair Turning Space shall be provided within an accessible toilet room. The clear floor space at fixtures and controls, the accessible route, and the turning space may overlap.

 

[Yikes]

A ramp also requires a 5 ft. landing at a door. This makes it 9 ft. long to go up 4". This might not be a problem if it's in a corridor with no doors in this 9 ft. area, but if it sticks out into the middle of a floor area it would be a major intrusion and require handrails or flared sides to keep people from tripping on it. Handrails would need a 12" extension at the bottom, making it 10 ft. long. Flared sides would add 4 ft. each side. It's probably best to leave it as is if they are going to enforce the strictest letter of the code.

Hallways are identified within residential R-2, R-3, R-4 IBC units and the IRC.
Corridors are part of the exit access from occupiable spaces.

You do not need to pass through a door to enter a corridor.
[BE] EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY. A door or access point along the path of egress travel from an occupied room, area or space where the path of egress enters an intervening room, corridor, exit access stairway or ramp.

1. Where does the term "hallway" appear in the current versions of the IBC, which governs R-2 occupancies?

2. Rooms in general are also part of the exit access system. And so we return to the issue. Under what physical conditions does the IBC compel you to call a room/space a corridor?

Might the following be a reasonable approach:

• If it is one atmospherically interconnected space with no doors, and
• The Common Path of Egress Travel is less than the maximum in table 1006.2.1
• Then it is reasonable to treat it as a single room / space rather than a room + corridor + second room

 

[mtlogcabin]

1. Where does the term "hallway" appear in the current versions of the IBC, which governs R-2 occupancies?

Sorry IEBC not IBC

807.3 Residential occupancies.
In Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies and buildings regulated by the International Residential Code, the requirements of Sections 807.3.1 through 807.3.7 shall be applicable only to work areas located within a dwelling unit.

807.3.1 Enclosed areas.
Enclosed areas, other than closets, kitchens, basements, garages, hallways, laundry areas, utility areas, storage areas and bathrooms shall have not fewer than two duplex receptacle outlets or one duplex receptacle outlet and one ceiling or wall-type lighting outlet.

807.3.5 Minimum lighting outlets.
Not fewer than one lighting outlet shall be provided in every bathroom, hallway, stairway, attached garage, and detached garage with electric power, and to illuminate outdoor entrances and exits.

 

[steveray]

yes

I kind of agree....certainly in this instance....

 

[Penguin87]

2018 IBC
A-3 Children Play Area, probably age 2 - 12(?)

The tenant space is mainly an open area (left side of image below) with the exception of a party room and closet (upper right corner with double doors) enclosed by walls to ceiling, toilet rooms and janitor closet, and a sensory room (kids area) enclosed with walls to the ceiling (lower right corner without any doors). Minimum corridor width is 44". Section 1020 corridors requires either a one hour corridor rating or sprinklers when the occupant load exceed 30 for an A occupancy. (A sensory room is for helping children focus, calm down, etc.)

If I shift the toilet rooms and janitor closet 39" to the left so the face of the janitor and party room walls align, how much further to the left must I shift these three rooms to eliminate a corridor condition? One of my coworkers' gut feeling is 5 feet.

View attachment 12287

Thanks in advance.

That space is not a corridor, it should technically be an "aisle" part of an exit access means of egress. (The space is not separated from other spaces.)
You should label it "circulation", "egress" or "hallway" on your plans.

I don't think there is enough information presented here to give 100% advice, but here is what I can say:

-If you have an assembly occupant load of more than 49, your max common path of travel is 75 ft. (Table 1006.2.1)
-You will need (2) exits if the occupant load is > 49 & travel distance > 75 ft. (Table 1006.3.3)
-Exits must be separated a min. 1/2 the max diagonal dimension of the room or 1/3 if sprinklered.
-There is no inherent corridor requirement.