Stage Egress route past stage curtain allowable?

[GoGoGadget]

Doing an egress analysis for an existing stage at an elementary school which has an occupant load of 45, requiring only one exit per chapter 10. The exit from the stage would be the main stairs leading up to it from the audience side. If the existing flame-retardant stage curtain were to be in the closed position, could this main stage stairway still be considered an adequate exit/ egress route? Occupants would theoretically have to go past the closed curtain to access the stairs and there is no breakaway safety feature on the existing curtain. Is this allowable? I can't find anything specific in the code not allowing this to occur, even in chapter 4 special provisions for stages.

 

[fatboy]

I would not allow it.

2018 IBC 1022.2

Means of egress doors shall be readily distinguishable
from the adjacent construction and finishes such that the
doors are easily recognizable as doors. Mirrors or similar
reflecting materials shall not be used on means of egress
doors. Means of egress doors shall not be concealed by curtains,
drapes, decorations or similar materials.

 

[GoGoGadget]

Thank you for your insight. I had also seen this section of code but I interpreted it to mean that an egress door can’t be disguised or hidden by a curtain hanging directly over the door. In this scenario, occupants of the performance stage would need to navigate beyond the stage curtain (if it happens to be closed while the stage is occupied), and descend the stairs at the front of the stage (4 steps) which lead directly into an open auditorium. From that point, there are 3 visible exit doors nearby that all lead outside. With the code section logic you had responded with above, I could argue that a medical curtain often seen in shared patient rooms/ medical offices/ health centers, drawn around patient exam tables, would also create a visibility barrier to the exam room exit door and wouldn’t be allowed either. Thoughts? Creating a second exit behind the stage curtain's path would be a burden to this project (existing condition), so I'm trying to assemble an argument that holds water with the AHJ for not having to create one if this were to come up. Any feedback is much appreciated.

 

[bill1952]

I'll look for a recent project of mine with same issues and figure out how to post a clip. Basically a ramp and handrails (you do have an accesible route to stage I assume) to one side and curtain never blocks it - it only tracks to opposite side. Not beautiful but safe and they don't use curtain much anyways, and it's in a daylit room and upstage wall is all window, so light control is not an issue.

 

[GoGoGadget]

Thank you

 

[bill1952]

I *think* this will get you to 60% CD drawing. Ultimately, for budget, we deleted the main curtain.

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[bill1952]

sorry, wrong link, try this one.

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Plan view lower left.

 

[GoGoGadget]

Thank you for your help.