Open exit access components?

[Yikes]

1016.1 exc. #2 uses the term "open exit access components". Is it possible to go outside and re-enter a building corridor system multiple times as long as you are less than the maximum allowable exist access travel distance (Table 1016.1)?Or instead, once you gone outdoors, you must call it an "exit"? Where in the code is "open exit access components" discussed?See the attached file for an example: a daisy-chain series of upper-floor small office spaces with corridors, using interconnecting open-to-the-sky patios as part of the exit access system. The last one goes downstairs, then also goes through an office space WITH a corridor (sorry, forgot to draw it in there). Does this work?

View attachment 1495

20110214115136334.pdf

20110214115136334.pdf

 

[MarkRandall]

Interesting concept. My gut reaction was "no way", but on second thought I don't see where the code would outright prohibit this. I don't see anything in "1014.2 Egress through intervening spaces" that prohibits it. Keep in mind though, locking of the doors would not be allowed which means anyone gaining access to the outdoor area also has access to the interior of all buildings.

 

[Yikes]

mark - my code logic is this:

I can run a corridor across the top of these patios.

I can have unlimited openings between the corridor and the adjacent patios (which are open to the sky and contain no significant fuel load).

I can have unlimited openings in the corridor roof at this location as well.

So, what is the difference between a corridor unlimited openings and no corridor at all?

 

[MarkRandall]

I agree with your logic. Like I said in my first post, the only code drawback I could think of is the ability to lock the building. If this is the second story, thieves would have easy access to parts of the building that might normally have more control over access.

 

[mtlogcabin]

They become egress courts and would have to be designed accordingly

EGRESS COURT. A court or yard which provides access to a public way for one or more exits .

COURT. An open, uncovered space, unobstructed to the sky, bounded on three or more sides by exterior building walls or other enclosing devices.

Since you are depicting stairs I am assuming the structure is elevated and therefore will have guards around the patio areas

 

[RLGA]

They become egress courts and would have to be designed accordingly

An egress court is a component of the exit discharge, therefore, I would not refer to them as such.

Section 1027.1 for exit discharge is the only place where it states that you cannot reenter a building. Therefore, if you treat those specific paths of travel as exit access and comply with the requirements of an exit access, then you should be okay. As a matter of fact, Section 1004.8 provides requirements for outdoor areas where the path of egress travel "passes through the building." Thus, per your "logic" and what I've stated, the design you've described seems to be acceptable.

 

[Yikes]

@mtlogcabin - when you say, "they become egress courts", is it your position that the moment I step outside onto the patio, I am mandated to call it an "exit", even though I could still qualify under "exit access travel distance"?

If I call it "egress court", then per 1027.6 I must provide "a direct an unobstructed access to a public way". Therefore, this this plan would not work because I'm not allowed to re-enter the building, or even enter into an exit passageway, right?

@RLGA - I like what you're saying, but it would appear that the phrasing of 1004.8 is silent on the issue of an outdoor path of egress travel serving as exit access to yet another indoor space (in addition to exiting through another indoor space itself). Is there any pther code commentary that could help here?

 

[mtlogcabin]

1027.5 Egress courts.

Egress courts serving as a portion of the exit discharge in the means of egress system shall comply with the requirements of Section 1027.

What you describe does not fall under 1027 because you are still within the exit access and I was wrong to call them egress courts. However as Mark pointed out about the possibility of the doors being locked and exit access being compromised I wonder about the corridors.

1017.5 Corridor continuity.

Fire-resistance-rated corridors shall be continuous from the point of entry to an exit, and shall not be interrupted by intervening rooms.

Unless your buildings are sprinkled then you are required 20 minute opening protection in the walls

Will they be rated? If so are you reducing the level of protection when you leave the rated corridor and enter the patio because the walls adjoining the patios are not rated? Are the walls and openings adjacent to the patio protected? Will the buildings be sprinklered? Will the patios be used as an area of rescue assistance? Will they become break areas with chairs and tables. I am not opposed to the idea I just think you need to be asking a lot of questions.

 

[Yikes]

In this scenario, I would provide protection from the patio to the adjacent occupied spaces. Perhaps I could show the equivalent of exit discharge protection per 1027.3, even though it is not an "exit discharge".

Also, I would only make the last set of corridor doors lockable, and put everything behind a security fence. The individual tenant spaces would also be lockable.

 

[MarkRandall]

Also, I would only make the last set of corridor doors lockable, and put everything behind a security fence. The individual tenant spaces would also be lockable.

If that is a workable solution for the building owner/occupants, I think you are good.

 

[Yikes]

OK, I finally downloaded the ICC Commentary. Section 1019 "Egress Balconies" specifically refers to them as an "exit acess" component, not an "exit" component. From this I would deduce that I can go in and out, back-and-forth between corridors and exit access balconies all day long.

 

[texasbo]

Yikes, this thread is similar to one you posted last week. I agreed with you then, and I agree with you now. The important thing to rember, is you can't reduce the level of protection. So if you are going from a rated corridor or exit passageway, the protection must be maintained until you reach an exit.

If your corridors are not rated, you don't need to worry about protecting balconies.

 

[Yikes]

Thanks, texasbo. I hope I didn't wear out my welcome on this issue. It was just hard for me to figure out.