Egress Path Definition NFPA 101

[Senselessticker]

I'm doing emergency lighting design to comply with NFPA 101 Life Safety. Is it normally the responsibility of the Fire Protection Engineer working for the client to provide me with information on the floor plans of exactly what is and is not considered part of the egress path?

 

[rbulsara]

Not the FP engineer. But the Architect should be defining code required paths of egress.

However a good lighting engineer is supposed to ( or at least expected by clients)to know this stuff.

 

[advidana]

amen

 

[Senselessticker]

Well, Thanks for your input. I need no further assistance with the question. It has been determined without my involvment, that the responsibility does fall on the FP Engineer to assist me with walk-downs and "define" to me exactly what areas are considered paths of egress.

 

[advidana]

some states do not have licensed fire protection engineers. what do you do then.

 

[Senselessticker]

Knowing the NFPA code book provides a very good standard for most area's of a building. However, there are many "grey" areas when it comes to what is and is not an egress path. In this case, the Fire Protection Engineer is responsible for insuring that I (the designer) am in fact not only meeting code, but providing emergency lighting in practical places, at the same time not providing lighting overkill (or wasting money). If there is a Fire Protection Engineer available who reviews a design long before construction, then it makes sense to take care take care of problems early on as opposed to after desing. If there is no FP Engineer, then the desinger simply must do his / her best to meet code without regard to how much it cost.

 

[rbulsara]

Sense:

You can not avoid responsibility or pass the buck, even though you may think you have done it.

You are responsible for your design. It does not matter who else aided or guided you. A FP is not responsible for your lighting as much as you are not responsible for say sprinkler design in a buiding. Also FP is not responsible to tell you which is the egress path since he did not design the building's egress.

What if, on your next project, the FP designs his system after your lighting ? Will he just sprikler the areas you provided the emergency lighting with?

There are areas that require sprinklers but not emergency lights!

I am not sure what you are trying to prove.

If you are not confindent, review your design with some senior engineer or review with the local authority having jurisdiction, if you have the relationship.

 

[peebee]

I agree. This is much more an electrical/architectural issue than FP. Leave it up to the FP guy and all the exit signs will be in the wrong places and the doors will all swing the wrong way.

Check UBC/BOCA/ICBO (as applicable in your jurisdiction) for code requirements on egress paths.

In general, in commercial/industrial/business contexts, you'll probably find that most all of your building areas will be considered a path of egress, not just corridors. Nearly any "normally occupied" building space will usually require emergency lighting.