Page 242 - 2018_IFC

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

[BE] 1104.16.5 Materials and strength. Components of 4. Opening protection is not required where the
fire escape stairways shall be constructed of noncombusti- building is equipped throughout with an
ble materials. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall approved automatic sprinkler system.
support the dead load plus a live load of not less than 100 1104.18 Dead ends. Where more than one exit or exit access
2
pounds per square foot (4.78 kN/m ). Fire escape stair- doorway is required, the exit access shall be arranged such
ways and balconies shall be provided with a top and inter- that dead ends do not exceed the limits specified in Table
mediate handrail on each side. 1104.18.
[BE] 1104.16.5.1 Examination. Fire escape stairways Exceptions:
and balconies shall be examined for structural ade- 1. A dead-end corridor shall not be limited in length
quacy and safety in accordance with Section 1104.16.5 where the length of the dead-end corridor is less
by a registered design professional or others acceptable than 2.5 times the least width of the dead-end corri-
to the fire code official every 5 years, or as required by dor.
the fire code official. An inspection report shall be sub-
mitted to the fire code official after such examination. 2. In existing buildings, existing dead-end corridors
shall be permitted to comply with lengths estab-
[BE] 1104.16.6 Termination. The lowest balcony shall lished in Section 805.6 of the International Existing
not be more than 18 feet (5486 mm) from the ground. Fire
Building Code. Any newly constructed dead-end
escape stairways shall extend to the ground or be provided corridors within an existing building shall be limited
with counterbalanced stairs reaching the ground.
to the lengths allowed by the International Building
Exception: For fire escape stairways serving 10 or Code.
fewer occupants, an approved fire escape ladder is 1104.19 Exit access travel distance. Exits shall be located so
allowed to serve as the termination. that the maximum length of exit access travel, measured from
[BE] 1104.16.7 Maintenance. Fire escape stairways shall the most remote point to an approved exit along the natural
be kept clear and unobstructed at all times and shall be and unobstructed path of egress travel, does not exceed the
maintained in good working order. distances given in Table 1104.18.
1104.20 Common path of egress travel. The common path
1104.17 Corridor construction. Corridors serving an occu-
pant load greater than 30 and the openings therein shall pro- of egress travel shall not exceed the distances given in Table
vide an effective barrier to resist the movement of smoke. 1104.18.
Transoms, louvers, doors and other openings shall be kept 1104.21 Stairway discharge identification. An interior exit
closed or be self-closing. In Group I-2, corridors in areas stairway or ramp that continues below its level of exit dis-
housing patient sleeping or care rooms shall comply with charge shall be arranged and marked to make the direction of
Section 1105.5. egress to a public way readily identifiable.
Exceptions: Exception: Stairways that continue one-half story beyond
their levels of exit discharge need not be provided with
1. Corridors in occupancies other than in Group H, barriers where the exit discharge is obvious.
that are equipped throughout with an approved auto-
matic sprinkler system. 1104.22 Exterior stairway protection. Exterior exit stair-
ways shall be separated from the interior of the building as
2. Corridors in occupancies in Group E where each required in Section 1027.6. Openings shall be limited to those
room utilized for instruction or assembly has not necessary for egress from normally occupied spaces.
less than one-half of the required means of egress
doors opening directly to the exterior of the building Exceptions:
at ground level. 1. Separation from the interior of the building is not
required for buildings that are two stories or less
3. Corridors that are in accordance with the Interna- above grade where the level of exit discharge serv-
tional Building Code.
ing such occupancies is the first story above grade.
1104.17.1 Corridor openings. Openings in corridor walls 2. Separation from the interior of the building is not
shall comply with the requirements of the International required where the exterior stairway is served by an
Building Code. exterior balcony that connects two remote exterior
Exceptions: stairways or other approved exits, with a perimeter
that is not less than 50 percent open. To be consid-
1. Where 20-minute fire door assemblies are ered open, the opening shall be not less than 50 per-
required, solid wood doors not less than 1.75 cent of the height of the enclosing wall, with the top
inches (44 mm) thick or insulated steel doors are of the opening not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) above
allowed.
the top of the balcony.
2. Openings protected with fixed wire glass set in 3. Separation from the interior of the building is not
steel frames.
required for an exterior stairway located in a build-
3. Openings covered with 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) gyp- ing or structure that is permitted to have unen-
sum wallboard or 0.75-inch (19.1 mm) plywood closed interior stairways in accordance with
on the room side. Section 1023.

2018 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE ® 209
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