Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
(OP)
We are expanding a control building and a question came up about adding an additional door to meet certain codes and requirements.
I am not much familiar with building design codes and wanted to see if you all could guide me in the right direction.
1- Is there a code requiring how many doors one need based on the size of the building?
2- Is there a code requiring how far the two doors should be from each other? and if so, how far?
3- Any other requirements that I need to be aware of? such as a need for fire extinguishers etc if the building is above a certain size.
I will appreciate comments from some of the experts here.
Thanks
zazmat
I am not much familiar with building design codes and wanted to see if you all could guide me in the right direction.
1- Is there a code requiring how many doors one need based on the size of the building?
2- Is there a code requiring how far the two doors should be from each other? and if so, how far?
3- Any other requirements that I need to be aware of? such as a need for fire extinguishers etc if the building is above a certain size.
I will appreciate comments from some of the experts here.
Thanks
zazmat
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
1) What is the area of the building?
2) How much area is occupied by equipment and how much area is occupied by people?
3) Is this building one story in height? If not, please indicate the number of levels above and below the grade.
4) Is the building protected by an automatic sprinkler system that is designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13.
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
Building is a substation Control Center
1) What is the area of the building?
Ans: 25' x 57'
2) How much area is occupied by equipment and how much area is occupied by people?
Ans: half of the area is occupied by equipment the other half is usually empty except for during regular inspections.
3) Is this building one story in height? If not, please indicate the number of levels above and below the grade.
Ans: one story
4) Is the building protected by an automatic sprinkler system that is designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13.
Ans: No sprinklers
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
1. The building is classified as a Business (Group B) occupancy.
2. The function of the space is an industrial area which has an occupant load factor of 100 square feet/occupant (Section 1004.1.1).
3. Based on the building area the occupant load is 7 persons.
4. Only one door is required for exit access. The door must have a minimum width of 32 inches. Panic hardware is not required (Sections 1015.1 and 1008.1)
5. The maximum exit access travel distance is limited to 200 feet. (Section 1016.1.1)
6. Exit illumination and an illuminated exit sign are required. This can be in the form of any method of lughting provided you provide a minimum 1 foot-candle illuminance at the walking surface. (Section 1006.3 and 1008.4)
That's the basics. If you need something more advanced let me know.
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
Thanks.
Are there any NFPA codes I need to comply with also?
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
"Fire suppression is a failure in prevention"
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
After further view I have a couple more questions on this.
1- NFPA 101 (40.2.5.3) suggests that common paths of travel in general industrial and special purpose industrial occupancies shall not exceed 50 ft, or else we need two means of egress. Since the building in question is longer than 50 ft doesn't that require having two access doors?
Also, if it does require two access doors then wouldn't 7.5.1.4 apply?
I will appreciate the comments.
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
Do you have a rudimentary floor plan that you can draw up so I have something to look at?
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
The purpose of this provision is to limit the travel distance when only a single path is available to the building user as a means of egress. It's analagous in my mind to a dead end corridor. The intent of the NFPA 101 and the IBC provisions is that in most cases a common path of egress travel is based on two separate and distinct paths of egress travel toward two or more exits.
The individuals writing the code recognize that their are certain building uses that represent such a fire hazard that they almost always require two exits - conversely, we know from fire loss history that in most instances buildings with a smaller area provide an inherently easier means of egress.
In the case of your building, you technically have only have one point of exit discharge (the West doors). The North door can be used but it cannot be treated as a component in the egress system because its location does not meet 1/2 of the diagional of the exit travel distance - that's OK under the common path of travel provisions.
I'm not sure what the Life Safety Code requires but under the IBC we previously classified the building as a Group B occupancy. IBC Section 1014.3 allows the common path of travel in Group B occupancies to 100 feet or less. Given your previously calculated occupant load, only a single door is required and its width is adequate.
Did that help answer the question?
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
According to Life safety Code (NFPA 101) Table 40.2.5 it appears that Dead End Corridor and Common path of travel can not exceed 50 ft for the facility I described.
Since Life Safety Code is more stringent in this case then I would think it would apply.
Don't you agree?
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
RE: Ingress and Egress codes for Kysor Building
We are actually putting another door close to the SE site because of the ease of moving panels in and out through that door and location, since the other sides are not as readily accessible for that purpose.