Path of Egress - bathrooms

[Barchitecture]

I am creating an egress plan. I understand restrooms, for occupancy calculations, are not occupiable space per the definition. My building is Assembly (net).

OCCUPIABLE SPACE. A room or enclosed space designed for human occupancy in which individuals congregate for amusement, educational or similar purposes or in which occupants are engaged at labor, and which is equipped with means of egress and light and ventilation facilities meeting the requirements of this code."

When creating a path of egress plan for a code review, do I need to show the restrooms in compliance with common path and egress path distances, widths, etc.?

Also, do I have to comply with door widths and swings, leaving from a restroom area (there is also a janitor closet)?

The design I am reviewing has been designed with pocket doors leading from the restroom hall into the main corridor. There is no way to leave the restroom area, without going through a pocket door. I know a pocket door isn't allowed in a path of egress for an assembly space. But, does exit FROM a restroom need to show a path of egress? Or because it isn't occupiable, can I just show the egress from the main Assembly spaces? The other spaces are fine, and all have swinging doors, it's just the restroom/janitor area that is the concern.

 

[RLGA]

Travel distance and, by default, common path of egress travel (a portion of the travel distance) are required to be measured from the most remote point of "each room, area or space." It does not state from "occupiable spaces"; thus, restrooms must be considered for means of egress just like any other room or space within the building.

Door widths and door swings must comply with the egress requirements as well as accessibility requirements.

Sliding doors are permitted when the occupant load of a space is 10 or less. So, if you want to use sliding doors, you have to establish a reasonable occupant load for the restroom. From an accessibility perspective, you have to make sure the doors are easy to operate without grasping, and you have to be careful about the clear width. In my opinion, I would not use sliding doors for public restrooms.

 

[TheCommish]

I agree with Ron, and suggest your configure the rest rooms so no doors are needed by using offset or serpentine entrances. Pocket doof even in single family home are user and maintenance nightmare.

 

[steveray]

Big bathroom if you have OL >10.....Do toilets count as fixed seating?

 

[Barchitecture]

Travel distance and, by default, common path of egress travel (a portion of the travel distance) are required to be measured from the most remote point of "each room, area or space." It does not state from "occupiable spaces"; thus, restrooms must be considered for means of egress just like any other room or space within the building.

Door widths and door swings must comply with the egress requirements as well as accessibility requirements.

Sliding doors are permitted when the occupant load of a space is 10 or less. So, if you want to use sliding doors, you have to establish a reasonable occupant load for the restroom. From an accessibility perspective, you have to make sure the doors are easy to operate without grasping, and you have to be careful about the clear width. In my opinion, I would not use sliding doors for public restrooms.

Great response. Based on what I was reading, that was my conclusion as well. Thank you for confirming. I agree with your thoughts on sliding doors, it would not be my first choice.

 

[Barchitecture]

I agree wtin Ron, and suggest your configure the rest rooms so no doors are needed by using offset or serpentine entrances. Pocket doof even in single famaly home are user and maintenance nightmare.

I agree, the pocket doors were not my choice.

 

[nealderidder]

Big bathroom if you have OL >10.....Do toilets count as fixed seating?

I snorted out a little coffee reading that one, thank you.

 

[Sifu]

But then you would need to incorporate standing space at the urinals? Good laugh for a Monday morning!

 

[RLGA]

Big bathroom if you have OL >10.....Do toilets count as fixed seating?

Having 10 occupants in a restroom is not hard to imagine. Think of restrooms at sports arenas, movie theaters, schools, concert halls, etc. Not everyone in the restroom is actively using it--many are waiting their turn. Even an average men's restroom with five fixtures (a water closet, two urinals, and two lavatories) could have at least five waiting in the wings for their turn, not to mention the lines out the door at many women's restrooms.

 

[Yikes]

Big bathroom if you have OL >10.....Do toilets count as fixed seating?

If the assembly space is like the dive bar in the town where I went to college, I’ll say at 50% of the toilets people are sitting, while at the other 50% they are "kneeling to the porcelain god".

 

[steveray]

at the other 50% they are "kneeling to the porcelain god".

Change of use to A3 then....

 

[Yikes]

Change of use to A3 then....

Or for the toilet rooms, an accessory I-2 detox facility