1017 Exit Access Travel Distance — 2025 California Fire Code

[BE] 1017.1 General. Travel distance within the exit access portion of the means of egress system shall be in accordance with this section.

[BE] 1017.2 Limitations. Exit access travel distance shall not exceed the values given in Table 1017.2.

[BE] TABLE 1017.2—EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCEa

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
a. See the following sections for modifications to exit access travel distance requirements:
Section 402.8 of the_California Building Code_: For the distance limitation in malls.
Section 407.4 of the_California Building Code_: For the distance limitation in Group I-2.
Section 408.3.10 of the California Building Code: For increased limitation in Group I-3.
Sections 408.6.1 and 408.8.1 of the_California Building Code_: For the distance limitations in Group I-3.
Section 411.2 of the_California Building Code_: For the distance limitation in special amusement areas.
Section 412.6 of the_California Building Code_: For the distance limitations in aircraft manufacturing facilities.
Section 422.3.4 of the California Building Code: For the distance limitation in ambulatory care facilities.
Section 1006.2.2.2: For the distance limitation in refrigeration machinery rooms.
Section 1006.2.2.3: For the distance limitation in refrigerated rooms and spaces.
Section 1006.3.4: For buildings with one exit.
Section 1017.2.2: For increased distance limitation in Groups F-1 and S-1.
Section 1017.2.3: For increased distance limitation in Group H-5.
Section 1030.7: For increased limitation in assembly seating.
Section 3103.4 of the_California Building Code_: For temporary structures.
Section 3104.9 of the_California Building Code_: For pedestrian walkways.
b. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2. See Section 903 for occupancies where automatic
sprinkler systems are permitted in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2.
c. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
d. Group H occupancies equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.5.1.
e. 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 auto-
matic sprinkler systems are permitted in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3.
f.
Not permitted in nonsprinklered Group I-3 occupancies.

MEANS OF EGRESS

[BE] 1017.2.1 Exterior egress balcony increase. Exit access travel distances specified in Table 1017.2 shall be increased up to an additional 100 feet (30 480 mm) provided that the last portion of the exit access leading to the exit occurs on an exterior egress balcony constructed in accordance with Section 1021. The length of such balcony shall be not less than the amount of the increase taken.

[BE] 1017.2.2 Groups F-1 and S-1 increase. The maximum exit access travel distance shall be 400 feet (122 m) in Group F-1 or S-1 occupancies where all of the following conditions are met:

1. The portion of the building classified as Group F-1 or S-1 is limited to one story in height.
2. The minimum height from the finished floor to the bottom of the ceiling or roof slab or deck is 24 feet (7315 mm).
3. The building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

[BE] 1017.2.3 Group H-5 increase. The maximum exit access travel distance shall be 300 feet (91 m) in the fabrication areas of Group H-5 occupancies where all of the following conditions are met:

1. The width of the fabrication area is 300 feet (91 m) or greater.
2. The area of the fabrication area is 220,000 square feet (18 600 m [2] ) or greater.
3. The height of the fabrication area, measured between the raised metal floor and the clean filter ceiling, is 16 feet (48 768 mm) or greater.
4. The supply ventilation rate is 20 cubic feet per minute per square foot (0.556 m [3] /min/m [2] ) or greater and shall remain operational.

[BE] 1017.3 Measurement. Exit access travel distance shall be measured from the most remote point of each room, area or space along the natural and unobstructed path of horizontal and vertical egress travel to the entrance to an exit. Where more than one exit is required, exit access travel distance shall be measured to the nearest exit.

Exceptions:

1. In open parking garages, exit access travel distance is permitted to be measured to the closest riser of an exit access stairway or the closest slope of an exit access ramp.
2. In smoke-protected seating and open-air assembly seating, exit access travel distance shall be measured in accordance with Section 1030.7.

[BE] 1017.3.1 Exit access stairways and ramps. Travel distance on exit access stairways or ramps shall be included in the exit access travel distance measurement. The measurement along stairways shall be made on a plane parallel and tangent to the stair tread nosings in the center of the stair and landings. The measurement along ramps shall be made on the walking surface in the center of the ramp and landings.

1017.3.2 Atriums. Exit access travel distance for areas open to an atrium shall comply with the requirements of Sections 1017.3.2.1 through 1017.3.2.3.

1017.3.2.1 Egress not through the atrium. Where required access to the exits is not through the atrium, exit access travel distance shall comply with Section 1017.2.

1017.3.2.2 Exit access travel distance at the level of exit discharge. Where the path of egress travel is through an atrium space, exit access travel distance at the level of exit discharge shall be determined in accordance with Section 1017.2.

1017.3.2.3 Exit access travel distance at other than the level of exit discharge. Where the path of egress travel is not at the level of exit discharge from the atrium, that portion of the total permitted exit access travel distance that occurs within the atrium shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm).