R310.1 Non-habitalbe Basement

[linnrg]

Francis,
Question: the Virginia amendment would have allowed a interior passage that would first enter one units private space then into an interior passage to get to the intended space of another tenant?

 

[steveray]

BASEMENT. That portion of a building that is partly or completely
below grade (see "Story above grade") .

Well that is useless...How that is written, a footing or a stemwall is a basement....

 

[JBI]

Isn't this as two different requirements?
1) R310.1 (EERO) apparently applies even if the basement is non-habitable;
2) R311.4 (R311.2) required only if the basement is habitable.

It seems contradictory to me if the storage space was not a basement.

If the storage space were not in the basement then egress would not need to go through the garage, so not contradictory at all.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

I respectively disagree; I would consider the storage units as nonhabitable similar to mechanical rooms access through a garage.

From the feedback apparently the intent of the IRC has changed . . .

Thank you kindly


CHAPTER 3
BUILDING PLANNING
SECTION R310.1
IRC Interpretation No. 05-08
2003 Edition
Issued: 05-20-2008
RE_03_05_08

R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required. Basements with habitable space and every sleeping room shall have at least one openable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency egress and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided they shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches above the floor. Where a door opening having a threshold below the adjacent ground elevation serves as an emergency escape and rescue opening and is provided with a bulkhead enclosure, the bulkhead enclosure shall comply with Section 310.3. The net clear opening dimensions required by this section shall be obtained by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening from the inside. Emergency escape and rescue openings with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground elevation shall be provided with a window well in accordance with Section R310.2.

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Q: A detached single-family dwelling contains a basement with both non-habitable space and habitable space. The habitable space is not a sleeping room. The non-habitable space is adjacent to and has access from the habitable space. In accordance with the provisions of Section 310.1 of the International Residential Code, can the emergency escape and rescue opening be located in the non-habitable space?

A: Yes. The provisions in Section R310.1 stipulate that at least one openable emergency escape and rescue opening must be provided in basements with habitable space. There is no provision that requires the emergency escape and rescue opening to be located in the habitable space. The language very specifically requires an emergency escape and rescue opening in every sleeping room; however, emergency escape and rescue openings are not required in areas, habitable or non-habitable, adjoining sleeping rooms. Therefore, in other than sleeping rooms, access to the emergency escape and rescue opening can be from any area in a basement.

 

[mtlogcabin]

You could always require one of these for your EERO

 

[steveray]

That slight change in wording in 310.1 is a big change in real life.