Appeal 33460

1007.1.1 Two Exits or exit access doorways

Where two exits, exit access doorways, exit access stairways or ramps, or any combination thereof, are required from any portion of the exit access, they shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one-half of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area to be served measured in a straight line between them…

Exception 2. Where a building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system … the separation distance shall be not less than one-third of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the area served.

The required exit separation after exiting the training room to be reduced from 22'-7" to 18'-0".

The proposed permit includes interior work for a tenant improvement within an existing building to add assembly and office spaces. The existing building is fully sprinkled, type III-A construction. Work includes assembly spaces (A-3) on level 2 and 3 and office (B) on levels 4 and 5.

On level 3, we are proposing a training/conference room on the north end of the building. Complaint with OSSC 1007.1.1, two exits are provided. The diagonal distance of the room is 67'-10" and the exits are separated by 23'-4". This is compliant to the code section with the minimum separation required is 22'-7".

After the occupants leave the space, they continue through the building to two separate, 2-hour rated egress stairs. As half the occupants enter Stair 2's rated enclosure, their egress paths nears the other training room occupant's egress path. At this point, the occupants are separated by about 18'. See the attached diagram.

The intent of this code section is to ensure that one hazard cannot prevent occupants from safely egressing from the building. The proposed configuration meets that intent. The occupants egressing from the west (down page on the diagram) will enter the 2-hour rated stair enclosure within a few steps of leaving the training room. At this point, they are protected and out of danger. Within that short travel distance, we also have a wall-mounted fire extinguisher.

Both egress paths are wider than the required egress width allowing for faster movement. A minimum of 44" is required per the occupant load and the narrowest provided width is 62" with the area of the appeal being more of 78"+ wide. The occupants egressing from the east (up page on the diagram) have a clear, wide path to access the 2-hour rated Stair 2 enclosure on the south end (page right in the diagram) of the building. The two building egress stairs are separated by more than 1/3 of the diagonal of the floor area, also meeting the requirements of 1007.1.1.

The building functions at the egress pinch point also limit the opportunities for a hazard to form. The function of the space is circulation with no other functions. Near the pinch point is a break room to serve the training room. That break room does not include a stove, range or other ignition sources.

The existing building is small and triangular shaped. Level 3 is about 4,000 square feet which is a tenth of the allowable area for A-3 in a Type III-A building. The training room located at the widest point. The building is about 40' wide at the training room egress doors with building narrowing to the south. The building is surrounded on three sides by public right of ways and a public bike path on the fourth side. This provides excellent fire access for fighting and rescue in the event of an emergency.