NFPA101 Exit Discharge into Dead End Alley Way

[MechProjectEng]

Hi All,

Hoping for some advice:

I have a building fire exit (industrial occupancy) and the exit discharge is into a dead-end alley way, which then leads to a public way. The alley way is approximately 50m long and 5m wide.

The design has been rejected by our AHJ as the exit discharge is not directly onto the public way with two directions of travel. As our exit discharge is onto a dead-end alley way, there is only one direction of travel (until you reach the main public way.

I've reviewed NFPA101 but I can't find any particular reference to this.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[stookeyfpe]

I agree with the code official. With only one path of travel, what happens if the other end of the alley is blocked? The occupants are trapped in an outdoor area.

 

[cdafd]

Stookey

Yes not the greatest set up but is there a code section that says it can't be done??


Mech
You can kindly ask the ahj for code reference, which they should provide you, if there is one

 

[stookeyfpe]

CDA,

I'm not a major user of the Life Safety Code but it and the International Building Code are essentially equal when it comes to Means of Egress (MOE) provisions, so my answer is based on the IBC definition of Exit Discharge. Before I write a detailed analysis I'll wait for MechProjectEng to respond.

The obvious answer can't be offered without knowing the occupant load, occupancy, and the width and length of the alley. I personally think his/her condition is an egress court. Once he/she tells us the required information, I can offer a better opinion.

CDA, look at the IFC requirements for an egress court and tell me why I'm wrong in my assumption.

 

[cdafd]

My sorrys was foucusing on just having one way out

Yes appears may not be good

 

[cdafd]

""CDA, look at the IFC requirements for an egress court and tell me why I'm wrong in my assumption"""


You are never wrong!!!!! Have a cool summer

 

[MechProjectEng]

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice. I will have a look at the IBC and Means of Egress (MOE) to see if there is any further guidance.

I have attached a simple sketch showing the arrangement of the buildings.

The occupancy is industrial (workshops). Occupancy load would be a few hundred people total working within all the buildings shown.

Our AHJ also commented that the exterior walls of the buildings in the areas of the exit routes to the public ways should be fire rated to protect people discharging from exit to public way. The walls highlighted on the sketch. I'd also welcome some advice on this.

Thanks for your help.

 

[stookeyfpe]

If the top of page is considered North, are their issues adding one or more door on the South side of the building?

The only way to make this arrangement to work is to construct the area as an egress court per IBC Section 1027.4. Your potential larger problem is the 50M distance plus the width of the building. If the distance is > 250 feet, the design violates Table 1016.2

The cleanest solution is to add one or more exit doors on the South or East side of the building.

 

[MechProjectEng]

Thanks Stookey, I'll have a look at the IBC references.

There are actually exits on all sides of the buildings, but I had omitted these on the sketch as I was concentrating on the problem areas between the buildings. There have to be exits into the areas between the buildings due to the layout of the workshops and rooms within those buildings.

Thanks.

 

[MechProjectEng]

I've reviewed IBC Section 1027.4 regarding egress courts. I agree that this is the situation that we have. I cannot find any restrictions on the length and width of an egress court. I.e. length of exit discharge between the exit at the building exterior wall and the Public Way. Do any exist?

 

[stookeyfpe]

See IBC Table 1016.2.

 

[cdafd]

From the 09 edition

1027.5.1 Width. The width of egress courts shall be determined as specified in Section 1005.1, but such width shall not be less than 44 inches (1118 mm), except as specified herein. Egress courts serving Group R-3 and U occupancies shall not be less than 36 inches (914 mm) in width. The required width of egress courts shall be unobstructed to a height of 7 feet (2134 mm).

Exception: Doors complying with Section 1005.2.

Where an egress court exceeds the minimum required width and the width of such egress court is then reduced along the path of exit travel, the reduction in width shall be gradual. The transition in width shall be affected by a guard not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height and shall not create an angle of more than 30 degrees (0.52 rad) with respect to the axis of the egress court along the path of egress travel. In no case shall the width of the egress court be less than the required minimum




1027.5.2 Construction and openings. Where an egress court serving a building or portion thereof is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in width, the egress court walls shall have not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction for a distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) above the floor of the court. Openings within such walls shall be protected by opening protectives having a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour.

Exceptions:
1. Egress courts serving an occupant load of less than 10.
2. Egress courts serving Group R-3.

 

[chicopee]

Make a passage way thru the corridor connecting building 1 and 2. Have fire rated construction for this new passageway and the existing alleys between bldg 1 and 2 and bldg 2 and 3. If the building walls are brick, then the glass windows can be replaced with wired glass.