Stories with one exit for mixed occupancies

[Sifu]

2018 IBC 1006.3.3.1.

1006.3.3.1 Mixed occupancies. Where one exit, or exit
access stairway or ramp providing access to exits at
other stories, is permitted to serve individual stories,
mixed occupancies shall be permitted to be served by
single exits provided each individual occupancy complies
with the applicable requirements of Table
1006.3.3(1) or 1006.3.3(2) for that occupancy. Where
applicable, cumulative occupant loads from adjacent
occupancies shall be considered to be in accordance
with the provisions of Section 1004.1. In each story of a
mixed occupancy building, the maximum number of
occupants served by a single exit shall be such that the
sum of the ratios of the calculated number of occupants
of the space divided by the allowable number of occupants
indicated in Table 1006.3.3(2) for each occupancy
does not exceed one.

I am a little thrown off by this section. Is it saying a story above the first floor could have one exit id each occupant space had < 29 (all B) with access to that exit?

I have had a question posed about a remodel of a two story building, that has two exits, but one of the occupants will only have access to one of them. Here is the scenario:

A two story building contains two occupants. It has a stair on each end of the building. The smaller space has < 30 occupants (20), and has access to one stair on it's side of the building. The larger space has >30 occupants (40), but has sole access to the stair on it's side, plus the one on the other side. So the larger occupant has two compliant MOE's, the smaller only one. The story has two MOE's. Is this permitted?

If I read the section correctly the answer would be no if the story had only one exit. But it has two, so I am thrown. I could swear this exact scenario has been discussed on this forum but I searched and can't find it.

I attached a VERY poor drawing, I can't make out the scale to check distances or actual occupant loads so compliance with other code requirements is assumed for this discussion. Each individual space has the required number of exits. The story has the required number of exits. The access to the exits is in question. I advised that the architect should explore this section and do an analysis based on it, but I'm not sure the concept is sound.

 

[steveray]

And it is <75' to get out of the building from these spaces on the second floor?

 

[Sifu]

I am making assumptions that the other requirements are met. This question came from another code official and my knowledge is limited, and certainly can't be verified in the drawings. That would all need to be confirmed in his analysis. I am just seeking to understand the concept.

I think if each space has less than 30, and the 75' is met then a single exit would be permitted as long as each space has compliant access to that exit. In this case each space has access to one exit, and the larger space has access to two. That complies with t1006.2.1 for spaces. The story has two exits, which complies with 1006.3. Each tenant has access to the required exits without passing through another tenant space which complies with 1016.2.1. My issue is the "required exits" mentioned in 1016.2.1. Each space has the required exit access for the spaces but each space won't have the required exit access if the story requires two exits.

 

[ADAguy]

Is the second floor less than 3,000 sf?

 

[Sifu]

No. Not sure the exact area and scale isn't visible.

 

[cda]

My review would say,

All tenants are requried to be able to use both stairs, with out going through a locked door.

 

[Sifu]

Totally get it, code says exit access must be provided to all required exits. My question is about the required part of the sentence. Only one exit is required from the small tenant space, so that is satisfied. Since the story is required to have two exits but they can't use the second exit I am in a quandary.

RLGA...…We seem to have had this discussion before and you offered an opinion but I can't put my finger on it.