Two-way communication & multiple levels of exit discharge

[Redmund]

IBC 1009.8 requires a two-way communication device at each elevator landing that is not at the level of exit discharge. Given the following:

• A commercial building has a basement level which includes exterior exits.
• The basement level exterior exits discharge out to stair landings. These landings and stairs up to the street level grade are open to the sky.
• The designer is calling these basement level exterior landings as Exterior Areas for Assisted Rescue per IBC 1009.7.

Would the basement level exterior exits that go out to the exterior areas for assisted rescue be considered as a level of exit discharge (meaning the building would have two levels of exit discharge)? The issue is whether a two-way communication device will be needed at the elevator landing at the basement level.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

The way I look at it even if they already have the required amount of accessible exits in the basement they still require an elevator for an accessible egress and the two way communication if the building has 4 or more stories above the level of discharge :

1009.2.1 Elevators required. In buildings where a
required accessible floor is four or more stories above or
below a level of exit discharge, not less than one required
accessible means of egress shall be an elevator complying
with Section 1009.4.

If less than two stories you don't need the elevator as an means of egress for the basement which means you don't need the area of refuge at the elevator but still need the 2 way communication at the elevator landing unless their were ramps from the basement or any other exceptions under 1009.8.

 

[redeyedfly]

IBC 1009.8 requires a two-way communication device at each elevator landing that is not at the level of exit discharge. Given the following:

• A commercial building has a basement level which includes exterior exits.
• The basement level exterior exits discharge out to stair landings. These landings and stairs up to the street level grade are open to the sky.
• The designer is calling these basement level exterior landings as Exterior Areas for Assisted Rescue per IBC 1009.7.

Would the basement level exterior exits that go out to the exterior areas for assisted rescue be considered as a level of exit discharge (meaning the building would have two levels of exit discharge)? The issue is whether a two-way communication device will be needed at the elevator landing at the basement level.

You may have more than one level of exit discharge. "Basements" in buildings built on a slope which walk out to grade often have two levels of exit discharge. The two-way communication is intended to allow people needing assistance to get to the exit discharge to call for it. If they're already on a level of exit discharge then it is not necessary.

 

[Redmund]

Thanks for the responses, this is very helpful information.