1029 Egress Courts — 2025 California Fire Code

[BE] 1029.1 General. Egress courts serving as an exit discharge component in the means of egress system shall comply with the requirements in this section.

[BE] 1029.2 Width or capacity. The required capacity of egress courts shall be determined as specified in Section 1005.1, but the minimum width shall be not less than 44 inches (1118 mm), except as specified herein. Egress courts serving Group R-3 and U occupancies shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in width. The required capacity and width of egress courts shall be unobstructed to a height of 7 feet (2134 mm).

The width of the egress court shall be not less than the required capacity.

Exception: Encroachments complying with Section 1005.7.

[BE] 1029.3 Construction and openings. Where an egress court serving a building or portion thereof is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in width, the egress court walls shall have not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction for a distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) above the floor of the egress court. Openings within such walls shall be protected by opening protectives having a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour.

Exceptions:

Egress courts serving an occupant load of less than 10.
Egress courts serving Group R-3.
Egress courts, located at grade, that provide direct and unobstructed access to a public way through two or more independent paths. The minimum width provided along each path shall be based on the required width or the required capacity, whichever is greater, and shall be maintained along each path.