IBC Chapter 10 - Means of Egress Flashcards

Means of Egress Overview

• Ceiling height for means of egress must be a minimum of 7' 6". Exceptions apply for specific structures like stairs and ramps.
• Protruding objects should maintain a minimum headroom of 80" and cannot reduce ceiling height by more than 50%.

Elevation and Ramp Requirements

• Changes in elevation less than 12 inches must be achieved with a sloped surface, not stairs.
• Ramps with a rise of 6 inches or less require either handrails or contrasting floor materials.

Stair Design Specifications

• Stairs with up to 2 risers require a minimum tread depth of 13" and a handrail within 30" of the center.
• Minimum width for stairways is 44 inches; for occupant loads under 50 maximum minimum width can be 36 inches.

Elevator and Egress Considerations

• Elevators and escalators do not count as means of egress unless required for accessibility in buildings of 4 stories or more.

Occupant Load and Egress Capacity

• The occupant load of mezzanines must be combined with that of the room they are accessed from for means of egress sizing.
• Occupant loads from adjacent stories are generally not added, except for egress components designed for convergence.

Tables for Occupancy and Travel Distance

• Table 1004.1.2 defines maximum floor area per occupant across various uses, ranging from 5 net for standing areas to 300 gross for accessory storage.
• Common path of travel lengths vary depending on occupancy, typically capped at 75 feet, extendable to 100 feet for specific occupancies if sprinklered.

Door and Landing Specifications

• Egress doors must be a minimum of 32 inches clear and swing in the direction of egress travel if the occupant load is 50 or more.
• Required landings at doors must have a minimum width of the door or stair width and cannot project into landing more than 7 inches.

Handrail and Guard Requirements

• Handrails must be installed on both sides of stairways, with a height range of 34 to 38 inches.
• Guards are required for open sides of floors more than 30 inches above the floor below.

Egress Conditions for Stairs and Ramps

• Maximum vertical rise for stairs must not exceed 12 feet.
• Intermediate handrails are required on stairs with widths exceeding 60 inches to ensure accessibility.

Special Egress Solutions

• Areas of refuge must be available on accessible exit routes, accommodating 30" x 48" for every 200 occupants.
• Exterior areas of assisted rescue must allow accessible routes from exit discharge to public ways.

Horizontal Exits and Fire Safety

• Horizontal exits cannot serve as the only exit and require a minimum separation of 2 hours if within main building compartments.
• Fire separation distances for exterior egress balconies require a minimum of 10 feet from any building boundary.

Miscellaneous Egress Guidelines

• Open-ended corridors must connect to exterior exit stairways and fulfill specific conditions for separation requirements.
• Exit discharge routes must be at grade and cannot lead back into the building.

Accessibility and Special Provisions

• At least one accessible means of egress is mandated for accessible spaces; additional accessible routes are required under certain occupancy circumstances.
• Spiral stairs and alternate tread devices are permitted only in restricted access areas serving no more than 5 people.

This summary provides an outline of key points essential for understanding the regulations and requirements associated with means of egress as per IBC Chapter 10.### Exit Path Requirements

• A free and unobstructed path to exit must be provided.
• An exit level must be separate from any basement below.
• Paths must be protected by a sprinkler system.
• Any other exit access stairway should be at least 30 feet apart or one-quarter of the overall diagonal distance.

Vestibule Regulations

• Maximum 50% of exit stairs may end in a vestibule if certain conditions are met.
• The vestibule must be separated from the level below.
• Depth of the vestibule is limited to 10 feet, with a maximum length of 30 feet.
• It must have a fire partition isolating it from the building and should open directly to the outside.

Egress Court Specifications

• Egress courts must have a minimum width of 44 inches.
• They should allow for a gradual reduction in width.
• If the width is less than 10 feet, walls must be rated for one hour.

Exit Discharge Access

• Unobstructed access to a public way is essential from the exit discharge.
• If unobstructed access is not feasible, a safe dispersal area of 5 square feet per person should be provided at least 50 feet away from the building.

Assembly Space Exits

• For occupant loads exceeding 300, the main exit must be at least half the required width to accommodate all paths leading to it.
• Other exits should accommodate at least half of the required capacity based on occupant load.
• The main exit should open to a public space or street.

Aisle Width Requirements

• Minimum aisle width is 48 inches for stepped aisles with seats on both sides.
• For stepped aisles with seats on one side, the minimum width is 36 inches.
• Aisles that are ramped must have widths of 42 inches for both sides or 36 inches for one side.

Ramped Aisle Specifications

• Accessible ramped aisles must have a maximum slope of 1:12.
• Other ramped aisles should not exceed a slope of 1:8.
• Handrails must be present for slopes greater than 1:15 unless seating is on both sides.

Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings

• Required for R2 and R3 occupancy types located in basements and sleeping areas below the 4th story.
• Openings must lead to a public way or a yard/court that connects to a public way.
• Openings are not necessary if the basement or sleeping room features an exit door that opens outside.

Stepped Aisle Regulations

• Minimum tread depth for stepped aisles must be 11 inches.
• Riser heights must be a minimum of 4 inches and a maximum of 8 inches.