CODES - EGRESS

BUILDING CODES AND ADA/TASBUILDING CODES - EGRESSWhat are building codes?Laws enacted to make buildings safe in order to protect lifeWhat is the oldest known instance of a building codeBabylon more than 5,000 years agoFrom what do building codes protect human lifeStructural failureFireSanitationEarthquakesHurricanesTornadoes

International Building CodeAs in all building codes, the rules within the code must address Health, Safety and/or Welfare or they are not enforceable

If you design a building to code, what kind of building is it?THE WORST POSSIBLE BUILDING ALLOWABLE BY LAW!!!

In case of a fire or other disaster, one must be able to get out of the building.

Note: Doors to an exit must open in the direction of travel unless it is from a small room (private offices, etc.)

If, due to the occupant load two exits are required. The distance between them must be no less than half the diagonal distance of the space.

However, if the space is sprinklered, the exits may be a minimum of 1/3 the diagonal distance.

Dead end corridors generally may be no more than 20 feet in depth.However, if the length is less than 2-1/2 times the least width of the dead end, they are not limited in length.

In most cases, exit corridors or stairs in multi-story buildings must exit directly to the exterior of the building

Fire stairs are smoke-proof enclosures as are exit passageways from the stairs.Things to Remember:

Doors leading to exits must open in the direction of travelthis include exterior doors.One must first determine the occupancy type to determine the number of occupants Depending on the number of occupants, one may be required to provide two exitsIf two exits are required they must be at least one-half the diagonal distance between opposite corners in a spaceDead-end corridors should not be more than 20 feet in length

ADA/TASADA is for the Americans with Disabilities ActFederal Law first issued in 1990Amended in 2008Related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964Specifies that each state must produce its own accessibility standards

In Texas we have the Texas Accessibilities Standards (TAS) administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulationhttps://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ab/2012TAS/2012tascomplete.pdf

What disabilities are covered by TAS?

Both mental and physical medical conditions are coveredThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides a list of conditions including:Deafness, blindness, intellectual disability, partially or completely missing limbs or mobility impairments requiring the use of a wheelchair or cane or walker, autism, cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV infection, MS, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and schizophreniaAlso included are things like colorblindness, poor vision, night blindness, and poor hearing.

404.2.3 Clear Width. Door openings shall provide a clear width of 32 inches (815 mm) minimum. Clear openings of doorways with swinging doors shall be measured between the face of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees. Openings more than 24 inches (610 mm) deep shall provide a clear opening of 36 inches (915 mm) minimum. There shall be no projections into the required clear opening width lower than 34 inches (865 mm) above the finish floor or ground. Projections into the clear opening width between 34 inches (865 mm) and 80 inches (2030 mm) above the finish floor or ground shall not exceed 4 inches (100 mm).

604.3.1 Size. Clearance around a water closet shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum measuredperpendicular from the side wall and 56 inches (1420 mm) minimum measured perpendicular fromthe rear wall.

The minimum clear width for urinals and lavatories shall be 30 unless it is in an alcove with walls on each side. In that case the minimum width is 36.

TAS requires that the turning space for a wheelchair shall be a space of 60 diameter minimum. A door that swings into the space shall be allowed providing that there is a clear floor space of 30 x 48 outside the arc of the door swing.Things to Remember:

Doors must have a 32 clear opening, so doors should be 36 in width.On the push side of a door, there must be no less than 12 inches to the side of the opening opposite the hinges.On the pull side of a door there must be no less than 18 to the side of the opening opposite the hinges.Restrooms must have a clear space of 5 feet in diameter for wheelchair turns. Accessible toilet stalls should be 60 inches in width and 56 inches in depth