Questions and Answers
It shall be unlawful to alter a building or structure in a manner that will ____ the number of exits or the minimum width or required capacity of the means of egress to less than required by the code.
reduce
What is defined as a continuous and unobstructed way of egress travel from any accessible point in a building or facility to public way?
Accessible means of egress
What is the term for an enclosed exit access component that defines and provides a path of egress travel to an exit?
corridor
What is an operable window, door or other similar device that provides for a means of escape and access for rescue in the event of an emergency?
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What is the story at the point at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge begins?
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What is defined as a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way?
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What is the term for the number of persons for which the means of egress of a building or portion thereof is designed?
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What type of hardware incorporates a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force in the direction of egress travel?
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The means of egress shall have a ceiling height of not less than ____ ____.
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Every room or space that is an assembly occupancy shall have the occupant load of the room or space ____ in a conspicuous place.
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For areas having fixed seating without dividing arms, the occupant load shall not be less than the number of seats based on one person for each ____ inches of seating length.
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Not more than ____ percent of the ceiling area of a means of egress shall be reduced in required height by protruding objects.
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Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway is more than ____ feet from the nearest visible exit sign.
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The emergency power system for required means of egress illumination shall provide power for a duration of not less than ____ minutes.
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Guards shall be located along open-sided surfaces that are located more than ____ inches above the floor or grade below.
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In general, the minimum width of each door opening shall provide a clear width of ____ inches.
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Doors shall swing in the direction of egress travel where servicing a room or area containing an occupant load of _____ or more persons.
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There shall not be projections into the required clear width of a means of egress door lower than _____ inches above the floor or ground.
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The force for pushing open interior swinging egress doors, other than fire doors, shall not exceed ____ pounds.
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Thresholds at doorways shall not exceed ____ inch in height above the finished floor for sliding doors serving dwelling units or ____ inch for other doors.
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Doors in the fully open position shall not reduce a required dimension by more than ____ inches.
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Egress doors shall be readily openable from the ____ side without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
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Stairways shall have a minimum headroom clearance of ____ inches measured vertically from a line connection the edge of the nosings.
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In general, stair riser heights shall be ____ inches maximum and ____ inches minimum.
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The tolerance between the largest and smallest riser in any flight of stairs shall not exceed ____ inch.
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The leading edge (nosings) of stair treads shall project not more than ____ inches beyond the tread below.
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A spiral stairway shall have a 7-1/2 inch minimum clear tread depth at a point ____ inches from the narrow edge.
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The rise for any ramp run shall be ____ inches maximum.
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Type I handrails with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter of at least ____ inches and not greater than ____ inches.
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Where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, the exit access shall be arranged such that there are no dead ends in corridors more than ____ in length.
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Four exits shall be provided from any story or occupied roof with an occupant load greater than ____.
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The long side of an egress balcony shall be at least ____ percent open.
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Exit passageway enclosures shall have walls, floors and ceilings of not less than a - fire-resistance rating.
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For horizontal exits, the capacity of the refuge area shall be computed on a net floor area allowance of ____ square feet for each occupant to be accommodated therein.
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Where two or more exits are required, not more than ____ of the total number of exits or total exit width shall be horizontal exits.
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In other than Group R-3 and U occupancies, the minimum width of egress courts shall not be less than _____ inches.
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A smoke-protected assembly seating area with a roof shall have the lowest portion of the roof deck not less than ____ feet above the highest aisle or aisle access way.
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For balconies, galleries or press boxes having a seating capacity of ____ or more located in a building, room or space used for assembly purposes, at least two means of egress shall be provided.
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In Group A occupancies, exits and aisles shall be so located that the travel distance to an exit door shall not be greater than ____ feet measured along the line of travel in nonsprinklered buildings.
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Basements with a ceiling height of less than ____ inches shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue windows.
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Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of ____ square feet.
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Emergency escape and rescue openings minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be ____ inches. The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be ____ inches.
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Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have the bottom of the clear opening not greater than ____ inches measured from the floor.
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Window wells serving an emergency escape and rescue opening with a vertical depth of more than ____ inches shall be equipped with an approved permanently affixed ladder or steps.
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Study Notes
Egress Requirements and Definitions
- Altering a building's exits or capacity in violation of code is unlawful.
- Accessible means of egress defines a continuous pathway from any point to a public way.
- A corridor provides an enclosed pathway leading to an exit.
- Emergency escape and rescue openings allow for escape and rescue access during emergencies.
- Level of exit discharge indicates where an exit terminates and discharge begins.
Means of Egress
- Means of egress includes three parts: exit access, exit, and exit discharge.
- Occupant load pertains to the maximum number of people that the egress is designed to accommodate.
- Panic hardware provides a door-latching assembly that releases under force in the direction of egress travel.
Ceiling Heights and Exits
- Minimum ceiling height in means of egress must be 7 feet 6 inches, with specific exceptions.
- Occupant load must be posted in assembly occupancies near the main exit.
- For fixed seating, the occupant load is one person per 18 inches of seating length.
Egress Door Specifications
- No protrusions should reduce egress width by more than 50 percent.
- Exit signs must be placed so no point in an exit corridor is more than 100 feet from an exit sign.
- Emergency power for egress illumination must last at least 90 minutes.
Guard and Handrail Regulations
- Guards required for surfaces above 30 inches high; a minimum height of 42 inches is typically needed.
- Guards must prevent passage of a sphere 21 inches in diameter if near the roof edge.
Door and Stairway Specifications
- Minimum clear width of door openings must be 32 inches; height should be at least 80 inches.
- Certain doors must swing towards egress travel where occupant loads exceed 50 people.
- Clear width must not have projections lower than 34 inches and the push/pull force should not exceed 5 pounds.
Stairway Design
- Minimum stairway headroom clearance is 80 inches; width generally should not be less than 44 inches.
- Riser heights must be between 4 and 7 inches, with tread depths of at least 11 inches.
- Stairs must be uniform; tolerance between risers or treads should not exceed 3/8 inch.
Vertical and Horizontal Exits
- Maximum rise for any ramp run must not exceed 30 inches.
- Horizontal exits should ideally not make up more than half of total required exits.
- At least two means of egress required for assembly areas with seating capacity over 50.
Rescue Opening Specifications
- Basements under 80 inches do not require emergency escape windows.
- Emergency escape openings must have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet.
- Minimum dimensions for rescue openings must be 24 inches in height and 20 inches in width.
Summary of Exit and Egress Design
- All exits need to be strategically placed to ensure travel distance does not exceed 200 feet in non-sprinklered buildings (250 feet if sprinklered).
- Requirements exist for emergency escape openings, including maximum height from the floor and specifications for window wells over 44 inches deep.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key concepts from Chapter 10 of the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) with these flashcards. Designed for easy memorization, the cards cover essential definitions related to egress and building regulations. Perfect for students and professionals in architecture and construction.
