Section 400.18611. Egress facilities.

(1) Each floor or story of every building shall   have   not      less than 2 separate and independent means of egress leading  to  the  outside.

Additional means  of   egress  are  required  when   the  maximum  possible occupancy is more than 100 residents per story. There shall be at least 1 additional means of egress for each 100 additional  residents  per  story.

There shall be a sufficient number of exits arranged so that it is not necessary to travel  more  than  100   feet   from   the   door   of   a resident-occupied room to reach the nearest approved means of egress  from that story.

(2)   Architectural treatment, mirrors, false windows, doors, or  other decorations shall not give the appearance of doors or exits where no door or exit exists and shall not be placed so as to decrease  the  width   of,  or impair the use of, the exit. Nothing shall be placed or hung in front of an exit sign if it obstructs or prevents a clear view of the exit sign.

(3)   A corridor shall lead directly to the  outside  or   to  a  required stairway that has direct egress to the outside through an approved exit door at grade which provides access to a public street. Only 1 required stairway may terminate in, and have egress directly across,  a  main  floor entrance lobby that has ample approved means of egress to the outside.

(4)   An elevator shall not be approved as a required means of egress.

(5)   A corridor, stairway, or passageway to a means of egress shall not be used to house residents or for storage of any kind and  shall  not  be obstructed or hidden from view  by  ornamentation,   curtains,   or  other appurtenances.

(6)   A corridor barrier door, other than an approved smoke barrier door, shall be a double-action door only and shall not be secured by any device other than by a device that will permit opening the door in the direction of travel from either side with a normal push or pressure.

(7)   A congregate facility that accommodates residents who regularly require wheelchairs shall be equipped with ramps located at primary and secondary means of egress. A ramp shall not have more than 1 foot of rise in 12 feet of run.

History: 1994 AACS.