Do exit stairs need to be enclosed?

Do exit stairs need to be enclosed?

Interior exit stairways shall be enclosed. Vertical exit enclosures four stories or more shall be 2-hour fire-resistance rated. Vertical exit enclosures less than four stories shall be 1-hour fire-resistance rated.

What is exit enclosure?

An exit enclosure is the enclosure around an exit. For our purposes it usually refers to a stairwell. According to the IBC, exit enclosures connecting 4 or more stories require a 2-hour fire resistance rating, and those connecting less than 4 stories require a 1-hour fire resistance rating (IBC-2009-1022.1).

What is a vertical exit enclosure?

A smokeproof enclosure or pressurized stairway shall exit into a public way or into an exit passageway, yard or open space having direct access to a public way.

What is exit discharge?

Exit discharge means the part of the exit route that leads directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside.

Do I need a protected staircase?

Generally, every internal escape stair should be a protected stairway. They should be relatively free of potential sources of fire and so should not be used for anything else, other than providing a lift well or housing an electricity meter.

What is an enclosed stairwell?

An enclosed stairwell is a stairwell that is located within its own enclosure within the building. The enclosure that contains an enclosed stairwell is designed to prevent fire from spreading into the stairwell. These enclosures are typically constructed of concrete.

Can you run conduit through a stairwell?

1(10)(b) in NFPA 101 stated only electrical conduit can serve equipment in the stairwell or stairway, so only it can enter this area.

What is the minimum fire resistance rating for the enclosure of an interior exit stairway that connects two or three stories?

The separation between an interior exit stair- way (stair enclosure) and the remainder of the building shall be accomplished with fire barriers having either a 1- or 2-hour fire-resistance rating, as required by Section 1022.2. Similar enclosures are required for interior exit ramps. 3.

Can open stairs be used for egress?

​If the open stair is not used as part of the means of egress, the IBC would view it as simply a “stairway.” If it is on the path of egress, it then becomes an exit access stairway.

Do staircases need to be fire rated?

As the stairway is the only means of escape from the upper floors, it must be constructed of material that is fire resistant for at least 30 minutes and all habitable rooms along it are required to have FD20-rated fire doors.

What are the requirement for the exit discharge?

Exit discharges must lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside. These exit discharge areas must be large enough to accommodate the building occupants likely to use the exit route.

What is the difference between exit and egress?

As verbs the difference between egress and exit is that egress is to exit or leave; to go or come out while exit is to go out.

What is the purpose of a barrier around an exit staircase?

In past code there was a requirement that stated, “Enclosed exit stairs that continue beyond the level of exit discharge shall be inturrupted at the floor of discharge by partitions, doors or other effective means.” The barrier prevented someone in a panic situation from passing the exit door in their hurry to get down the stair.

Can a stairway continue below the level of exit discharge?

A stairway in an exit enclosure shall not continue below its level of exit discharge unless an approved barrier is provided at the level of exit discharge to prevent persons from unintentionally continuing into levels below. Directional exit signs shall be provided as specified in Section 1011. So. CA Two problems??

What are the general requirements for an exit discharge?

The general requirements for an exit discharge are found under IBC Section 1028.1. With few exceptions, the exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide a direct path of egress travel to grade.

What are the ADA standards for stairways?

The ADA Standards apply requirements for stairways to each stair that is part of a required means of egress (§210). Exit Stairway Enclosures signs at exits and exit access doors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_6HVShMG-4