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Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS

Section 1020

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.

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.

Corridors shall be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Table 1020.2. The corridor walls required to be fire-resistance rated shall comply with Section 708 for fire partitions.

Exceptions:

MEANS OF EGRESS

  1. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors in open parking garages.

  2. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors in an occupancy in Group B that is a space requiring only a single means of egress complying with Section 1006.2.

  3. Corridors adjacent to the exterior walls of buildings shall be permitted to have unprotected openings on unrated exterior walls where unrated walls are permitted by Table 705.5 and unprotected openings are permitted by Table 705.8.

6. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors within suites in a Group I-2 or I-2.1 constructed in accordance with Section 407.4.4 or 407.4.5.

7. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors within Group I-3 occupancies that comply with intervening spaces, see Section 408.1.2.2.

TABLE 1020.2 CORRIDOR FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING

OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT
LOAD SERVED
BY CORRIDOR		 REQUIRED FIRE-
RESISTANCE RATING (hours)
OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT
LOAD SERVED
BY CORRIDOR		 Without
sprinkler
system		 With
sprinkler
system
H-1, H-2, H-3 All Not Permitted 1c
H-4, H-5,L Greater than 30 Not Permitted 1c
A, B, E, F, M, S, U Greater than 30 1 0
R_-1, R-2, R-3, R-3.1,_
R-4		 Greater than 10 Not Permitted 1
I-2a_, I-2.1_ Greater than 6 1 1
I-3,R-2.1 Greater than 6 Not Permitted 1b, c
I-4 All 1 0
E Greater than 10 1 0

  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 one-half of the required means of egress doors opening directly to the exterior. Exterior doors specified in this exception are required to be at ground level.

  2. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors contained within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit in an occupancy in Group R.

a. For requirements for occupancies in Group I-2 and I-2.1, see Sections

407.2 and 407.3. b. For a reduction in the fire-resistance rating for occupancies in Group I-3,

see Section 408.8. c. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in

accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 where allowed. d. Group R-3 and R-4 buildings equipped throughout with an automatic

sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3. See Section 903.2.8 for occupancies where automatic sprinkler systems are permitted in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3. e. [SFM] See Section 1029.

1020.2.1 Hoistway opening protection. Elevator hoistway openings shall be protected in accordance with Section 3006.2.1.

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

  1. A fire-resistance rating is not required for corridors required to have a clear width of 96 inches (2438 mm) in contained within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit in areas where there will not be stretcher or bed movement
  • an occupancy in Group R. for access to care or as part of the defend-in-place strategy.

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.

OCCUPANCY MINIMUM WIDTH
(inches)
Any facility not listed in this table 44
Access to and utilization of mechanical, plumb-
ing or electrical systems or equipment		 24
With an occupant load of less than 50 36
Within a dwelling unit 36
In Group E with a corridor having an occupant
load of 100 or more		 72
In corridors and areas serving stretcher traffic
in ambulatory care facilities		 72
Group I-2_and I-3_ in areas where required for
bed movement		 96
Corridors in Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies
serving any area caring for one or more
nonambulatory persons.a		 72

MEANS OF EGRESS

TABLE 1020.3 MINIMUM CORRIDOR WIDTH

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. a. See Section 1224.4.7.1 for Group I-2.

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.

Where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, the exit access shall be arranged such that dead-end 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 shall not be limited in length where the length of the dead-end corridor is less than 2.5 times the least width of the dead-end corridor.

  4. In Group I-2 and I-2.1 occupancies, where the build- ing is equipped throughout with an automatic sprin- kler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, the length of dead-end corridors that do not serve patient rooms or patient treatment spaces shall not exceed 30 feet (9144 mm).

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.

  1. Where located within a dwelling unit, the use of corridors for conveying return air shall not be prohibited.

  2. Where located within tenant spaces of 1,000 square feet (93 m 2 ) or less in area, utilization of corridors for conveying return air is permitted.

  3. Transfer air movement required to maintain the pressurization difference within health care facilities and Group L occupancies in accordance with ASHRAE 170.

5. For health care facilities under the jurisdiction of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Devel- opment (OSHPD), see the California Mechanical Code.

1020.6.1 Corridor ceiling. Use of the space between the corridor ceiling and the floor or roof structure above as a return air plenum is permitted for one or more of the following conditions:

  1. The corridor is not required to be of fire-resistancerated construction.

  2. The corridor is separated from the plenum by fireresistance-rated construction.

  3. The air-handling system serving the corridor is shut down upon activation of the air-handling unit smoke detectors required by the California Mechanical Code .

  4. The air-handling system serving the corridor is shut down upon detection of sprinkler water flow where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.

  5. The space between the corridor ceiling and the floor or roof structure above the corridor is used as a component of an approved engineered smoke control system.

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 construed as intervening rooms.

  2. Enclosed elevator lobbies as permitted by Item 1 of Section 1016.2 shall not be construed as intervening rooms.

3. [SFM] In fully sprinklered office buildings, corri- dors may lead through enclosed elevator lobbies if all areas of the building have access to at least one required exit without passing through the elevator lobby.

10-42 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.

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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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