Section 1207. Stairs, Exits and Occupant Loads. —
General. — The construction of stairs and exits shall conform to the occupant load requirements of buildings, reviewing stands, bleachers and grandstands:
Determinations of Occupant Loads. — The occupant load permitted in any building or portion thereof shall be determined by dividing the floor area assigned to that use by the unit area allowed per occupant as determined by the Secretary.
Exit Requirements. — Exit requirements of a building or portion thereof used for different purposes shall be determined by the occupant load which gives the largest number of persons. No obstruction shall be placed in the required width of an exit except projections permitted by this Code.
Posting of Room Capacity. — Any room having an occupant load of more than 50 where fixed seats are not installed, and which is used for classroom, assembly, or similar purpose shall have the capacity of the room posted in a conspicuous place near the main exit from the room.
Changes in Elevation. — Except in Groups A Occupancies, changes in floor elevations of less than 300 millimeters along any exit serving a tributary occupant load of 10 or more shall be by means of ramps.
Exits —
Number of Exits. — Every building or usable portion thereof shall have at least one exit. In all occupancies, floors above the first storey having an occupant load of more than 10 shall not have less than two exits. Each mezzanine floor used for other than storage purposes, if greater in area than 185 square meters or more than 18.00 meters in any dimension, shall have at least than two stairways to an adjacent floor. Every storey or portion thereof, having an occupant load of 500 to 999 shall have at least three exits. Every storey or portion thereof having an occupant load of 1000 or more shall have at least four (4) exits. The number of exits required from any storey of a building shall be determined by using the occupant loads of floors which exit through by using the occupant loads of floors which exit through the level under consideration as follows: 50 percent of the occupant load in the first adjacent storey above (and the first adjacent storey below, when a storey below exits through the level under consideration) and 25 percent of the occupant load in the storey immediately beyond the first adjacent storey. The maximum number of exits required for any storey shall be maintained until egress is provided from the structures. For purposes of this Section basement or cellars and occupied roofs shall be provided with exits as required for storeys. Floors above the second storey, basements and cellars used for other than service of the building shall have not less than two exits.
Width. — The total width of exits in meters shall not be less than the total occupant load served divided by 165. Such width of exits shall be divided approximately equally among the separate exits. The total exit width required from any storey of a building shall be determined by using the occupant load of that storey plus the percentage of the occupant loads of floors which exits through the level under consideration as follows: fifty (50) per cent of the occupant load in the first adjacent storey above (and the first adjacent storey below when a storey below exits through the level under consideration) and twenty five per cent of the occupant load in the storey immediately beyond the first adjacent storey. The maximum exit width from any storey of a building shall be maintained.
Arrangement of Exits. — If only two exits are required they shall be placed a distance apart to not less than one-fifth of the perimeter of the area served measured in a straight line between exits. Where three or more exits are required they shall be arranged a reasonable distance apart so that if one becomes blocked, the others will be available.
Distance to Exits. — No point in a building without a sprinkle system shall be more than 45.00 meters from an exterior exit door, a horizontal exit, exit passageway, or an enclosed stairway, measured along the line of travel. In a building equipped with a complete automatic fire extinguishing system the distance from exits may be increased to 60.00 meters.
Doors. — The provisions herein shall apply to every exit door serving an area having an occupant load of more than 10 or serving hazardous rooms or areas.
Swing. — Exit door shall swing in the direction of exit travel when serving any hazardous areas or when serving an occupant load of 50 or more. Double acting doors shall not be used as exits serving a tributary occupant load of more than 100; nor shall they be used as a part of fire assembly, nor equipped with public hardware. A double acting door shall be provided with a view panel of not less than 1,300 square centimeters.
Type of Lock or Latch. — Exit door shall be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort: Except, that this requirement shall not apply to exterior exit doors in a Group E or F Occupancy if there is a conspicuous, readily visible and durable sign on or adjacent to the door, stating that the door is to remain unlocked during business hours. The locking device must be of a type that will readily be distinguishable as locked. Flush bolts or surface bolts are prohibited.
Width and Height. — Every required exit doorway shall be of a size as to permit the installation of a door not less than 900 millimeters in width and not less than 2.00 meters in height. When installation in exit doorways, exit doors shall be capable of openings at least 90 decrees and shall be so mounted that the clear width of the exit way is not less than 700 millimeters. In computing the required exit width the net dimension of the exitway shall be used.
Door Leaf Width. — No leaf of an exit door shall exceed 1.20 meters in width.
Special Doors. — Revolving, sliding, and overhead doors shall not be used as required exits.
Egress from Door. — Every required exit door shall give immediate access to an approved means of egress from the building.
Change in Floor Level at Doors. — Regardless of the occupant load there shall be a floor or landing on each side of an exit door. The floor or landing shall be leveled with, or not more than 50 millimeters lower than the threshold of the doorway: Except, that in Group A and B occupancies, a door may open on the top step of a flight of stairs or an exterior landing provided the door does not swing over the top step or exterior landing and the landing is not more than 200 millimeters below the floor level.
Door Identification. — Glass doors shall conform to the requirements in Section 1005. Other exit doors shall be so marked that they are already distinguishable from the adjacent construction.
Additional Doors. — When additional doors are provided for egress purposes, they shall conform to all provisions in the following cases: Approved revolving doors having leaves which will collapse under opposing pressures may be used in exit situations: Provided, That such doors have a minimum width of 2.00 meters or they are not used in occupancies where exits are required to be equipped with panic hardware or at least one conforming exit door is located adjacent to each revolving doors installed in a building and the revolving door shall not be considered to provide any exit width.
Corridors and Exterior Exit Balconies. — The provisions herein shall apply to every corridor and exterior exit balcony serving as required exit for an occupant load of more than ten.
Width. — Every corridor or exit balcony shall not be less than 1.10 meters in width.
Projections. — The required width of corridors and exterior exit balconies shall be an obstructed: Except that trim handrails, and doors when fully opened shall not reduce the required width by more than 200 millimeters. Doors in any position shall not reduce the required width of the corridor by more than one-half.
Access to Exits. — When more than one exit is required, they shall be arranged to allow going to either direction from any point dead ends permitted by this Code.
Dead Ends. — Corridors and exterior exit balconies with dead ends are permitted when the dead end does not exceed 6.00 meters in length.
Construction. — Walls and ceilings of corridors shall not be less than one-hour fire-resistive construction. Provided, that this requirement shall not apply to exterior exit balconies, railings, and corridors of one-storey building housing a Group E and F Occupancy occupied by one tenant only and which serves an occupant load of 30 or less, nor to corridors, formed by temporary partitions. Exterior exit balconies cannot project into an area where protected openings are required.
Openings. — Where corridor wall are required to be one-hour fire-resistive construction, every interior door opening shall be protected as set forth in generally recognized and accepted requirements for dual purpose fire exit doors. Other interior openings except ventilation louvers equipped with approved automatic fire shutter shall be 7 millimeters thick fixed wire glass set in steel frames. The total area of all openings other than doors, in any portion of an interior corridor wall shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the area of the corridor wall of the room being separated from the corridor.
Stairways. — Except stairs or ladders used only to access, equipment, every stairway serving any building or portion thereof shall conform to the following requirements:
Width. — Stairways serving an occupant load of more than 50 shall not be less than 1.10 meters. Stairways serving an occupant load of 50 or less may be 900 millimeters wide. Private stairways serving an occupant load of less than 10 may be 750 millimeters. Trim and handrails shall not reduce the required width by more than 100 millimeters.
Rise and Run. — The rise of every step in a stairway shall not exceed 200 millimeters and the run shall not less than 250 millimeters. The maximum variations in the height of risers and the width of treads in any one flight shall be 5 millimeters: Except, in case of private stairways serving an occupant load of less than 10, the rise may be 200 millimeters and the run may be 250 millimeters, except as provided in sub-paragraph (3) below.
Winding Stairways. — In Group A Occupancy and in private stairways in Group B Occupancies, winders may be used if the required width of run is provided at a point not more than 300 millimeters from the side of the stairway where the treads are narrower but in no case shall any width of run be less than 150 millimeters at any point.
Circular Stairways. — Circular stairs may be used as an exit provided the minimum width of run is not less than 250 millimeters. All treads in any one flight between landings shall have identical dimensions within a 5 millimeter tolerance.
Landings. — Every landing shall have a dimension measured in the direction of travel equal to the width of the stairway. Such dimension need not exceed 1.20 meters when the stairs has a straight run. Landings when provided shall not be reduced in width by more than 100 millimeters by a door when fully open.
Basement Stairways. — Where a basement stairway and a stairway to an upper storey terminate in the same exit enclosure, an approved barrier shall be provided to prevent persons from continuing on to the basements. Directional exit signs shall be provided as specified in this Code.
Distance Between Landings. — There shall be not more than 3.60 meters vertical distance between landings.
Handrails. — Stairways shall have handrails on each side and every stairway required to be more than 3.00 meters in width shall be provided with not less than one intermediate handrail for each 3.00 meters of required width. Intermediate handrail shall be spaced approximately equal within the entire width of the stairway. Handrails shall be placed not less than 800 millimeters nor more than 900 millimeters above the nosing of treads and ends of handrails shall be returned or shall terminate in nowel posts or safety terminals: Except, in the following cases: Stairways 1.10 meters or less in width and stairway serving one individual dwelling unit in Group A or B Occupancies may have one handrail, except that such stairway open on one or both sides shall have handrails provided on the open side or sides: or stairway having less than four risers need not have handrails.
Exterior Stairway Protection. — All openings in the exterior wall below or within 3.00 meters, measured horizontally of an exterior exit stairway serving a building over two storeys in height shall be protected by a self-closing fire assembly having a three-fourths hour fire-resistive rating: Except, that opening may be unprotected when two separated exterior stairways serve an exterior exit balcony.
Stairway Construction-Exterior. — Exterior stairway shall be of incombustible material: Except, that on Type III buildings which do not exceed two storeys in height, which are located in less fire-restrictive Fire Zones, as well as on Type I buildings may be of wood not less than 50 millimeters in nominal thickness. Exterior stairs shall be protected as required for exterior walls due to location on property as specified in this Code. Exterior stairways shall not project into an area where openings are required to be protected. Where there is enclosed usable space under stairs, the walls and soffits of the enclosed space shall be protected on the enclosed side as required for one-hour fire-resistive construction.
Stairway to Roof . — In every building four or more storeys in height, one stairway shall extend to the roof unless the roof has C slope greater than 1 in 3.
Headroom. — Every required stairway shall have a headroom clearance of not less than 2.00 meters. Such clearance shall be established by measuring vertically from a plane parallel and tangent to the stairway tread nosing to the soffit above all points.
Ramps. — A ramp conforming to the provisions of this Code may be used as an exit. The width of ramps shall be as required for corridors.
Horizontal Exit. — If conforming to the provisions of this Code, a horizontal exit may be considered as the required exit. All openings in a separation wall shall be protected by a fire assembly having a fire-resistive rating not less than the occupant load served by such exit. The capacity shall be determined by allowing 0.30 square meter of net floor area per ambulatory occupant and 1.90 square meters per non-ambulatory occupant. The dispersal area into which the horizontal exit loads shall be provided with exits as required by this Code.
Exit Enclosures. — Every interior stairway, ramp, or escalator shall be enclosed as specified in this Code: Except, that in other than Group D Occupancies, as an enclosure will not be required for stairway, ramp, or escalator serving only one adjacent floor and not connected with corridors or stairways serving other floors. Stairs in Group A Occupancies need not be enclosed.
Enclosure walls shall not be less than two-hour fire-resistive construction. There shall be no openings into exit enclosures except exit doorways and openings in exterior walls. All exit doors in an exit enclosure shall be appropriately protected.
Stairway and ramp enclosures shall include landings and parts of floors connecting stairway flights and shall include a corridor on the ground floor leading from the stairway to the exterior of the building. Enclosed corridors of passageways are not required from unenclosed stairways.
A stairway in an exit enclosure shall not continue below the grade level exit unless an approved barrier is provided at the ground floor level to prevent persons from accidentally continuing into the basement.
There shall be no enclosed usable space under stairways in an exit enclosure, nor shall the open space under such stairways be used for any purpose.
Smokeproof Enclosures — A smokeproof enclosure shall consist of a vestibule and a continuous stairway enclosed from the highest point to the lowest point by walls of two-hour fire-resistive construction. In building five storeys or more height, one of the required exits shall be a smokeproof enclosure.
Stairs in smokeproof enclosures shall be of incombustible construction.
There shall be no openings in smokeproof enclosures, except exit doorways and openings in exterior walls. There shall be no openings directly into the interior of the building. Access shall be through a vestibule with one wall at least fifty percent open to the exterior and having an exit door from the interior of the building and exit door leading to the smokeproof enclosure. In lieu of a vestibule, access may be by way of an open exterior balcony of incombustible materials.
The opening from the building to the vestibule or balcony shall be protected with a self-closing fire assembly having one-hour fire-resistive rating. The opening from the vestibule or balcony to the stair tower shall be protected by a self-closing fire assembly having a one-hour fire-resistive rating.
A smokeproof enclosure shall exit into a public way or into an exit passageway leading to a public way. The exit passageway shall be without other openings and shall have walls, floors, and ceilings of two-hour fire-resistance.
A stairway in a smokeproof enclosure shall not continue below the grade level exit unless an approved barrier is provided at a ground floor level to prevent persons from accidentally walking into the basement.
Exit Outlets, Courts, and Passageways — Every exit shall discharge into a public way, exit court, or exit passageway. Every exit court shall discharge into a public way or an exit passageway. Passageways shall be without openings other than required exits and shall have walls, floors, and ceilings of the same period of fire-resistance as the walls, floors and ceilings of the building but shall not be less than one-hour fire-resistive construction.
Width — Every exit court and exit passageway shall be at least as wide as the required total width of the tributary exits, such required width being based on the occupant load served. The required width of exit courts or exit passageway shall be unobstructed except as permitted in corridors. At any point where the width of an exit court is reduced from any cause, the reduction in width shall be affected gradually by a guardrail at least 900 millimeters in height. The guardrail shall make an angle of not more than 30 degrees with the axis of the exit court.
Slope — The slope of exit courts shall not exceed 1 in 10. The slope of exit passageway shall not exceed 1 in 8.
Number of Exits — Every exit court shall be provided with exits as required in this Code.
Openings — All openings into an exit court less than 3.00 meters wide shall be protected by fire assemblies having not less than three-fourth hour fire-resistive rating. Except, that openings more than 3.00 meters above the floor of the exit court may be unprotected.
Exit Signs and Illuminations — Exits shall be illuminated at any time the building is occupied with light having an intensity of not less than 10.7 lux at floor level: Except, that for Group A Occupancies, the exit illumination shall be provided with separate circuits or separated sources of power (but not necessarily separate from exit signs when these are required for exit signs illumination).
Aisles — Every portion of every building in which are installed seats, tables, merchandise, equipment, or similar materials shall be provided with aisles leading to an exit.
Width — Every aisles shall be not less than 800 millimeters wide if serving only one side, and not less than 1 meter wide if serving both sides. Such minimum width shall be measured at the point farthest from an exit, cross aisle, or foyer and shall be increased by 30 millimeters for every meters in length towards the exit, cross aisle or foyer.
Exit Distance — In areas occupied by seats and in Groups H and I Occupancies without seats, the line travel to an exit door by an aisle shall be not more than 45.00 meters. With standard spacing, as specified in this Code, aisles shall be so located that there will be not more than seven seats between the wall and an aisle and not more than fourteen seats between aisles. The number of seats between aisle may be increased to 30 where exit doors are provided along each side aisle of the row of seats at the rate of one pair of exit doors for every five rows of seats, provided further that the distance between seats back to back is at least one meter. Such exit doors shall provide a minimum clear width of 1.70 meters.
Cross Aisles — Aisles shall terminate in a cross aisle, foyer, or exit. The width of the cross aisle shall be not less than the sum of the required width of the widest aisle plus fifty percent of the total required width of the remaining aisle leading thereto. In Groups C, H and E Occupancies, aisle shall not be provided a dead end greater than 6.00 meters in length.
Vomitories —Vomitories connecting the foyer or main exit with the cross aisles shall have a total width not less than the sum of the required width of the widest aisles leading thereto plus fifty percent of the total required width of the remaining aisles leading thereto.
Slope — The slope portion of aisle shall not exceed a fall 1 in 8.
Seats —
Seat Spacing — With standard seating, the spacing of rows of seats from back-to-back shall not less than 840 millimeters. With continental seating, the spacing of rows of unoccupied seat shall provide a clear width measured horizontally, as follows: 450 millimeters clear for rows of 18 seats or less; 500 millimeters clear for rows of 35 seats or less; 525 millimeters clear for rows of 45 seats or less; and 550 millimeters clear for rows of 46 seats or more.
Width — The width if any seat be not less than 450 millimeters.
Reviewing Stands, Grandstands, and Bleachers.—
Height of Stands — Stands made of combustible framing shall be limited to 11 rows or 2.70 meters in height.
Design Requirements — the minimum unit live load for reviewing stands, grandstands, and bleachers shall be 500 kilograms per square meter of horizontal projection for the structure as a whole. Seat and footboards shall be 180 kilograms per linear meter. The sway force, applied to seats, shall be 35 kilograms per linear meter parallel to the seats and 15 kilograms per linear meter perpendicular to the seats. Sway forces need not to be applied simultaneously with other lateral forces.
Spacing Seats —
3.1 Row spacing— The minimum spacing of rows of seats measured from back-to-back shall be: 600 millimeters for seats without backrests in open air stands; 750 millimeters for seats with backrests, and 850 millimeters for chair seating.
There shall be a space of not less than 300 millimeters between the back of each seat and the front of the seat immediately behind it.
3.2 Rise Between Rows — The maximum rise from one row of seats to the next shall not exceed 400 millimeters.
3.3 Seating Capacity — For determining the seating capacity of a stand the width of any seat shall not be less than 450 millimeters nor more than 480 millimeters.
3.4 Number of Seats Between Aisles— the number of seats between any seat and an aisle shall not be greater than 15 for open air stands with seats without backrests in buildings.
Aisles —
4.1 Aisles Required — Aisles shall be provided in all stands: except, that aisles may be omitted when all the following conditions exists; Seats are without backrests; the rise from row to row does not exceed 300 millimeters per row; the number of rows does not exceed 11 in height; the top seating board is not over 3.00 meters above grade; and the first seating board is not more than 500 millimeters above grade.
4.2 Obstructions — obstruction shall be placed in the required width of any aisle or exitway.
4.3 Stairs Required— When an aisle is elevated more than 200 millimeters above grade, the aisle shall be provided with a stairway or ramp whose width is not less than the width of the aisle.
4.4 Dead End — No vertical aisle shall have a dead end more than 16 rows in depth regardless of the number of exits required.
4.5 Width — Aisles shall have a minimum width of 1.10 meters.
Stairs and Ramps — The requirements in this Code shall apply to all stairs and ramps except for portions that pass through the seating area.
5.1 Stair Rise and Run — The maximum rise of treads shall not exceed 200 millimeters and the minimum width of the run shall be 280 millimeters. The maximum variation in the width of treads in any one flight shall not be more than 5 millimeters and the maximum variation in one height of two adjacent rises shall not exceed 5 millimeters.
5.2 Ramp Slope — The slope of a ramp shall not exceed 1 in 8. Ramps shall be roughened or shall be of approved nonslip material.
5.3 Handrails — A ramp with a slope exceeding 1 in 10 shall have handrails. Stairs for stands shall have handrails. Handrails shall conform to the requirements of this Code.
Guardrails —
6.1 Guardrails shall be required in all locations where the top of a seat plank is more than 1.20 meters above the grade and at the front of stands elevated more than 600 millimeters above grade. Where only sections of stands are used, guardrails shall be provided as required in this Code.
6.2 Railings shall be 1.10 meters above the rear of a seat plank or 1.10 meters above the rear of the steps in the aisle when the guardrail is parallel and adjacent to the aisle: Except, that the height may be reduced to 900 millimeters for guardrails located in front of the grandstand.
6.3 A midrail shall be placed adjacent to any seat to limit the open distance above the top of any part of a seat to 250 millimeters where the seat is at the extreme end or at the extreme rear of the bleachers or grandstand. The intervening space shall have one additional rail midway in the opening: Except, that railings may be omitted when stands are placed directly against a wall or fence giving equivalent protection; stairs and ramps shall be provided with guardrails. Handrails at the front of stands and adjacent to an aisle shall be designed to resist a load of 75 kilograms per linear meter applied at the top rail. Other handrails shall be designed to resist a load of 40 kilograms per linear meter.
Foot Boards — Footboards shall be provided for all rows of seats above the third row or beginning at such point where the seating plank is more than 600 millimeters above grade.
Exits —
8.1 Distance to Exit — The line of travel to an exit shall not be more than 45.00 meters. For stands with seats without backseats this distance may be measured by direct line from a seat to the exit from the stand.
8.2 Aisle Used as Exit — An aisle may be considered as only one exit unless it is continuous at both ends to a legal building exit or to a safe dispersal area.
8.3 Two Exits Required — A stand with the first seating board not more than 500 millimeters above grade of floor may be considered to have two exits when the bottom of the stand is open at both ends. Every stand or section of a stand within a building shall have at least two means of egress when the stand accommodates more than 50 persons. Every open air stand having seats without backrest shall have at least two means of egress when the stand accommodates more than 300 persons.
8.4 Three Exits Required — Three exits shall be required for stands within a building when there are more than 300 occupants within a stand and for open air stands with seats without backrests where a stand or section of a stand accommodates more than 1000 occupants.
8.5 Four Exits Required — Four exits shall be required when a stand or section of a stand accommodates more than 1000 occupants: Except, that for an open air stand with seats without backrests four exits need not be provided unless there are accommodations for more than 3000 occupants.
8.6 Width— The total width of exits in meters shall not be less than the total occupant load served divided by 165: Except, that for open air stands with seats without backrests the total width of exits in meter shall not be less than the total occupant load served divided by 500 when existing by stairs, and divided by 650 when existing by ramps or horizontally. When both horizontal and stair exits are used, the total width of exits shall be determined by using both figures as applicable. No exit shall be less than 1.10 meters in width. Exits shall be located at a reasonable distance apart. When only two exits are provided, they shall be spaced not less than one-fifth of the perimeter apart.
Securing of Chairs — Chairs and benches used on raised stands shall be secured to the platforms upon which they are placed: Except, That when less than 25 chairs are used upon single raised platform the fastening of seat to the platform may be omitted. When more than 500 loose chairs are used in connection with athletic events, chairs shall be fastened together in groups of not less than three, and shall be tied or staked to the ground.
Safe Dispersal Area — Each safe dispersal area shall have at least two exits. If more than 6000 persons are to be accommodated within such an area, there shall be a minimum of three exits, and for more than 9000 persons there shall be a minimum of four exits. The aggregate clear width of exits from a safe dispersal area shall be determined on the bases of not less than one exit unit of 600 millimeters for each 500 persons to be accommodated and not exit shall be less than 1.10 meters in width, a reasonable distance apart that shall be spaced not less than one-fifth of the perimeter of the area apart from each other.
Special Hazards —
Boiler Rooms — Except in Group A Occupancies, every boiler room and every room containing an incinerator or liquified petroleum gas or liquid fuel-fired equipment shall be provided with at least two means of egress, one of which may be a ladder. All interior openings shall be protected as provided for in this Code.
Cellulose Nitrate Handling — Film laboratories, projection rooms, and nitro-cellulose processing rooms shall have not less than two exits.