• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

Panic hardware in existing building

2006 IBC specifically requires panic hardware along the means of egress path
1008.1.9 Panic and fire exit hardware.
Where panic and fire exit hardware is installed, it shall comply with the following:
1. The actuating portion of the releasing device shall extend at least one-half of the door leaf width.
2. The maximum unlatching force shall not exceed 15 pounds (67 N).
Each door in a means of egress from a Group A or E occupancy having an occupant load of 50 or more and any Group H occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock unless it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.

2009 and forward does not require panic hardware for each door in the means of egress path from an A or E occupancy. The requirement was removed from the code.

2018 IBC
1010.1.10 Panic and fire exit hardware.
Swinging doors serving a Group H occupancy and swinging doors serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more in a Group A or E occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
Exceptions:
1. A main exit of a Group A occupancy shall be permitted to have locking devices in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.4, Item 2.
2. Doors provided with panic hardware or fire exit hardware and serving a Group A or E occupancy shall be permitted to be electrically locked in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.9 or 1010.1.9.10.



Interesting

Wonder why the change.


I guess it did not take into A’s in other occupancies??


Well that solves the problem


Only the break room needs it.


Boy been taken behind the barn today.
 
Last edited:
Think "Panic", where does the herd go first, 2nd, third? Can those with sight impairments find their way there too?
 
Think "Panic", where does the herd go first, 2nd, third?

Fire code requires quarterly evacuation drills for "A" occupancies

405.2 Frequency.
Required emergency evacuation drills shall be held at the intervals specified in Table 405.2 or more frequently where necessary to familiarize all occupants with the drill procedure.
 
So what does it mean by doors "serving".........

Why wouldn't that mean every door in the A space or any door that a occupant from the A space could use including rest room doors that, closet doors, etc that "serve" the A occupancy. not just the means of egress.

Why wouldn't the the doors be "serving" the A occupancy if occupants need to use them to enter the building and travel through the S-2 occupancy to get to the A occupancy doors.

I don't see how the code when using the word "serving" only means the exit doors in the A room.
 
The 2006 required panic hardware throughout the entire means of egress

1008.1.9 Panic and fire exit hardware.
Where panic and fire exit hardware is installed, it shall comply with the following:
1. The actuating portion of the releasing device shall extend at least one-half of the door leaf width.
2. The maximum unlatching force shall not exceed 15 pounds (67 N).
Each door in a means of egress from a Group A or E occupancy having an occupant load of 50 or more and any Group H occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock unless it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.

That language went away in the 2009 so I do not believe the intent today is to require panic hardware on any of the 43 exit doors.
I agree with your opinion of how the new words should be interpreted; however, it appears that the ICC Committee did not have this in mind when approving the proposed code change. The stated reason for the change was that the "current language limits the requirement to means of egress FROM the Group A or E occupancy, thus exempting the means of egress WITHIN the Group A or E occupancy." The Committee agreed that "the proposed language clarifies that panic hardware is required at intervening doors as well as doors leading from spaces." Another public comment proposed minor changes to the text and included the following in their stated reason "it [the proposed minor text changes] retains the original proponents 'serving' so that it is the whole chain of doors from the space to the exit," to which the Committee approved without rebutting this.
https://d3k71juenjpjd3.cloudfront.net/cs/codes/Documents/2007-08cycle/FAA/IBC-E1-E85.pdf
 
"current language limits the requirement to means of egress FROM the Group A or E occupancy, thus exempting the means of egress WITHIN the Group A or E occupancy."

They surely overthought that one and did not consider the definition of "Means of Egress"

[BE] MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge.
 
They surely overthought that one and did not consider the definition of "Means of Egress"

[BE] MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge.
Agreed. I wonder why they didn't just change it from "each door in a means of egress from a Group A or E occupancy" to "each door in a means of egress from or within a Group A or E occupancy." Still, it seems like the intent was to keep it as all doors along the exit access to the exit, and they must have thought that "serving" would mean the same thing. Personally, I do not think that all doors along the means of egress should need panic. Once the occupants leave the Group A or E occupancy, they get mixed in with the rest of the occupants in the corridors/intervening rooms and kind of get mixed in so the risk of "crowd-crush" at that next doors is lessened. But I'm ready to be convinced otherwise.
 
How come nobody has mentioned Section 1004.4 Multiple occupancies yet?
1004.4 Multiple occupancies. Where a building contains two or more occupancies, the means of egress requirements shall apply to each portion of the building based on the occupancy of that space. Where two or more occupancies utilize portions of the same means of egress system, those egress components shall meet the more stringent requirements of all occupancies that are served.

This states that if the assembly (A-2) requires exits which are also required for the means of egress for storage (S-2), then the more stringent requirements applies to all occupancies that are served. Exits that meet the travel distance (250ft if sprinklered) of the lunch room and capacity of remaining load 258 (1/2 of 516) require panic hardware. The take away here is "portions".

Code from 2015 IEBC also supports this for a Level 2 alteration.
805.4.4 Panic Hardware. In any work area, and in the egress path from any work area to the exit discharge, in buildings or portions thereof Group A assembly occupancies with an occupant load greater than 100, all required exit doors equipped with latching devices shall be equipped with approved panic hardware.
 
Top