Section 12-J805. MEANS OF EGRESS

 

Strike Section 805.3.1.1 of the International Existing Building Code in its entirety and insert new Section 805.3.1.1 to the Existing Building Code in its place to read as follows:

 

805.3.1.1 Single-exit buildings. Only one exit is required from buildings and spaces of the following occupancies:

 

1. In Group A, B, E, F, M, U and S occupancies, a single exit is permitted in the story at the level of exit discharge when the occupant load of the story does not exceed 49 and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm).

 

Exception:  In Group A, B, E, F, M, U and S the exit access travel distance may be increased to 100 feet (30 480 mm) when the area served by the single exit and all egress components of the single exit are protected with automatic sprinklers. 

 

2. Group B, F-2 and S-2 occupancies not more than two stories in height that are not greater than 3,500 square feet per floor (326 m²), when the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm).  The minimum fire-resistance rating of the exit enclosure and of the opening protection shall be 1-hour. 

 

Exception:  In Group B occupancies not more than three stories in height provided the exit access travel distance does not exceed 100 feet (30 480 mm) and the building is equipped with an approved automatic fire suppression system and automatic fire alarm system with smoke detectors located in all corridors, lobbies and common areas. 

 

3.Open parking structures where vehicles are mechanically parked. 

 

4.In community residences for individuals with developmental disabilities, the maximum occupant load excluding staff is 12.

 

5.Groups R-1 and R-2 not more than two stories in height, when there are not more than four dwelling units per floor and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).  The minimum fire-resistance rating of the exit enclosure and of the opening protection shall be 1-hour. 

 

Exception: Group R-2 buildings may be not more than three stories in height where the building is equipped with an automatic fire suppression system and automatic fire alarm system.

 

6.In multilevel dwelling units in buildings of occupancy Group R-1 or R-2, an exit shall not be required from every level of the dwelling unit provided that one of the following conditions is met:

 

6.1.The travel distance within the dwelling unit does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm); or

 

6.2.The building is not more than three stories in height and all third-floor space is part of one or more dwelling units located in part on the second floor; and no habitable room within any such dwelling unit shall have a travel distance that exceeds 50 feet (15 240 mm) from the outside of the habitable room entrance door to the inside of the entrance door to the dwelling unit. 

 

7.In Group R-2, H-4, H-5 and I occupancies and in rooming houses and child care centers, a single exit is permitted in a one-story building with a maximum occupant load of 10 and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm).

 

8.In buildings of Group R-2 occupancy that are equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system, a single exit shall be permitted from a basement or story below grade if every dwelling unit on that floor is equipped with an approved window providing a clear opening of at least 5 square feet (0.47 m²) in area, a minimum net clear opening of 24 inches (610 mm) in height and 20 inches (508 mm) in width and a sill height of not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the finished floor.

 

9.In buildings of Group R-2 occupancy of any height with not more than four dwelling units per floor, with a smokeproof enclosure or outside stair as an exit and with such exit located within 20 feet (6096 mm) of travel to the entrance doors to all dwelling units served thereby.

 

10.In buildings of Group R-3 occupancy equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system, only one exit shall be required from basements or stories below grade.

 

11.In Group E occupancies that satisfy all of the following conditions:

 

11.1.Not more than two stories above the level of exit discharge.

 

11.2.The floor area of the story does not exceed 3,000 square feet (279 m²).

 

11.3.Total occupant load served by the single exit does not exceed 49 persons per floor.

 

11.4.Automatic sprinkler protection throughout the building, and  a building fire alarm system.

12. In Group A-3, A-4, B, E, M and R occupancies located not more than one story below grade that satisfy all the following conditions:

 

12.1.The floor area of the story does not exceed 2,500 square feet (233 m²).

 

12.2.The area served by the single exit and all egress components of the single exit are equipped with an approved automatic fire suppression system.

 

12.3.The building is equipped with an automatic fire alarm system.

 

13.In Group A occupancies located not more than one story above the level of exit discharge where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

13.1.The floor area of the Group A occupancy does not exceed 2,000 square feet (186 m²).

 

Exception:  Where the entire building is protected by an automatic sprinkler system, the floor area shall not exceed 3,000 square feet (279 m²).

 

13.2.The occupant load of the assembly area served by the single exit does not exceed 2/3 of the capacity of the single exit.

 

13.3.The area served by the single exit and all egress components of the single exit are protected with an automatic sprinkler system.

 

13.4.All portions of the level of discharge with access to the single exit egress path shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system or shall be separated from the egress path in by an enclosure with a fire resistance rating of not less than 1-hour.

 

13.5.The building is provided with an automatic fire alarm system in accordance with the Building Code and NFPA 72.

14.In below-grade parking garages of Group S-2, provided:

 

14.1.The parking levels are protected with automatic sprinklers and a fire alarm system;

 

14.2.The travel distance to the exit does not exceed 400 feet (121 920 mm); and

 

14.3.A car ramp is available for exit in addition to the single exit.

 

15.Group R-2 occupancies in buildings of any height that are provided with an approved, automatic fire suppression system, a single exit from a dwelling unit (i.e., apartment) is permitted, provided both of the following conditions are met:

 

15.1.Travel distance within the dwelling unit to the exit access corridor does not exceed 125 feet (38 100 mm); and

 

15.2.Travel distance from corridor door to an exit does not exceed 200 feet (60 960 mm).

 

Strike Section 805.4.1.1 of the International Existing Building Code in its entirety and insert new Section 805.4.1.1 to the Existing Building Code in its place to read as follows:

 

805.4.1.1 Occupant load and travel distance.  In any work area, all rooms and spaces having an occupant load greater than 50 or in which the travel distance to an exit exceeds 75 feet (22 860 mm) shall have a minimum of two egress doorways.

 

Exceptions:

 

1. Storage rooms having a maximum occupant load of 10.

 

2. Where the work area is served by a single exit in accordance with Section 805.3.1.1.

 

3. In Group B occupancies, only one egress doorway is required when conditions 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 are met, and either condition 3.4 or 3.5, as applicable, is also met.

 

3.1.The space is confined, restricted or isolated by the demising partitions of the existing adjacent spaces such that two egress doorways complying with the remoteness requirements of the Building Code cannot be provided;

 

3.2.The common path of travel within the space is not more than 100 feet (30 480 mm);

 

3.3.The occupant load of the space does not exceed 49;

 

3.4.In non-sprinklered, non-high-rise buildings, automatic smoke detection is provided both in the spaces served by the single egress doorway and throughout the means of egress to the building exits; or

 

3.5.In high-rise buildings, both the spaces served by the single egress doorway and the means of egress to the building exit are provided with automatic sprinklers.

 

Strike Section 805.6 of the International Existing Building Code in its entirety and insert new Section 805.6 to the Existing Building Code in its place to read as follows:

 

805.6 Dead-end corridors. Dead-end corridors in any work area shall not exceed 35 feet (10 670 mm).

 

Exceptions:

 

1. Where dead-end corridors of greater length are permitted by the Building Code, 12 DCMR A.

 

2.  In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an existing dead-end corridor shall be 50 feet (15 240 mm) in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system installed in accordance with the Building Code.

 

3. In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an existing dead-end corridor shall be 75 feet (22 860 mm) where the floor containing the dead-end corridor is equipped with automatic sprinkler protection in accordance with the Building Code.

 

4.  In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an existing dead-end corridor shall be 100 feet (30 480 mm) in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with the Building Code.

 

5.  In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an extended dead-end corridor shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm) on floors equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with the Building Code.

 

 

authority

Section 10 of the Construction Codes Approval and Amendments Act of 1986 (Act), effective March 21, 1987 (D.C. Law 6-216; D.C. Official Code § 6-1409 (2012 Repl.)) and Mayor’s Order 2009-22, dated February 25, 2009, as amended.

source

Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 3336 (March 28, 2014 – Part 2).

EditorNote

The District of Columbia Existing Building Code (2013), referred to as the “Existing Building Code,” consists of the 2012 edition of the International Existing Building Code as amended by the District of Columbia Existing Building Code Supplement (2013)(12 DCMR J)). The International Existing Building Code is copyrighted by the International Code Council and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/iebc/2012/index.htm?bu=IC-P-2012-000006&bu2=IC-P-2012-000019.