Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS

Section 1020 — CORRIDORS

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · California

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1020.1 General.

1020.1 General. Corridors serving as an exit access component in a means of egress system shall comply with the requirements of Sections 1020.2 through 1020.7.

1020.2 Construction.

1020.2 Construction. Corridors shall be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Table 1020.2. The corridor walls required to be fireresistance rated shall comply with Section 708 for fire partitions. Exceptions: 1. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors in an occupancy in Group E where each room that is used for instruction has not less than one door opening directly to the exterior and rooms for assembly purposes have not less than onehalf of the required means of egress doors opening directly to the exterior. Exterior doors specified in this exception are required to be at…

1020.3 Width and capacity.

1020.3 Width and capacity. The required capacity of corridors shall be determined as specified in Section 1005.1, but the minimum width shall be not less than that specified in Table 1020.3. Exception: In Group I-2 occupancies, corridors are not required to have a clear width of 96 inches (2438 mm) in areas where there will not be stretcher or bed movement for access to care or as part of the defend-in-place strategy. TABLE 1020.3—MINIMUM CORRIDOR WIDTHCol2 ------ OCCUPANCYMINIMUM WIDTH (inches) Any facility not listed in this table44 Access to and utilization of mechanical, plumbing or…

1020.4 Obstruction.

1020.4 Obstruction. The minimum width or required capacity of corridors shall be unobstructed. Exception: Encroachments complying with Section 1005.7.

1020.5 Dead ends.

1020.5 Dead ends. Where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, the exit access shall be arranged such that deadend corridors do not exceed 20 feet (6096 mm) in length. Exceptions: 1. In Group I-3, Condition 2, 3 or 4, occupancies, the dead end in a corridor shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm). 2. In occupancies in Groups B, E, F, M, R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R-2.2, S and U, where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, the length of the dead-end corridors shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm). 3. A dead-end corridor…

1020.6 Air movement in corridors.

1020.6 Air movement in corridors. Corridors shall not serve as supply, return, exhaust, relief or ventilation air ducts. Exceptions: 1. Use of a corridor as a source of makeup air for exhaust systems in rooms that open directly onto such corridors, including toilet rooms, bathrooms, dressing rooms, smoking lounges and janitor closets, shall be permitted, provided that each such corridor is directly supplied with outdoor air at a rate greater than the rate of makeup air taken from the corridor. 2. Where located within a dwelling unit, the use of corridors for conveying return air shall not be…

1020.7 Corridor continuity.

1020.7 Corridor continuity. Fire-resistance-rated corridors shall be continuous from the point of entry to an exit, and shall not be interrupted by intervening rooms. Where the path of egress travel within a fire-resistance-rated corridor to the exit includes travel along unenclosed exit access stairways or ramps, the fire-resistance rating shall be continuous for the length of the stairway or ramp and for the length of the connecting corridor on the adjacent floor leading to the exit. Exceptions: 1. Foyers, lobbies or reception rooms constructed as required for corridors shall not be…