• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Second exit through a conference room

COarch

REGISTERED
Joined
Nov 27, 2020
Messages
5
Location
Colorado
I’m consulting on an a remodel to an existing tenant space in an existing building. The layout was prepared by a space planner working for the tenant and I’ll be working with the contractor to submit the plans for permit.

Project specifics:
2018 IBC, Type III-B building, multi-tenant, fully sprinklered
Area of tenant space = 3,800 s.f.
B Occupancy. Occupant load = 3,800 / 150 = 26

The occupant load does not require a second exit but the common path of egress travel will exceed the 100’ allowed for a sprinklered building, B occupancy. Here, the CPET would be 156’.
Everything in me says providing the second exit through the conference room is not allowed. The conference room should be considered an accessory use to the tenant space and would not have a lock (1016.2.2 and 1016.2.3), but I personally have never designed a required exit that passes through a conference room before.

Bottom line: Is exiting through the conference room in this scenario allowed?
 
Some basic information is missing:
  • Is the conference accessible by all tenants?
  • Is it the conference room that causes the CPET to exceed 100 feet?
 
Welcome

A floor plan would help

Code allows intervening room as long as not obstructed or locked

One story or more building ??
 
Some basic information is missing:
  • Is the conference accessible by all tenants?
  • Is it the conference room that causes the CPET to exceed 100 feet?
Conference room is only accessible to this tenant space.
With the proposed remodel, the CPET length to just outside the new conference room is 75 feet. If exiting through the conference room is not allowed, CPET to main exit is 156 feet.

Apologies, I had a floor plan image ready to include for clarity but haven't figured out how to insert it here (forum newbie).
 
Welcome

A floor plan would help

Code allows intervening room as long as not obstructed or locked

One story or more building ??
Two story building. Tenant space is on the main level.
I would specify passage only hardware for the conference room door (no locks).

I'll work on getting a floor plan share.
 
I don't see any issue with this as long as the door from the office space into the conference room does not have a lock. I also think your occupant load calculation is low. The conference room and the break room should be calculated at 1 person per 15SF, the remainder of the suite can than be a 1 per 150sf gross calculation.
 
Thank you Tim, cda and RLGA for your help on this.
Looks like I've learned something today!
 
Back
Top