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Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

Section 504 — FIRE ESCAPES

2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

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

(NOT ADOPTED BY HCD)

[BE] 504.1 Where permitted. Fire escapes shall be permitted only as provided for in Sections 504.1.1 through 504.1.4.

[BE] 504.1.1 New buildings. Fire escapes shall not constitute any part of the required means of egress in new buildings.

[BE] 504.1.2 Existing fire escapes. Existing fire escapes shall continue to be accepted as a component in the means of egress in existing buildings only.

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

PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

[BE] 504.1.3 New fire escapes. New fire escapes for existing buildings shall be permitted only where exterior stairways cannot be utilized because of lot lines limiting stairway size or because of sidewalks, alleys or roads at grade level. New fire escapes shall not incorporate ladders or access by windows.

[BE] 504.1.4 Limitations. Fire escapes shall comply with this section and shall not constitute more than 50 percent of the required number of exits nor more than 50 percent of the required exit capacity.

[BE] 504.2 Location. Where located on the front of the building and where projecting beyond the building line, the lowest landing shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) or more than 12 feet (3658 mm) above grade, and shall be equipped with a counterbalanced stairway to the street. In alleyways and thoroughfares less than 30 feet (9144 mm) wide, the clearance under the lowest landing shall be not less than 12 feet (3658 mm).

[BE] 504.3 Construction. The fire escape shall be designed to support a live load of 100 pounds per square foot (4788 Pa) and shall be constructed of steel or other approved noncombustible materials. Fire escapes constructed of wood not less than nominal 2 inches (51 mm) thick are permitted on buildings of Type V construction. Walkways and railings located over or supported by combustible roofs in buildings of Type III and IV construction are permitted to be of wood not less than nominal 2 inches (51 mm) thick.

[BE] 504.4 Dimensions. Stairways shall be not less than 22 inches (559 mm) wide with risers not more than, and treads not less than, 8 inches (203 mm) and landings at the foot of stairways not less than 40 inches (1016 mm) wide by 36 inches (914 mm) long, located not more than 8 inches (203 mm) below the door.

[BE] 504.5 Opening protectives. Doors and windows within 10 feet (3048 mm) of fire escape stairways shall be protected with [3] / 4 hour opening protectives.

Exception: Opening protection shall not be required in buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  4. Chapter 3A — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  5. Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
  6. Chapter 4A — REPAIRS
  7. ▸ Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
    Overview
    1. Section 501 — GENERAL
    2. Section 502 — ADDITIONS
    3. Section 503 — ALTERATIONS
    4. Section 504 — FIRE ESCAPES
    5. Section 505 — WINDOWS AND EMERGENCY ESCAPE OPENINGS
    6. Section 506 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
    7. Section 507 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  8. Chapter 5A — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  9. Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
  10. Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
  11. Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
  12. Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
  13. Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
  14. Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
  15. Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  16. Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
  17. Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
  18. Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
  19. Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  20. Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING B…
  21. Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIS…
  22. Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUIL…
  23. Appendix D — BOARD OF APPEALS
  24. Appendix E — TEMPORARY EMERGENCY USES
  25. Appendix A — GUIDELINES ON FIRE RATINGS OF ARCHAIC MATERIALS A…

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