Single Level Hotel Exits

[project.coop]

Here's an interesting project. Why do I always get unusual designs?

So, the project includes single level hotel units. Each unit has a door to an exterior corridor. So the first question, when one leaves their hotel unit have they then exited the building, or have the exited only when they have left the exterior corridor even though they are outside once they've left the hotel unit?

And if we don't consider the door to the units the point of exit, we may need to have a second exit. It would seem that could be done through each unit's patio, but would there be any problems with that if the patio has a glass rail that an occupant would need to hop over to leave the patio?

2015 IBC and 2018 NFPA 101 govern here.

Thanks in advance!

Here's a link a drawing of the condition I'm describing here.

 

[brokenkeys]

Ah, the 'ol is it an exit, exit access, exit discharge game. And based on the picture it seems you went to the exterior exit bonus round. Love the tricky ones.

Can't give you specific feedback but I'd start by identifying your public way and exit discharge locations, whilst reviewing 1022 and 1028 (IBC 2018. 2015 may be different). If you're going up (or down) a full flight of stairs after leaving the hotel room, and egressing through an exterior corridor (or balcony), then your exit discharge is likely elsewhere, and not at the room doors. It looks recessed so probably not an egress balcony (1021) but there are other exterior exit requirements throughout chapter 10.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Once you exit the corridor only then are you in the exit discharge and out of the building

 

[mtlogcabin]

What is the purpose of the exterior corridor? Why are there stairs at the end of the corridor if the units are ground level?

 

[steveray]

Does the corridor have a roof over it?

 

[Paul Sweet]

The corridor has a dead end more than 20 ft. long. You need a way to exit the corridor at both ends.

 

[project.coop]

What is the purpose of the exterior corridor? Why are there stairs at the end of the corridor if the units are ground level?

There is a corridor b/c the building is set into a slope on the corridor side. The stairs follow slope along path returning to parking/main hotel building.

 

[project.coop]

Does the corridor have a roof over it?

It does. There is a green roof over it that merges with slope of grade that corridor is set into.

 

[project.coop]

The corridor has a dead end more than 20 ft. long. You need a way to exit the corridor at both ends.

It will be sprinkled. doesn't that change that?

 

[Paul Sweet]

Sprinklers would give you 50 ft. However, I think the stair would be considered a part of the corridor since you only have one path of travel until you reach the top of the stair.

IBC Table 1006.3.3(2) limits you to 10 occupants per story and a 75 ft. Common Path of Egress Travel distance, which starts at the farthest point in the room.

Could you put a door to grade at the bottom of the stair? That would make this floor at grade plane so Table 1006.3.3(2) wouldn't apply. The door could be exit only, and you would have to walk up to the main level to reenter the building, if security is an issue.

It has been too long since I've dealt with NFPA 101 to know what complications it might create.

 

[ADAguy]

How are accessible rooms to exit to the public way?