Our workplace at the moment has a debate going as to the way to calculate your exit journey distance when you’ve gotten multi-story buildings which can be massive sufficient to warrant a number of hearth separation partitions. We’re assuming 2018 Worldwide Constructing Code is the premise for code design.
Hypothetical Scenario:
You could have a single constructing, 100′ deep by 400′ lengthy. It’s separated into two equal halves by a single hearth separation wall that’s rated for 2-hours with hearth doorways within the very center.
On every finish of the constructing reverse the fire-wall, you’ve gotten stairs which can be separated from the remainder of the constructing by 2-hour partitions, due to this fact exit journey distance ends on the door to the steps. Let’s assume the utmost exit journey distance allowed is 200′.
Group 1:
Exit journey distance must be calculated from probably the most distant level in every “wing”. This might be about midway between the fireplace doorways and the stairwell. Their purpose is as a result of if one wing of the constructing is on hearth, the folks within the wing that’s on hearth could have each the fireplace doorways and the stairwell as legitimate exits. Subsequently, the exit journey distance to both the fireplace doorways or the steps can be about 111′-0″. This might imply the constructing can develop with no need a further exit.
Group 2:
Exit journey distance must be calculated from probably the most distant level between the 2 stairs, ignoring the fireplace doorways as a horizontal exit. Their reasoning is that if one half of the constructing is on hearth, the folks within the different half that is not on hearth aren’t going to need to attempt to escape by the fireplace doorways into the constructing that is on hearth, however relatively into the steps on their very own half of the constructing. Subsequently, the exit journey distance to the closest exit stair is about 206′. This implies the constructing wants a further stairwell in the course of the constructing close to the fireplace wall.
Which group is probably the most right on this code difficulty?
EDIT: Added a fast illustration. Group 1 is arguing that the inexperienced strains are the exit journey distances. Group 2 is arguing that the orange line is the exit journey distance, and since it’s over 200′, one other stairwell is required.
