Seattle Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress
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CHAPTER 10 MEANS OF EGRESS (including 2017 errata) User note: Code change proposals to sections preceded by the designation [F] will be considered by the International Fire Code Development Committee during the 2016 (Group B) Code Development Cycle. See explanation on page iv. SECTION 1001 EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAY. ADMINISTRATION EXIT DISCHARGE. 1001.1 General. Buildings or portions thereof shall be pro- EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF. vided with a means of egress system as required by this chap- ter. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design, EXIT, HORIZONTAL. construction and arrangement of means of egress components EXIT PASSAGEWAY. required to provide an approved means of egress from struc- EXTERIOR EXIT RAMP. tures and portions thereof. EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY. 1001.2 Minimum requirements. It shall be unlawful to alter a building or structure in a manner that will reduce the num- FIRE EXIT HARDWARE. ber of exits or the minimum width or required capacity of the FIXED SEATING. means of egress to less than required by this code. FLIGHT. [F] 1001.3 Maintenance. Means of egress shall be main- tained in accordance with the International Fire Code. FLOOR AREA, GROSS. [F] 1001.4 Fire safety and evacuation plans. Fire safety and FLOOR AREA, NET. evacuation plans shall be provided for all occupancies and FOLDING AND TELESCOPIC SEATING. buildings where required by the International Fire Code. GRANDSTAND. Such fire safety and evacuation plans shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 401.2 and 404 of the Inter- GUARD. national Fire Code. HANDRAIL. INTERIOR EXIT RAMP. SECTION 1002 INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY. DEFINITIONS LOW ENERGY POWER-OPERATED DOOR. 1002.1 Definitions. The following terms are defined in Chap- MEANS OF EGRESS. ter 2: MERCHANDISE PAD. ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS. NOSING. AISLE. OCCUPANT LOAD. AISLE ACCESSWAY. OPEN-ENDED CORRIDOR. ALTERNATING TREAD DEVICE. PANIC HARDWARE. AREA OF REFUGE. PHOTOLUMINESCENT. BLEACHERS. POWER-ASSISTED DOOR. BREAKOUT. POWER-OPERATED DOOR. COMMON PATH OF EGRESS TRAVEL. PUBLIC WAY. CORRIDOR. RAMP. DOOR, BALANCED. SCISSOR STAIRWAY. EGRESS COURT. SELF-LUMINOUS. EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENING. SMOKE-PROTECTED ASSEMBLY SEATING. EXIT. STAIR. EXIT ACCESS. STAIRWAY. EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY. STAIRWAY, SPIRAL. EXIT ACCESS RAMP. WINDER. 2015SEATTLEBUILDINGCODE 291 MEANS OF EGRESS SECTION 1003 Exception: These requirements shall not apply to slop- GENERAL MEANS OF EGRESS ing portions of handrails between the top and bottom 1003.1 Applicability. The general requirements specified in riser of stairs and above the ramp run. Sections 1003 through 1015 shall apply to all three elements 1003.3.3 Horizontal projections. Objects with leading of the means of egress system, in addition to those specific edges more than 27 inches (685 mm) and not more than 80 requirements for the exit access, the exit and the exit dis- inches (2030 mm) above the floor shall not project hori- charge detailed elsewhere in this chapter. zontally more than 4 inches (102 mm) into the circulation 1003.2 Ceiling height. The means of egress shall have a ceil- path. 1 ing height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches (2286 mm). Exception: Handrails are permitted to protrude 4 /2 Exceptions: inches (114 mm) from the wall. 1003.3.4 Clear width. Protruding objects shall not reduce 1. ((Sloped c))Ceilings in accordance with Section the minimum clear width of accessible routes. 1208.2. 1003.4 Floor surface. Walking surfaces of the means of ((2. Ceilings of dwelling units and sleeping units within egress shall have a slip-resistant surface and be securely residential occupancies in accordance with Section attached. 1208.2.)) 1003.5 Elevation change. Where changes in elevation of less 2 ((3)). Allowable projections in accordance with Sec- than 12 inches (305 mm) exist in the means of egress, sloped tion 1003.3. surfaces shall be used. Where the slope is greater than one 3 ((4)). Stair headroom in accordance with Section unit vertical in 20 units horizontal (5-percent slope), ramps 1011.3. complying with Section 1012 shall be used. Where the differ- 4 ((5)). Door height in accordance with Section ence in elevation is 6 inches (152 mm) or less, the ramp shall 1010.1.1. be equipped with either handrails or floor finish materials that contrast with adjacent floor finish materials. 5 ((6)). Ramp headroom in accordance with Section 1012.5.2. Exceptions: 6 ((7)). The clear height of floor levels in vehicular and 1. A single step with a maximum riser height of 7 pedestrian traffic areas of public and private parking inches (178 mm) is permitted for buildings with garages in accordance with Section 406.4.1. occupancies in Groups F, H, R-2, R-3, S and U at exterior doors not required to be accessible by 7 ((8)). Areas above and below mezzanine floors in Chapter 11. accordance with Section 505.2. 2. A stair with a single riser or with two risers and a 1003.3 Protruding objects. Protruding objects on circula- tread is permitted at locations not required to be tion paths shall comply with the requirements of Sections accessible by Chapter 11 and not within a stairway 1003.3.1 through 1003.3.4. with two or more flights of stairs, where the risers 1003.3.1 Headroom. Protruding objects are permitted to and treads comply with Section 1011.5, the mini- extend below the minimum ceiling height required by Sec- mum depth of the tread is 13 inches (330 mm) and tion 1003.2 where a minimum headroom of 80 inches not less than one handrail complying with Section (2032 mm) is provided over any walking surface, includ- 1014 is provided within 30 inches (762 mm) of the ing walks, corridors, aisles and passageways. Not more centerline of the normal path of egress travel on the than 50 percent of the ceiling area of a means of egress stair. shall be reduced in height by protruding objects. 3. A step is permitted in aisles serving seating that has Exception: Door closers and stops shall not reduce a difference in elevation less than 12 inches (305 headroom to less than 78 inches (1981 mm). mm) at locations not required to be accessible by A barrier shall be provided where the vertical clearance Chapter 11, provided that the risers and treads com- is less than 80 inches (2032 mm) high. The leading edge of ply with Section 1029.13 and the aisle is provided such a barrier shall be located 27 inches (686 mm) maxi- with a handrail complying with Section 1029.15. mum above the floor. Throughout a story in a Group I-2 occupancy, any 1003.3.2 Post-mounted objects. A free-standing object change in elevation in portions of the means of egress that mounted on a post or pylon shall not overhang that post or serve nonambulatory persons shall be by means of a ramp pylon more than 4 inches (102 mm) where the lowest or sloped walkway. point of the leading edge is more than 27 inches (686 mm) 1003.6 Means of egress continuity. The path of egress and less than 80 inches (2032 mm) above the walking sur- travel along a means of egress shall not be interrupted by a face. Where a sign or other obstruction is mounted building element other than a means of egress component as between posts or pylons and the clear distance between the specified in this chapter. Obstructions shall not be placed in posts or pylons is greater than 12 inches (305 mm), the the minimum width or required capacity of a means of lowest edge of such sign or obstruction shall be 27 inches egress component except projections permitted by this (686 mm) maximum or 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum chapter. The minimum width or required capacity of a above the finished floor or ground. 292 2015SEATTLEBUILDINGCODE MEANS OF EGRESS means of egress system shall not be diminished along the TABLE 1004.1.2 path of egress travel. MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA ALLOWANCES PER OCCUPANT 1003.7 Elevators, escalators and moving walks. Elevators, FUNCTIONOFSPACE OCCUPANTLOADFACTORa escalators and moving walks shall not be used as a compo- Accessory storage areas, mechanical b 300 gross nent of a required means of egress from any other part of the equipment room building. Agricultural building 300 gross Exception: Elevators used as an accessible means of Aircraft hangars 500 gross egress in accordance with Section 1009.4. Airport terminal Baggage claim 20 gross Baggage handling 300 gross SECTION 1004 Concourse 100 gross OCCUPANT LOAD Waiting areas 15 gross 1004.1 Design occupant load. In determining means of Assembly egress requirements, the number of occupants for whom Gaming floors (keno, slots, etc.) 11 gross means of egress facilities are provided shall be determined in Exhibit gallery and museum 30 net accordance with this section. Assembly with fixed seats See Section 1004.4 1004.1.1 Cumulative occupant loads. Where the path of Assembly without fixed seats egress travel includes intervening rooms, areas or spaces, Concentrated (chairs only—not 7 net cumulative occupant loads shall be determined in accor- fixed) 5 net dance with this section. Standing space 15 net 1004.1.1.1 Intervening spaces or accessory areas. Unconcentrated (tables and chairs) Where occupants egress from one or more rooms, areas Bowling centers, allow 5 persons for or spaces through others, the design occupant load each lane including 15 feet of runway, 7 net shall be the combined occupant load of interconnected and for additional areas accessory or intervening spaces. Design of egress path Business areas capacity shall be based on the cumulative portion of Without sprinkler protection 100 gross occupant loads of all rooms, areas or spaces to that With sprinkler protection 130 gross point along the path of egress travel.