PRAC Ch. 8 Egress

When is a MEP inspection typically done on site? What other inspections are typically done? Who is responsible for scheduling the inspections?

MEP inspection is done after framing inspection is complete and before gwb has been installed. A wallboard inspection is done to verify fire rating. All inspections are a responsibility of the contractor to make happen at the appropriate times.

What is the MIN. corridor width for residential?

36" because the occupant load is less than 50, but include 48" where ADA requires.

Egress doors must swing in which direction for rooms with an occupancy of 50 or more? And be what kind of door?

In the direction of travel (people moving in a panic) Side hinged or pivoting doors only with a closer. For Assembly these must also have a panic bar.

When a building is unsprinklered, what is the distance required for two exits?

1/2 the total distance of the building

When fully open, a door opening onto an egress path can extend into the egress path no more than _________ inches.

Can extend no more than 7".

What is the common path of egress travel?

Common path of egress travel is the path an occupant is on before two separate paths to an an exit are available. Not to exceed 100'.

What drawings should be submitted to the AHJ for permitting? (everything to cover the city per code)

-Drawings to show scope of work: architectural, MEP, and structural plans, elevations, sections and details showing code compliance. -Location plan (site plan) -Egress plan and occupancy calculations -Fire rated partitions, doors, and openings -Exit signs and fire extinguisher locations -Fire protection drawings -Project specifications

Additionally, the following may be included on the cover or beginning pages when submitting for permit?

-Names and addresses of architect and consultants -Address of project -Codes being used -Area of space -Construction type and occupancy groups -Occupant load calculations -Whether building is sprinklered -Area of new construction

What triggers the need for a 2nd exit? (3)

-Occupant load (over 49 in A,B,E,F,M,U) -Common path of travel distance exceeds 100' -Large occupant load (3 exits when over 500 occupants)

What are the steps between submitting for permit and final occupancy?

1- Plan submittal to city (AHJ). Drawings are reviewed by plan examiner. 2- If building permit is not issued, designer may need to go through appeals process. 3- Building permit is issued to start construction. 3- Inspections by building inspector happen throughout construction. 4- Final inspection is complete and CO (certificate of occupancy) is issued.

When a building is sprinklered, what is the distance required for two exits?

1/3 the total distance of the building

When considering Egress Width (corridors or exit doors) for an occupancy of 157 people x 0.2 (corridors/doors), what size should the corridor be? what size should the doors be?

157x0.2= 31.4. Egress width applies to both corridors or exit doors. Corridors must be min. 44" so those are covered. Two exits are required per occupant load and one must be at least 36" wide, so we're more than sufficient if both doors are standard 36". Egress width is the CLEAR width of the door so each door is 33", for a total egress width of 66".

Aside from occupant load calculations, what is the MIN. CLEAR width that an egress door must be? What size door is this typically?

32" CLEAR between face of door and doorstop at 90 degrees open position. This mean most 36" doors are the MIN size allowed.

Min. width for a stairway per code is 44" (36" is less than 50 occupants). How far can handrails protrude within the 44"?

4 1/2" on either side, this does not effect the stairway width.

What is the standard size riser/tread for residential?

7 3/4" riser and 10" tread (the ADA tread of 7" is allowed to be higher in residential).

What is the standard riser/tread size required for ADA?

7" riser, 11" tread, can NOT be less than 4" or more than 7"

Ducts penetrating a rated corridor (every corridor) must have what?

A fire damper (automatically closes in a fire)

After a final building inspection (finishes, MEP, fire protection systems, and details like doors and glazing) what is issued to begin work?

After final inspection is complete a CO (certificate of occupancy) or TCO (temporary certificate of occupancy) will be issued.

What intervening spaces are allowed along the path of travel as long as they do no exceed travel distance? What intervening spaces are NOT allowed?

All intervening spaces are allowed, lobbies are allowed if they are fire rated. Areas NOT allowed as an intervening space are: Kitchens, Storerooms, Restrooms, closets or similar.

How must distance is required at the top of a stair and bottom of a stair for a handrail? What about for a ramp?

At least 12" extension at the top of the stair and (1) tread distance at the bottom of the stair. Ramps must have a 12" extension at top and bottom.

Egress doors are required to have what?

Automatic closer. If glass, be no more than 240" sq inches (code doesn't specify fire protection, fire rated, or wired). Egress doors must also have gasketing or intumescent material to seal door from smoke and heat transfer.

For buildings with 4 or more stories, what rating MUST the exit stairways be? For less than 4 stories?

Because fire traveling vertically is the most dangerous, vertical stairways in buildings with 4 or more stories must be 2 hr rated and 1 hr rated in less than 4 stories.

What height should a handrail be placed at both for stairs and for handrails?

Between 34- 38" high

Public corridors MUST be what rating?

Corridors MUST be 1 hr rated both walls and ceilings with doors that are 20 min rated. Glass must be fire resistent rated at the same rating as the wall.

For Residential case study, which areas are not allowed to exit through as an intervening space?

For residential, bedrooms, kitchen, and restrooms should not be intervening spaces to each other, and should connect to a common living area or corridor (bedroom can not pass through another bedroom to exit).

What does Gross area include?

Gross is the entire area including stairs, corridor (circulation), restrooms, mech rooms, closets, and wall thickness.

What is the diameter dimension for a handrail? What is the distance between the handrail and the wall?

Handrails can NOT be less than 1 1/4" or more than 2" in diameter. 1 1/2" from the wall. (1.5" handrail, 1.5" from wall)

Handrails must be provided on how many sides of the a stair? What size stair requires an intermediate (middle handrail)?

Handrails must be provided on both sides of the stair. Stairs wider than 5' require an intermediate handrail (must be within 30" reach).

For residential design, SHOULD doors swing out of a room in the direction of path of travel?

No, because the occupant load is less than 10, doors can swing into a room at all times (eliminating when a door swings out into a corridor and needs to be recessed)

Does exit access provide a protected path of travel?

No, exit access (the majority of space that has access to the exit) means it is adjacent to the exit but not protected

Is travel distance a consideration once the exit is reached?

No, travel distance does not matter at the point that the exit is reached bc the exit is then protected (fire rated)

The occupant load for a large classroom is 100, the occupant load for a reception and entry area adjacent to the classroom is 5, the occupant load for faculty offices on a separate floor is 45. What is the occupancy load when determining egress from the classroom? What is the building occupancy load?

Occupancy load for the classroom is 105, any accessory spaces that lead to an exit must also be included. Occupancy for the building is 150, (all portions of building assumed to be occupied at same time)

Residential, Occupancy type R requires a 2nd exit over 10 people except for R-2 and R-3 which require how many occupants to trigger a 2nd exit?

Occupants must be more than 20 to trigger a 2nd exit.

Residential exiting: How many exits are required?

One exit must be provided at basement or second story and all basements must have an escape window

A door in a 1 hr fire rated wall must be what fire rating? A door in a glass 1 hr fire rated wall must be what fire rating?

Per code, 1 hr fire rated door (non corridor) must have a 45 min. rated door. Per practice test, a 1 hr rated glass door must have a door that matches the fire rating so it would also be 1 hr.

When drawings or documents are found to NOT be acceptable by the AHJ reviewing a project for permitting and revisions are issued, whose responsibility is it to make those changes?

Permitting process is handled by the contractor but the Interior Designer is responsible for making any necessary changes

Who is a plan examiner? Who is a building inspector?

Plan examiner reviews drawings submitted during the permitting process. A building inspector inspects the site during construction to make sure the code is being followed.

How do you figure stair width and corridor width?

STAIRS: ADA is 48" between handrails, code is 44", less than 50 occupants is 36" wide. Anything wider, calculate by 0.3x occupant load. CORRIDORS: 44" min, less than 50 occupants is 36" wide. 36" per ADA. Anything wider is 0.2x occupant load

How is Occupant load and Occupant load factor different than Occupancy Group?

The Occupancy Group (Classification) is the zoomed out view relating to building size and area (Assembly, Business, educational, etc.) While the Occupant load factor breaks it down into usable by space type (assembly, business, exercise, etc). This is confusing because the types are overlapping.

How many occupants must there be to trigger a 2nd exit for the Occupancy types A, B, E, F, M, and U?

When occupant load is over 49 occupants.

Min. stair width is calculated by floor (assuming each floor will be exiting at the same time) but if Floor 3 is 48" wide and Level 1 and 2 has less occupants than Floor 3, what is the required width for L1 and L2?

The widest stair width (highest occupant load floor) must be maintained on the floors below (assuming all ppl exiting from L3 will continue below) All floors below L3 need to be 48" or wider.

Whose responsibility is it to formally submit documents to the city (AHJ "authority having jurisdiction")?

This is the responsibility of the contractor.

What is travel distance?

Travel distance is the entire path that an occupant must take from the most remote point in in the space to the entrance to an exit. Not to exceed 250'.

When 3 or more exits are required, what is the max. distance maintained for a building that is sprinklered?

Two exits must be placed at least 1/3 of the total building diagonal apart from each other. (the 3rd exit can be placed anywhere).

What is a dead end corridor? What are the length limitations?

When the corridor has only 1 path to an exit. Must be 20' max or 50' max if the building is sprinklered

What is the min. openable area and placement required for a residential escape window?

Within 44" ADA range and an opening of (clear height 24", clear width 20")

For commercial spaces, exits cannot be placed within kitchens or storerooms (different than intervening spaces). Is this allowed in residential?

Yes, exits through a kitchen or storeroom are allowed.

Is it acceptable for the designer to meet with the city to review the design with the local building department before official review is made for permitting?

Yes, if there are specific design questions that are unclear in the building code, the designer can review this informally with the building official

Where do stair landings NEED to be provided and what is their MIN. length?

at the top and bottom of each stair, MIN. length is the width of the stair (44" wide stair means a 44" long landing, makes a square).

For egress, the area in white is considered what?

exit access (area in white) typically majority of space that has access to the exit

what (3) parts make up an egress path?

exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge (access to an exit, exit itself, and exit to outside)

what does exit discharge include?

exit discharge is normally areas outside the exterior walls (between the exit and public way). it can also include building lobbies if exit stairway is connected to the lobby, the lobby is sprinklered and visible, and any areas below are also fire rated.

Who is ultimately responsible for making sure that all applicable building codes are met and captured in documents?

interior designer

What part of the egress path is required to be fire rated (1 or 2 hr)

the exits are required to be fire rated, fully enclosed, and have protected openings.