Section 1017 — EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE
2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
[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
| OCCUPANCY | WITHOUT AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM (feet) |
WITH AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| A, E, F-1, M, R, S-1 | 200 | 250b, e |
| R-2.1 | Not Permitted | 250b |
| B | 200 | 300c |
| F-2, S-2, U | 300 | 400c |
| H-1 | Not Permitted | 75d |
| H-2 | Not Permitted | 100d |
| H-3 | Not Permitted | 150d |
| H-4 | Not Permitted | 175d |
| H-5 | Not Permitted | 200c |
| I-2, I-3_f_ | Not Permitted | 200c |
| I-4 | 150 | 200c |
| L | Not Permitted | 200c |
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.
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
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:
- The portion of the building classified as Group F-1 or S-1 is limited to one story in height.
- The minimum height from the finished floor to the bottom of the ceiling or roof slab or deck is 24 feet (7315 mm).
- 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:
- The width of the fabrication area is 300 feet (91 m) or greater.
- The area of the fabrication area is 220,000 square feet (18 600 m [2] ) or greater.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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).
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Chapter 4 — EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
- Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
- Chapter 6 — BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
- Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHI…
- Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
-
▸ Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
Overview- Section 1001 — ADMINISTRATION
- Section 1002 — DEFINITIONS
- Section 1003 — GENERAL MEANS OF EGRESS
- Section 1004 — OCCUPANT LOAD
- Section 1005 — MEANS OF EGRESS SIZING
- Section 1006 — NUMBERS OF EXITS AND EXIT ACCESS DOORWAYS
- Section 1007 — EXIT AND EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY CONFIGURATION
- Section 1008 — MEANS OF EGRESS ILLUMINATION
- Section 1009 — ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS
- Section 1010 — DOORS, GATES AND TURNSTILES
- Section 1011 — STAIRWAYS
- Section 1012 — RAMPS
- Section 1013 — EXIT SIGNS
- Section 1014 — HANDRAILS
- Section 1015 — GUARDS
- Section 1016 — EXIT ACCESS
- Section 1017 — EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE
- Section 1018 — AISLES
- Section 1019 — EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS
- Section 1020 — CORRIDORS
- Section 1021 — EGRESS BALCONIES
- Section 1022 — EXITS
- Section 1023 — INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS
- Section 1024 — EXIT PASSAGEWAYS
- Section 1025 — LUMINOUS EGRESS PATH MARKINGS
- Section 1026 — HORIZONTAL EXITS
- Section 1027 — EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAYS AND RAMPS
- Section 1028 — EXIT DISCHARGE
- Section 1029 — EGRESS COURTS
- Section 1030 — ASSEMBLY
- Section 1031 — EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE
- Section 1032 — MAINTENANCE OF THE MEANS OF EGRESS
- Chapter 11 — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
- Chapter 12 — ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 20 — AVIATION FACILITIES
- Chapter 21 — DRY CLEANING
- Chapter 22 — COMBUSTIBLE DUST-PRODUCING OPERATIONS
- Chapter 23 — MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES
- Chapter 24 — FLAMMABLE FINISHES
- Chapter 25 — FRUIT AND CROP RIPENING
- Chapter 26 — FUMIGATION AND INSECTICIDAL FOGGING
- Chapter 27 — SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION FACILITIES
- Chapter 28 — LUMBER YARDS AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL, SOLID BIOMASS A…
- Chapter 29 — MANUFACTURE OF ORGANIC COATINGS
- Chapter 30 — INDUSTRIAL OVENS
- Chapter 31 — TENTS, TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT STRUCTURES AND OTH…
- Chapter 32 — HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
- Chapter 33 — FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
- Chapter 34 — TIRE REBUILDING AND TIRE STORAGE
- Chapter 35 — WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK
- Chapter 36 — MARINAS
- Chapter 37 — COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS
- Chapter 38 — RESERVED
- Chapter 39 — PROCESSING AND EXTRACTION FACILITIES
- Chapter 40 — STORAGE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS AND WINES
- Chapter 41 — TEMPORARY HEATING AND COOKING OPERATIONS
- Chapter 48 — MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDIO S…
- Chapter 49 — REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AR…
- Chapter 50 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS—GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 51 — AEROSOLS
- Chapter 52 — RESERVED
- Chapter 53 — COMPRESSED GASES
- Chapter 54 — CORROSIVE MATERIALS
- Chapter 55 — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
- Chapter 56 — EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS
- Chapter 57 — FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
- Chapter 58 — FLAMMABLE GASES AND FLAMMABLE CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
- Chapter 59 — FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
- Chapter 60 — HIGHLY TOXIC AND TOXIC MATERIALS
- Chapter 61 — LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
- Chapter 62 — ORGANIC PEROXIDES
- Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENI…
- Chapter 64 — PYROPHORIC MATERIALS
- Chapter 65 — PYROXYLIN (CELLULOSE NITRATE) PLASTICS
- Chapter 66 — UNSTABLE (REACTIVE) MATERIALS
- Chapter 67 — WATER-REACTIVE SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS
- Chapter 80 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON US…
- Appendix A — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix B — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
- Appendix BB — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
- Appendix C — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
- Appendix CC — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
- Appendix D — FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
- Appendix E — HAZARD CATEGORIES
- Appendix F — HAZARD RANKING
- Appendix G — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS—WEIGHT AND VOLUME EQUIVALENTS
- Appendix H — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANS AND HAZARDOU…
- Appendix I — FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS—NONCOMPLIANT CONDITIONS
- Appendix J — BUILDING INFORMATION SIGN
- Appendix K — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AMBULATORY…
- Appendix L — REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SY…
- Appendix M — HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS—RETROACTIVE AUTOMATIC SPRINKL…
- Appendix N — INDOOR TRADE SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
- Appendix O — VALET TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION IN GROUP R-2…
- Appendix P — TEMPORARY HAUNTED HOUSES, GHOST WALKS AND SIMILAR…
- Appendix Q — COMMUNITY WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) FIRE HAZ…