Wording of 1019.3

[Phil B]

Section 1019.3 says “In other than Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies, floor openings containing exit access stairways or ramps that do not comply with one of the conditions listed in this section shall be enclosed with a shaft enclosure constructed in accordance with Section 713”, and goes on to list 6 conditions.

The wording is confusing. Does this mean if you do not meet ANY one of the 8 conditions listed, then you must enclose the stair? I have a 2 story office with an exit stair discharging into the lobby. It’s only open to the 2 floors, is in a sprinklered building, but there is no draft curtain.

Does this mean I can’t have the open stair per condition 4 that says “Exit access stairways and ramps in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, where the area of the vertical opening between stories does not exceed twice the horizontal projected area of the stairway or ramp and the opening is protected by a draft curtain and closely spaced sprinklers in accordance with NFPA 13. In other than Group B and M occupancies, this provision is limited to openings that do not connect more than four stories.”

Thank you!

 

[RLGA]

It means if you have a Group I-2 or I-3, Section 1019.3 does not apply and you have to use Section 1019.4 instead.

 

[TheCommish]

floor openings containing exit access stairways or ramps that do not comply with one of the conditions

It means if if the stairway does not comply with one of the 8 conditions (fits in the description of the 8 listed) or is I-2 or I-3, you must comply with section 713

 

[RLGA]

Just for everyone's information, the 2021 IBC changed the eight conditions to exceptions and added a ninth exception.

 

[Sifu]

So I just checked the 21 code to see the added exception/condition. Maybe I am being dense, but wouldn't an exterior exit stair be unenclosed by definition? The definition for exterior exit stair requires the stair to be open to "yards, courts or public ways". Granted, a roof top is not a yard or public way, but by definition might be a court. Either way, the dictionary definition of just exterior would still seem to indicate they open, meaning unclosed. I checked the code change proposals but don't see the one that initiated the new exception/condition, so I am trying to figure out reasoning for it.

 

[RLGA]

So I just checked the 21 code to see the added exception/condition. Maybe I am being dense, but wouldn't an exterior exit stair be unenclosed by definition? The definition for exterior exit stair requires the stair to be open to "yards, courts or public ways". Granted, a roof top is not a yard or public way, but by definition might be a court. Either way, the dictionary definition of just exterior would still seem to indicate they open, meaning unclosed. I checked the code change proposals but don't see the one that initiated the new exception/condition, so I am trying to figure out reasoning for it.

It was Proposal E18-18, but in the proponent's reason statement, he did not mention why the ninth exception/condition was added. I know the proponent, and it was done through the AIA, of which I was on their codes and standards committee at the time. However, I do not recall discussing this change even if it was brought up for discussion.

However, you said in your post "exterior exit stair," which is a specific type of exit described in Section 1027. Section 1019.3 addresses exterior exit access stairs, which have no criteria in Section 1019; thus, the added exceptions provided by Proposal E18-18. Otherwise, without the exceptions, an exterior stair would be, by default, required to be enclosed.