NCIDQ (Codes Book) - Chapter 5: Means of Egress

What are two types of door pulls that can be considered accessible?

Lever, push-type, panic bar, and U-shape

Other than the above, what is the narrowest allowable corridor width? Which occupancies and conditions allow this width?

36" occupancy load of less than 50Table 1020.3

Name the four main interior-related components of a means of egress.

Exit, exit access, exit discharge, area of refuge

Match the scenarios on the left with the means of egress components shown on the right. Fill in the appropriate letter on the lines shown. (A. exit access B. exit C. Exit discharge D. public way) __ 1. An exterior door __ 2. A corridor __ 3. An office __ 4. A stairwell __ 5. After descending four flights of stairs, you leave the stairwell and find yourself in the lobby __ 6. An alley that is 8ft wide by open to the sky __ 7. An aisle in an open office area between furniture system workstations

1. B 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. C 6. C 7. A

diameter of type 1 circular handrail

1.25 - 2 inches

nosing projection

1.5" max

tread depth

11" min

A stairway must have an intermediate landing if it rises more than how many feet?

12 feet

stairway rise without landing

12 ft max

Typically, the lowest number of exits allowed form a room, floor, or building is _______ exits.

2

What is the narrowest allowable corridor? Which condition allows this width?

24" Access to and utilization of mechanical, plumbing or electrical systems or equipment. Table 1020.3

The building codes, the ICC A117.1 standard, and the ADA Standards specify that when in an open position, a door must provide a minimum clear width of ___________.

32 inches

Door operating hardware must be installed between ____________ above the finished floor.

34-38 inches

height of handrail

34-38 inches

riser height

7" max

minimum headroom height

80 inches

What is the largest required width according to this table? Which occupancy requires the widest (minimum) corridors?

96" Hospitals or I-2Table 1020.3

Furniture is allowed in the following spaces by the codes:

A lobby that is part of the exit discharge. A lobby that is not part of an exit discharge.

What is the typical head clearance required in an exit and exit access way? A. 80 inches B. 84 inches C. 90 inches D. 96 inches

A. 80 inches

Foyers and vestibules are examples of which of the following? A. exit discharge B. public ways C. exit access D. exits

A. Exit discharge

Which of the following statements about interior means of egress doors is not correct? A. They must have a minimum clear opening that is 36 inches wide. B. The floor level on both sides of the door cannot be more than inch below the top of the threshold. C. They cannot reduce any required landing by more than 7 inches when fully open. D. All of the above are correct.

A. They must have a minimum clear opening that is 36 inches wide.

Which of the following is not considered a type of exit? A. Exit stair B. Exit corridor C. Exterior door D. Horizontal exit

A. exit stair

Horizontal exits are most commonly found in which of the following occupancy classifications? A. institutional B. Mercantile C. Residential D. Educational

A. institutional

If an elevator is used as an exit in a means of egress, which of the following statements would not be correct? A. the elevator is required to have an area of refuge located somewhere in each floor B. the elevator shaft and the adjacent lobby on each floor are required to be fire rated C. the elevator is required to be connected to standby power D. all of the above are correct

A. the elevator is required to have an area of refuge located somewhere in each floor.

What component of a means of egress is sometimes required for persons with disabilities?

Area of refuge

An accessible ramp in a means of egress should have a slope no greater than what ratio? A. 1:8 B. 1:12 C. 1:18 D. 1:20

B. 1:12

What is the maximum dead-end corridor length typically allowed by the codes in a non-sprinklered building? A. 15 feet B. 20 feet C. 25 feet D. 30 feet

B. 20 feet

Which of the following means of egress must always be fully enclosed? A. intervening rooms B. exit stair C. exit access stairs D. all of the above

B. Exit stair

Which of the following statements is not correct? A. To calculate the exit widths for a whole building, you must calculate the occupant load for each floor separately. B. To calculate the exit widths for a whole floor with different occupancies, you must calculate the occupant load based on the tenant with the highest load factor. C. To calculate the exit widths for a corridor connecting several tenants, you must calculate the total occupant load for the floor. D. All of the above are correct.

B. To calculate the exit widths for a whole floor with different occupancies, you must calculate the occupant load based on the tenant with the highest load factor.

Which of the following statements about stair-related codes is correct? A. the minimum riser height is 7 inches. B. the minimum tread length is 11 inches. C. Spiral stairs are not allowed in the means of egress. D. Handrails are always required on both sides of the stairs.

B. the minimum tread length is 11 inches.

Which of the following statements is not correct? A. the width of an exit access corridor can typically be based on half of the required occupant load if it leads to two separate exits on the same floor. B. the width of an exit stairway can sometimes be reduced as it travels toward the exit discharge C. One exit is often allowed in small buildings or spaces, depending on the number of occupants and/or the travel distance D. All of the above are correct

B. the width of an exit stairway can sometimes be reduced as it travels toward the exit discharge

Which of the following statements about aisle access ways at tables and chairs is not correct? A. their required width is measured to the back of the chair, not the table B. their required width is usually less than that of the adjacent aisle C. 18 inches is the width assumed by the code to be needed for a chair D. their required width may have to be increased in some cases to allow for accessibility

C. 18 inches is the width assumed by the code to be needed for a chair

What is the typical minimum corridor with required by the building codes in most occupancies? A. 32 inches B. 36 inches C. 44 inches D. 48 inches

C. 44 inches

Which of the following would most likely not be allowed as an intervening room as required by the means of egress codes? A. a reception area in an accounting firm B. a secretarial area in a law firm C. a file/supply room in an advertising firm D. a front lobby in a large brokerage firm

C. a file/supply room in an advertising firm

Locking of doors within the means of egress path must follow these conditions:

Cannot be locked in the direction of egress because locking would hinder egress. Can always be locked in the non-egress direction. Can be locked in the direction of egress to prevent occupants from leaving an area. a and b. All of the above.

Which of the following codes can affect the requirements of a stair? A. IBC B. LSC C. ICCPC D. All of the above

D. All of the above

In most cases, nothing is allowed to reduce the width of an exit. Which of the following is a typical exception allowed by the code? A. Doors that do not project more than 7 inches when fully open. B. Wall trim that is less than inch think. C. Handrails that meet ADA requirements. D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.

What is the term for the maximum distance a person should have to travel from any position in a building to the nearest exit? A. Means of egress B. Natural path of travel C. Common path of travel D. Travel distance

D. Travel distance

Correctly calculating the occupant load of a space is important for determining which of the following? A. the number of exits B. the width of an exit C. the location of an exit D. a and b

D. a and b

Which of the following items are typically required at an area of refuge? A. a two-way communication device B. a sprinkler system C. a clear floor space D. a and c

D. a and c

Which of the following statements about a means of egress is NOT correct? A. It is a continuous and unobstructed path of travel B. It can consist of vertical and horizontal passageways. C. It affects al buildings, new and existing. D. all of the above are correct

D. all of the above are correct

Name the two types of means of egress illumination required by the code in a high-rise building.

Emergency lighting and luminous egress path markings

True/False All interior egress doors must swing in the direction of travel to the exit.

False

True/False If the width of an alley or sidewalk is more than 10 feet wide, it is no longer considered a public way.

False

True/False No doorway can be more than 48 inches wide.

False

True/False Every element within the path of travel throughout a building is considered part of the means of egress.

False A means of egress must be an unobstructed path that leads a person safely out of a building. The pathway must meet certain code requirements. For example, although escalators and elevators are often used as part of the general circulation within a building, the codes generally do not allow them to be a means of egress unless very specific code requirements are met.

A handrail is required:

Only on one side of a stair. On both sides of the stair. It is not always required.

The final destination in a means of egress is always a____.

Public way

When three exits are required in a space, the third exit should be placed as ____________ as possible.

Remotely

Which of the following stair types are allowed by the code in commercial projects?

Straight run, curved, winder, spiral, scissor, switchback, and alternating tread stairs are allowed.

Guards are required when:

There is no adjacent wall at a ramp or stair. Only at stairs with a change in elevation greater than 30 inches.

True/False The main difference between a corridor and an aisle is that a corridor is typically surrounded by full-height walls and an aisle is created by furniture or equipment.

True

True/False When determining the number of exits in a multi-story building, the floor with the largest occupant load determines the number of required exits for all lower floors that lead to the ground level.

True

When is additional signage often required in the following locations?

When an egress door is locked or has delayed exit. When the occupant load is lower than calculated by the load factor method. When all exits are not accessible. a and c. All of the above.

As part of a means of egress, a corridor is enclosed; but an _________ is not.

aisle

A space or area where persons who are unable to use a stairway (or elevator) can remain temporarily to await instructions or assistance during an emergency evacuation is referred to as the _________.

area of refuge

The secondary space that is created as part of a "defend in place" exit strategy is referred to as the _____________.

area of refuge

When deciding if a door handle or device is accessible, a common criterion is:

can the device be operated with a closed fist or cupped hand

____________ is the measured distance that a person must travel in only one direction before there is a choice of two optional directions to exits or exit access doorways.

common path of travel

The means of egress is most commonly described as a _________ and _________ path of travel _______________ in a building to its exterior or a ___________

continuous unobstructed from any point public way

Four types of locking systems that do not allow an occupant to freely open a door include:

controlled egress/ free egress; delayed egress; sensor release system or locked egress doors

Doors within the means of egress path typically swing in which direction?

direction of exit travel

Door components that can protrude into the minimum door height include:

door closers, overhead door stops, power door operators, and electro-magnetic door locks.

Although used predominately in the past, this type of hardware device is not typically used in commercial buildings because they do not meet accessible requirements of the building codes, ADA standards or ICC A117.1.

doorknobs

Name the two general types of electric locking systems:

electromechanical, electromagnetic

An ______________ opening is most often required in sleeping rooms within residential occupancies in addition to the general means of egress system.

emergency escape and rescue

The portion of a means of egress between the exit access and the exit discharge or public way is refer to as the _______.

exit

There are two primary strategies for the means of egress: _________ and __________.

exit defend in place

A door that opens from a room, is used to connect adjacent rooms or spaces to the exit access corridor, but not to an exit, is an ____________ doorway.

exit access

The portion of a means of egress that leads from any occupied area to the entrance of an exit is referred to as the __________.

exit access

An ___________ stair is typically not required to be enclosed: an ___________ stair is always enclosed by fire-resistant-rated partitions.

exit access, exterior

An _________________ is the part of a means of egress that connects and exit with a public way.

exit discharge

The portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and the public way is called the _________.

exit discharge

For certain occupancies including Assembly, Educational/Daycare, Hazardous and additional occupancies with an occupant load of 50, the code may require the use of an ______________ device.

exit hardware

An __________ is most often used to limit the trail distance and to extend an exit into the building.

exit passageway

A door is always considered an exit.

false

Because exit discharge occurs outside the building, an interior space cannot be part of the exit discharge.

false

Exit and exit accesses are required to be fully enclosed.

false

Handrails on stairs are required to be circular by the codes.

false

The width of corridors and aisles is regulated by the codes. But the width of the space between the front of the seat and the back of the seat in front of a seating arrangement is not.

false

Where the swing of the door will impede on the required exit width within a corridor, a sliding door is allowed instead.

false

The maximum opening forces typically do not apply to two types of doors. Name them: __________ and ___________.

fire-rated, exterior

A series of stairs from one floor or landing to another is called a __________ of stairs.

flight

A _________ can be a part of a "defend in place" means of egress strategy for a building.

horizontal exit

Conditions that would allow an exit access stair to be open (not enclosed with walls) include:

if it does not connect more than a certain number of floors (varies by occupancy). It serves a mezzanine or balcony. The building is sprinklered.

Three factors typically determine which type of door hardware can or must be used. Give these three factors.

location of the door, how many occupants using the door, and the occupancy classification

In addition to an exit sign, name another type of exiting sign that may be required by the codes.

no exit, stair number, floor number, area of refuge

bottom handrail extension

one tread depth

Two basic types of exit hardware include ____________ and ______________.

panic hardware, fire exit hardware

A fire resistance-rated corridor that connects the bottom of an exit stair to an exterior exit door is called an exit _____________.

passageway

When greater exit width than provided by a single door is required for the means of egress, this can be achieved by:

providing multiple doors at that location. Providing a wider door at that location. Providing another door at a separate exit location. All of the above.

The final destination of the means of egress is always a ___________.

public way

_____________ are required in correctional and healthcare facilities including ambulatory care facilities to separate areas within a single floor of the building to provide better fire protection.

smoke compartments

Vertical components of the means of egress can include ________, _________, and, in special cases __________, .

stairs, ramps, elevators

When determining the number of exits on an entire floor,

the quantity is also affected by the number of occupants on the floors above.

____________ is the measurement of the distance between the most remote, Travel point of an area, room, or building floor to the nearest exit.

travel distance

Even when a door closer is used, the maximum allowable force to operate the door still applies.

true

The building cods include requirements that will allow an elevator to be used as a part of the means of egress.

true

The codes regulate several characteristics of a door within the exit access including the __________, _____________, and direction of ____________.

type, size, swing