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Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS

Section 1028 — EXIT DISCHARGE

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

1028.1 General.

The exit discharge shall comply with Sections 1028 and 1029 and the applicable requirements of Sections 1003 through 1015.

1028.2 Exit discharge.

Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide a direct path of egress travel to grade. The exit discharge shall not reenter a building. The combined use of Exceptions 1 and 2 shall not exceed 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of the required exits.

Exceptions:

  1. Not more than 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through areas, including atriums, on the level of discharge provided that all of the following conditions are met:

1.1. Discharge of interior exit stairways and ramps shall be provided with a free and unobstructed path of travel to an exterior exit door and such exit is readily visible and identifiable from the point of termination of the enclosure.

1.2. The entire area of the level of exit discharge is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating for the enclosure. 1.3. The egress path from the interior exit stairway and ramp on the level of exit discharge is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system. Portions of the level of exit discharge with access to the egress path shall be either equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, or separated from the egress path in accordance with the requirements for the enclosure of interior exit stairways or ramps. 1.4. Where a required interior exit stairway or ramp and an exit access stairway or ramp serve the same floor level and terminate at the same level of exit discharge, the termination of the exit access stairway or ramp and the exit discharge door of the interior exit stairway or ramp shall be separated by a distance of not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) or not less than one-fourth the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building, whichever is less. The distance shall be measured in a straight line between the exit discharge door from the interior exit stairway or ramp and the last tread of the exit access stairway or termination of slope of the exit

access ramp. 2. Not more than 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of the interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through a vestibule provided that all of the following conditions are met: 2.1. The entire area of the vestibule is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating of the interior exit stairway or ramp enclosure. 2.2. The depth from the exterior of the building is not greater than 10 feet (3048 mm) and the length is not greater than 30 feet (9144 mm).

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

MEANS OF EGRESS

2.3. The area is separated from the remainder of the level of exit discharge by a fire partition constructed in accordance with Section 708.

Exception: The maximum transmitted temperature rise is not required. 2.4. The area is used only for means of egress and exits directly to the outside. 3. Horizontal exits complying with Section 1026 shall not be required to discharge directly to the exterior of the building.

1028.3 Exit discharge width or capacity.

The minimum width or required capacity of the exit discharge shall be not less than the minimum width or required capacity of the exits being served.

1028.4 Exit discharge components.

Exit discharge components shall be sufficiently open to the exterior so as to minimize the accumulation of smoke and toxic gases.

1028.5 Access to a public way.

The exit discharge shall provide a direct and unobstructed access to a public way.

Exception: Where access to a public way cannot be provided, a safe dispersal area shall be provided where all of the following are met:

  1. The area shall be of a size to accommodate not less than 5 square feet (0.46 m [2] ) for each person.
  2. For other than Group E buildings, the area shall be located on the same lot not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) away from the building requiring egress. For Group E buildings, the area shall be located on the same lot at least 50 feet (15 240 mm) away from any building.
  3. The area shall be permanently maintained and identified as a safe dispersal area.
  4. The area shall be provided with a safe and unobstructed path of travel from the building. 5. In correctional facilities, the area shall be of a size to accommodate not less than 7 square feet (0.6503 m [2] ) for each person. Accessible path of egress travel to the safe dispersal area and clear ground space for 5 percent of the occupants meeting Section 11B-305.3 shall be provided. 6. At facilities regulated by Chapter 11B, an accessible area within the space required by Exception Item 1 shall be provided for a minimum of 2 percent of the facility occupants served by the safe dispersal area. For each occupant, the accessible area shall provide clear ground space complying with Section 11B-305. Accessible routes complying with Chapter 11B, Division 4 shall connect the accessible area with all accessible exits served by the safe dispersal area.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  4. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
  9. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  10. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  11. ▸ Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
    Overview
    1. Section 1001 — ADMINISTRATION
    2. Section 1002 — MAINTENANCE AND PLANS
    3. Section 1003 — GENERAL MEANS OF EGRESS
    4. Section 1004 — OCCUPANT LOAD
    5. Section 1005 — MEANS OF EGRESS SIZING
    6. Section 1006 — NUMBER OF EXITS AND EXIT ACCESS DOORWAYS
    7. Section 1007 — EXIT AND EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY CONFIGURATION
    8. Section 1008 — MEANS OF EGRESS ILLUMINATION
    9. Section 1009 — ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS
    10. Section 1010 — DOORS, GATES AND TURNSTILES
    11. Section 1011 — STAIRWAYS
    12. Section 1012 — RAMPS
    13. Section 1013 — EXIT SIGNS
    14. Section 1014 — HANDRAILS
    15. Section 1015 — GUARDS
    16. Section 1016 — EXIT ACCESS
    17. Section 1017 — EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE
    18. Section 1018 — AISLES
    19. Section 1019 — EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS
    20. Section 1020 — CORRIDORS
    21. Section 1021 — EGRESS BALCONIES
    22. Section 1022 — EXITS
    23. Section 1023 — INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS
    24. Section 1024 — EXIT PASSAGEWAYS
    25. Section 1025 — LUMINOUS EGRESS PATH MARKINGS
    26. Section 1026 — HORIZONTAL EXITS
    27. Section 1027 — EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS
    28. Section 1028 — EXIT DISCHARGE
    29. Section 1029 — EGRESS COURTS
    30. Section 1030 — ASSEMBLY
    31. Section 1031 — EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE
  12. Chapter 11 — RESERVED
  13. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  14. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  15. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  16. Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  17. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  18. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  19. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  20. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  22. Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  25. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  26. Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 21A — MASONRY
  30. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  31. Chapter 22A — STEEL
  32. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  33. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  34. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  35. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  36. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  37. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  38. Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  39. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  40. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  41. Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
  42. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  43. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  44. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  45. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  46. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  47. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  48. Chapter 34 — RESERVED
  49. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  50. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  51. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  52. Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  54. Appendix E — RESERVED
  55. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  56. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  57. Appendix H — SIGNS
  58. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  59. Appendix J — GRADING
  60. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
  61. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
  62. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
  63. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  64. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
  65. Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
  66. Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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