Roof Doors

[StephNow]

I have an existing 3-story commercial structure that falls under the 2009 IBC. The one stair tower extends through the roof to provide walk-out access to the roof which has several RTUs. The door swings into the stair tower, which is all well and good, but evidently with expansion and contraction and possibly some other reasons, the door leaks in heavy rain. They believe if the door swing were changed to swing out, it would help alleviate the water infiltration issues. The roof is about 13,000 square feet. I understand the door should swing in the direction of egress, but, an argument could be made that the occupant load of the roof is less than 50. Under section 1008.1.2, "doors shall swing in the direction of egress travel where serving an occupant load of 50 or more persons or a Group H occupancy."

What are the thoughts of the community?

 

[my250r11]

IMO, I agree that it would be ok if it opened out over the roof. To me it is a maintenance area not for public or tenant use, if it was, then would agree with swing in egress direction.

 

[cda]

Agree

 

[SCBO1]

Agree with the others... but a door that swings in or out and installed properly with the correct weatherstripping and caulking should eliminate the leaking.

 

[StephNow]

Agree with the others... but a door that swings in or out and installed properly with the correct weatherstripping and caulking should eliminate the leaking.

I absolutely agree, but there is always someone working an angle.

 

[hughdint]

Often I see an out-swinging door threshold installed backwards for an in-swinging door.
This could cause the door to trap water against a bottom sweep-stop of the threshold, and to leak.
What I have seen that works is when the door sits on top of the threshold with a rubber sweep outside and hanging slightly below bottom sweep-stop.