Section 400.18308. Exits.

(1) A means of egress shall be considered the  entire  way  and method of passage to free and safe ground outside a group home. Means of egress shall be maintained in unobstructed, easily  traveled   condition   at all times. Where basements are regularly utilized for resident activities, there shall be 2 acceptable means of egress. Doors that form a part of a required means of egress shall be equipped with positive-latching, nonlocking-against-egress-type hardware, be not less  than  30   inches in width, and ensure adequate egress for residents who require wheelchairs, including ramps where necessary.

Exception:  Special   locking  requirements   complying   with   5-2.1.6      are permitted if a facility complies with the following conditions:

(a)      The facility is equipped with a complete approved  automatic sprinkler system in compliance with the provisions of section 7-7 of the code. A small facility with a sprinkler system in compliance with national  fire  protection   association pamphlet no. 13D, 1991 edition, standard for sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings and mobile homes, which is adopted by reference in R 400.18108, with a 30- minute water supply, and that has each habitable area and closet sprinklered with quick-response or residential sprinklers is also permitted. A large facility with a sprinkler system in compliance with national fire protection association pamphlet no. 13R, 1991  edition,  standard  for  sprinkler  systems  in residential occupancies up to and including 4 stories in height, which is adopted by reference in R 400.18108, and that has each habitable area and closet sprinklered with quick-response or residential sprinklers   is  also permitted.

(b)   The facility is equipped with self-closing or automatic closing devices on all bedroom doors in compliance with section 5-2.1.8.

(c)   The facility is equipped with  a  manual  fire  alarm  system  in compliance with section 7-6.

(d)    The facility is equipped with an approved smoke detection system  in compliance with sections 23-2.3.4.3. Exceptions nos. 1 and 2 of 23-2.3.4.3 shall not be used with this exception.

(2)    The first floor of a group home shall have not less than 2 separate and independent means of egress leading to the outside. Where basements are regularly utilized for resident  activities, there  shall   be   2 acceptable means of egress.

(3)   In homes housing fewer than 13 residents, the second stairway is not required; however, the primary stair shall be enclosed with partitions and doors equal in fire resistance to the standard partition construction of the building. Such  stairway  doors shall be equipped with approved self-closing devices and positive-latching, nonlocking-against-egress-type hardware. The enclosures shall be constructed and arranged so that effective fire and smoke separations between floors are  provided  or else each resident bedroom on the second floor or above shall be equipped with a minimum 1 3/4-inch thick solid core wood door.

In homes housing 13 to 20 residents, at least 1 means of egress from each floor shall be directly to the outside or shall be through an enclosed stairway which is properly separated from exposure from the floor below and which exits directly to the outside at grade level.

The required second means of egress shall be enclosed with partitions and doors equal  in   fire  resistance  to   the  standard  partition    construction  of  the  building.   The

enclosures   shall    be    constructed   and    arranged    so      that   effective   fire   and   smoke separations between floors are provided.

(4)        Group   homes  accommodating  residents  who   regularly   require wheelchairs shall be equipped with ramps located at primary and secondary means of egress. A ramp shall not exceed 1 foot of rise in 12 feet of run.

(5)     Stairway and other vertical openings shall be  enclosed  with partitions and doors equal in fire resistance to  the  standard   partition construction of the building, if, at a minimum, the partition construction is standard lath and plaster or equivalent. Enclosures shall be constructed and arranged so that effective fire and smoke separations between floors will be effected or else each resident bedroom on the second floor or above shall be equipped with a minimum 1 3/4-inch solid core wood door.

(6)     Hardware in an occupied room shall be positive-latching and nonlocking- against-egress. In all facilities housing more  than   12 residents, exterior doors shall swing in the direction of egress and be equipped with nonlatching-against-egress-type hardware.

History: 1994 AACS.