When does exterior stair trigger exterior wall protection?

[nealderidder]

Good morning everyone, I've got a question about egress from a roof deck. It's a fairly small building, roughly 25,000 SF per floor. There are two floors above grade (underground parking below). This is in CA under the 2019 CBC. Schematic plan attached.

I've got two interior exit stairs to empty the building. There is a 2FL deck (over enclosed space below) that is large enough to need two exits from it.

First a philosophical question - where does the "exit access", "exit", and "exit discharge" exist for this deck? I'm sending half the folks to the interior stairway so that "exit" is obviously the stairway door. Where is the second "exit"? Is it the top of the open exterior stairway? The bottom?

And a practical question - For exterior stairway #3 - does it trigger the need for exterior wall protection where it runs parallel with the building (red on attached)?

I'm assuming Stair #3 is an exterior exit stair and must comply with 1027. 1027.6 requires a separation from the interior, but does exception #2 apply?

Exception #2 - separation from the building not required where exit stairway is served by a balcony (the deck?) that connects two approved exits (1, the stairway in question and 2, the interior exit Stair #2)?

Any insight would be appreciated. This is all about putting windows in that red area (non-rated windows).

Thank you,

Neal

 

[RLGA]

First a philosophical question - where does the "exit access", "exit", and "exit discharge" exist for this deck? I'm sending half the folks to the interior stairway so that "exit" is obviously the stairway door. Where is the second "exit"? Is it the top of the open exterior stairway? The bottom?

It can be considered an exit at the top of the stair.

And a practical question - For exterior stairway #3 - does it trigger the need for exterior wall protection where it runs parallel with the building (red on attached)?

Exception #2 - separation from the building not required where exit stairway is served by a balcony (the deck?) that connects two approved exits (1, the stairway in question and 2, the interior exit Stair #2)?

Protection is not required, but not per Section 1027.6, Exception 2, but rather Exception 1.

 

[nealderidder]

What a dummy. I read exception one as applying only to R1 or R2 but it applies to everything but R1 or R2. Thanks Ron.

A follow up - my egress for the floor below (1FL) wants to run along side this Stair #3. We have a loading dock to get around and a pretty good grade change to traverse before getting to public way.

On the attached. What would the green area be considered? I feel like I've already "exited" when I hit that green area and am in the "exit discharge" at that point?

I'm not seeing a reason that this egress path from 1FL past Stair #3 would trigger any need to protect that exterior wall behind Stair 3, do you?

Thanks,

 

[RLGA]

What a dummy. I read exception one as applying only to R1 or R2 but it applies to everything but R1 or R2. Thanks Ron.

A follow up - my egress for the floor below (1FL) wants to run along side this Stair #3. We have a loading dock to get around and a pretty good grade change to traverse before getting to public way.

On the attached. What would the green area be considered? I feel like I've already "exited" when I hit that green area and am in the "exit discharge" at that point?

I'm not seeing a reason that this egress path from 1FL past Stair #3 would trigger any need to protect that exterior wall behind Stair 3, do you?

Thanks,

That would be called the exit discharge. No protection required.

 

[steveray]

What is your second accessible MOE from the roof deck? Details will get picky on the exterior stair...FYI

1009.1 Accessible means of egress required. Accessible
means of egress shall comply with this section. Accessible
spaces shall be provided with not less than one accessible
means of egress. Where more than one means of egress are
required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any accessible
space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by
not less than two accessible means of egress.

 

[nealderidder]

What is your second accessible MOE from the roof deck? Details will get picky on the exterior stair...FYI

1009.1 Accessible means of egress required. Accessible
means of egress shall comply with this section. Accessible
spaces shall be provided with not less than one accessible
means of egress. Where more than one means of egress are
required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any accessible
space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by
not less than two accessible means of egress.

It will have be that stairway #3. We'll need to be 48" wide (1009.3) have contrasting visual stripe, closed risers etc. I don't see anything too trick in complying with 11B-504. Am I missing something?

 

[steveray]

Oversized landing, openness....Maybe some others....We struggle with the openness here because weather...You don't have that problem....

 

[nealderidder]

Oversized landing, openness....Maybe some others....We struggle with the openness here because weather...You don't have that problem....

Very true, and this is in San Diego, they barely get weather.

 

[nealderidder]

That would be called the exit discharge. No protection required.

Ron - what would be my argument that this is discharge? Is it simply because I'm outside the building? Any way that green area could be called an exit court?

 

[RLGA]

Ron - what would be my argument that this is discharge? Is it simply because I'm outside the building? Any way that green area could be called an exit court?

A court must be bounded on three or more sides by exterior building walls or other enclosing devices. The exit discharge begins at the termination of an exit. The exterior exit stairs terminate after the last step onto the grade.

 

[ADAguy]

Is it wheelchair accessible or have you provided an area of refuge?