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Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS

Section 1008

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

1008.1 Means of egress illumination.

Illumination shall be provided in the means of egress in accordance with Section 1008.2. Under emergency power, means of egress illumination shall comply with Section 1008.3.

TABLE 1006.3.4(2) STORIES WITH ONE EXIT OR ACCESS TO ONE EXIT FOR OTHER OCCUPANCIES

STORY OCCUPANCYe MAXIMUM OCCUPANT
LOAD PER STORY		 MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS
TRAVEL DISTANCE (feet)
First story above or below grade plane A, Bb, E, Fb, M, U 49 75
First story above or below grade plane H-2, H-3 3 25
First story above or below grade plane H-4, H-5, I, R-1, R-2a, c, R-2.2 10 75
First story above or below grade plane I-2, I-2.1 7 50
First story above or below grade plane Sb, d 29 75
Second story above grade plane B, F, M, Sd 29 75
Third story above grade plane and higher NP NA NA

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. NP = Not Permitted. NA = Not Applicable. a. Buildings classified as Group R-2 equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and provided

with emergency escape and rescue openings in accordance with Section 1031. b. Group B, F and S occupancies in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall have a

maximum exit access travel distance of 100 feet. c. This table is used for R-2 occupancies consisting of sleeping units. For R-2 occupancies consisting of dwelling units, use Table 1006.3.4(1). d. The length of exit access travel distance in a Group S-2 open parking garage shall be not more than 100 feet. e. For Group L Occupancies see Section 453.6.1.

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

MEANS OF EGRESS

1008.2 Illumination required.

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied.

Exceptions:

  1. Occupancies in Group U.

  2. Aisle accessways in Group A.

  3. Dwelling units and sleeping units in Groups R-1, R2 and R-3.

  4. Sleeping units of Group I, R-2.1 and R-4 occupancies.

1008.2.1 Illumination level under normal power. The means of egress illumination level shall be not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface. Along exit access stairways, exit stairways and at their required landings, the illumination level shall not be less than 10 footcandles (108 lux) at the walking surface when the stairway is in use.

Exception: For auditoriums, theaters, concert or opera halls and similar assembly occupancies, the illumination at the walking surface is permitted to be reduced during performances by one of the following methods provided that the required illumination is automatically restored upon activation of a premises’ fire alarm system:

  1. Externally illuminated walking surfaces shall be permitted to be illuminated to not less than 0.2 footcandle (2.15 lux).

  2. Steps, landings and the sides of ramps shall be permitted to be marked with self-luminous materials in accordance with Sections 1025.2.1, 1025.2.2 and 1025.2.4 by systems listed in accordance with UL 1994.

1008.2.2 Group I-2. In Group I-2 occupancies where two or more exits are required, on the exterior landings required by Section 1010.1.5, means of egress illumination levels for the exit discharge shall be provided such that failure of a single lamp in a luminaire shall not reduce the illumination level on that landing to less than 1 footcandle (11 lux).

1008.2.3 Exit discharge. Illumination shall be provided along the path of travel for the exit discharge from each exit to the public way.

Exception: Illumination shall not be required where the path of the exit discharge meets both of the following requirements:

  1. The path of exit discharge is illuminated from the exit to a safe dispersal area complying with Section 1028.5.
  2. A dispersal area shall be illuminated to a level not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface.

1008.3 Emergency power for illumination.

The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises’ electrical supply.

1008.3.1 General. In the event of power supply failure in rooms and spaces that require two or more exits or access to exits, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

  1. Aisles.

  2. Corridors.

  3. Exit access stairways and ramps.

1008.3.2 Buildings. In the event of power supply failure in buildings that require two or more exits or access to exits, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

  1. Interior exit access stairways and ramps.

  2. Interior and exterior exit stairways and ramps.

  3. Exit passageways.

  4. Vestibules and areas on the level of discharge used for exit discharge in accordance with Section 1028.2.

  5. Exterior landings as required by Section 1010.1.5 for exit doorways that lead directly to the exit discharge.

6. Group I-2 and I-2.1 exit discharge stairways, ramps, aisles, walkways and escalators leading to a public way or to a safe dispersal area in accordance with Section 1028.5.

1008.3.3 Rooms and spaces. In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

  1. Electrical equipment rooms.

  2. Fire command centers.

  3. Fire pump rooms.

  4. Generator rooms.

  5. Public restrooms with an area greater than 300 square feet (27.87 m 2 ).

1008.3.4 Duration. The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Section 2702.

1008.3.5 Illumination level under emergency power. Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is not less than an average of 1 footcandle (11 lux) and a minimum at any point of 0.1 footcandle (1 lux) measured along the path of egress at floor level. Illumination levels shall be permitted to decline to 0.6 footcandle (6 lux) average and a minimum at any point of 0.06 footcandle (0.6 lux) at the end of the emergency lighting time duration. A maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded. In Group I-2 occupancies, failure of a single lamp in a luminaire shall not reduce the illumination level to less than 0.2 footcandle (2.2 lux).

10-14 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

MEANS OF EGRESS

  1. Exterior areas for assisted rescue complying with Section 1009.7 serving exits at the level of exit discharge.

1009.2.1 Elevators required. In buildings where a required accessible floor or occupied roof is four or more stories above or below a level of exit discharge, not less than one required accessible means of egress shall be an elevator complying with Section 1009.4.

Exceptions:

  1. In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the elevator shall not be required on floors provided with a horizontal exit and located at or above the levels of exit discharge.

  2. In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the elevator shall not be required on floors provided with a ramp conforming to the provisions of Section

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. ▸Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
    Overview
    1. Section 1001
    2. Section 1003
    3. Section 1004
    4. Section 1005
    5. Section 1006
    6. Section 1007
    7. Section 1008
    8. Section 1009
    9. Section 1010
    10. Section 1011
    11. Section 1012
    12. Section 1013
    13. Section 1014
    14. Section 1015
    15. Section 1016
    16. Section 1017
    17. Section 1018
    18. Section 1019
    19. Section 1020
    20. Section 1021
    21. Section 1022
    22. Section 1023
    23. Section 1024
    24. Section 1025
    25. Section 1026
    26. Section 1027
    27. Section 1028
    28. Section 1029
    29. Section 1030
    30. Section 1031
  17. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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