CHAPTER 10 MEANS OF EGRESS

F-1004.3.1 Posting of outdoor assembly spaces. Outdoor areas of Group A occupancy on piers, decks, or similar spaces in which the means of egress is restricted by return through a building, passageways, gates, or similar components such that the immediate dispersal of occupants is not possible, shall be posted for the maximum occupant load based on the available width of such egress restrictions at 0.2 inches per occupant, but not exceeding an occupant density of five square feet per person.

5. Where an elevator lobby is separated from the remainder of the floor by partitions and doors and where the elevator lobby does not provide access to the required exits, the doors in the lobby partitions are permitted to be locked from the lobby side provided the doors conform to Section F-1008.1.3.4 or Section F-1008.1.8.6, with or without delayed locking arrangement.

4. In stairways serving more than four stories, where the floors served by the stairs are not located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access nor more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the lowest level of exit discharge, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side, provided they unlock upon activation of the building fire alarm system or power failure to the locking device, and the doors are always openable from the egress side.

F-1019.1.1 Openings and penetrations. Exit enclosure opening protectives shall be in accordance with the requirements of Section 715 of the International Building Code.

Exceptions:

1. Where an existing exit enclosure is required to have a maximum one-hour fire-resistance rating, existing self-closing and latching doors shall be accepted provided they are solid core wood with a minimum thickness of 1¾ inches (44 mm). Existing door frames shall be permitted provided they are in good repair.

2. Where an existing exit enclosure is required to have a maximum one-hour fire-resistance rating, existing self-closing and latching panel doors shall be accepted provided the panels on one side are filled with a non-combustible material and the entire surface of the door on that side is covered with a sheathing to provide a minimum door thickness of 1¾ inches measured at the stile. Existing door frames shall be permitted provided they are in good repair.

F-1019.1.7 (Delete text of Subsection in its entirety and substitute the following)

F-1019.1.7 Stairway floor number signs. A sign shall be provided at each floor landing in interior vertical exit enclosures connecting more than three stories. The sign shall contain the following information:

1. The floor level at which the sign is located.

2. The identification (name or designation) of the stair.

3. The direction to exit discharge using either words or arrows.

4. The number of floor levels to reach exit discharge.

5. Whether roof access for the fire department is available from the stair.

Where access to the roof from the exit stair enclosure is not direct, but is available through a room or corridor accessed from the exit stair enclosure, the sign shall include the words "Indirect Roof Access." A properly oriented floor diagram shall be provided at the exit stair landing at the floor level that provides the indirect roof access. The floor diagram shall indicate the route to the door, stair or ladder that leads to the roof and be located at approximately eye level near the stair floor landing sign.

The floor level designation character shall be a minimum of 6-inches (152 mm) high and characters for the remaining information shall be a minimum of 1½ inches (38 mm) high. The sign shall be located 5 feet (1524 mm) above the floor landing in a position which is readily visible when the doors are in the open and closed positions.

F-1026.17 Corridors. Corridors serving an occupant load greater than 30, or any occupant load in high-rise buildings of Group R-2 occupancy, and the openings therein shall provide an effective barrier to resist the movement of smoke. Transoms, louvers, doors and other openings shall be closed or be self-closing and latching.

F-1027.5 Emergency escape openings. Required emergency escape openings in the form of a window or door opening to the outside shall be maintained in existing sleeping rooms in Group R and I-1 occupancies in accordance with this section. [the code in effect at the time of construction, and the following:] Required emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices are allowed to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings provided the minimum net clear opening size complies with the code that was in effect at the time of construction and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening.

Exception: Emergency escape openings are not required in buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section F-903.3.1.1 or F-903.3.1.2.