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R-2 OCCUPANCY EXIT REQUIREMENTS

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VLADIMIR LEVIN

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Jun 11, 2019
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113
Location
NY
A 4 story apartment building requires 2 means of egress.
Can and elevator count as one means of egress; so there would be one stair and one elevator?
I think per section 1009 the answer is yes.
 
No. Section 1009 is for accessible means of egress only. All four-story buildings are required to has at least two means of egress, and an elevator is only allowed as a means of egress if it’s designed as an occupant evacuation elevator per Section 3008.
 
RLGA said:
No. Section 1009 is for accessible means of egress only. All four-story buildings are required to has at least two means of egress, and an elevator is only allowed as a means of egress if it’s designed as an occupant evacuation elevator per Section 3008.
Click to expand...
What does this mean then?-
"...Where more than one means of egress is required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any accessible space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by not less than two accessible means of egress.
And
"Each required accessible means of egress shall be continuous to a public and shall consist of one or more of the following components:
5. Elevator complying with section 1009.7
 
There is a difference between “means of egress” and “accessible means of egress.” Elevators can only be used as an “accessible means of egress” when it complies with the requirements of Section 1009.
 
A 4-story apartment building doesn’t usually have standby power to the elevator as required in 1009.4, so in addition to not being a means of egress the elevator is also not usually an accessible means of egress.
 
Under the 2015 IBC
Section 1003.7, "Elevators, escalators and moving walks shall not be used as a component of a required means of egress from any other part of the building."
Exception: "Elevators used as an accessible means of egress in accordance with Section 1009.4."

If a building has a stair tower to the 4th floor and an elevator that complies with 1009.4 (standby power and all), what restricts it from counting as an exit?
 
Section 1003.7. The exception only allows the elevator to be used as an accessible means of egress, but as an exit.

Per Section 1022, only those components that comply with Sections 1022 through 1027 can be considered exits.

An occupant evacuation elevator per Section 3008 can be used instead of the additional stairway required by Section 403.5.2, but that is the only instance where an elevator can be considered an exit.
 
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