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Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS

Section 1006

California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata

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

NUMBERS OF EXITS AND EXIT ACCESS DOORWAYS

[BE] 1006.1 General. The number of exits or exit access doorways required within the means of egress system shall comply with the provisions of Section 1006.2 for spaces, including mezzanines, and Section 1006.3 for stories or occupied roofs.

[BE] 1006.2 Egress from spaces. Rooms, areas or spaces, including mezzanines, within a story or basement shall be provided with the number of exits or access to exits in accordance with this section.

[BE] 1006.2.1 Egress based on occupant load and com- mon path of egress travel distance. Two exits or exit access doorways from any space shall be provided where

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the design occupant load or the common path of egress travel distance exceeds the values listed in Table 1006.2.1. The cumulative occupant load from adjacent rooms, areas or spaces shall be determined in accordance with Section 1004.2. Exceptions:

  1. The number of exits from foyers, lobbies, vestibules or similar spaces need not be based on cumulative occupant loads for areas discharging through such spaces, but the capacity of the exits from such spaces shall be based on applicable cumulative occupant loads.

  2. Rooms and c are suites in Group I-2 and I-2.1 occupancies complying with Section 407.4 of the California Building Code .

  3. Unoccupied mechanical rooms and penthouses are not required to comply with the common path of egress travel distance measurement.

MEANS OF EGRESS

4. In detention and correctional facilities and hold- ing cells, such as are found in courthouse build- ings, when the occupant load is more than 20 see Section 408.3.11 of the California Building Code.

[BE] 1006.2.1.1 Three or more exits or exit access doorways. Three exits or exit access doorways shall be provided from any space with an occupant load of 501 to 1,000. Four exits or exit access doorways shall be provided from any space with an occupant load greater than 1,000.

[BE] 1006.2.2 Egress based on use. The numbers, configuration and types of components of exits or access to exits shall be provided in the uses described in Sections 1006.2.2.1 through 1006.2.2.7 .

[BE] 1006.2.2.1 Boiler, incinerator and furnace rooms. Two exit access doorways are required in boiler, incinerator and furnace rooms where the area is over 500 square feet (46 m 2 ) and any fuel-fired equip

[BE] TABLE 1006.2.1 SPACES WITH ONE EXIT OR EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY

OCCUPANCY MAXIMUM OCCUPANT LOAD OF
SPACE
MAXIMUM COMMON PATH OF EGRESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (feet)
OCCUPANCY MAXIMUM OCCUPANT LOAD OF
SPACE
Without Sprinkler System
(feet)
Without Sprinkler System
(feet)
With Sprinkler System
(feet)
OCCUPANCY MAXIMUM OCCUPANT LOAD OF
SPACE
Occupant Load Occupant Load Occupant Load
OCCUPANCY MAXIMUM OCCUPANT LOAD OF
SPACE
OL ≤ 30 OL > 30 OL > 30
Ac, E, M 49 75 75 75a
B 49 100 75 100a
F 49 75 75 100a
H-1, H-2, H-3 3 NP NP 25b
H-4, H-5 10 NP NP 75b
I-2d, I-2.1, I-4 10 NP_i_ NP_i_ 75a
I-3 10 NP NP 100a
R-1 10 NP NP 75a
R-2 20 NP NP 125a
R-2.1 10 NP NP 75a
R-2.2 20 NP NP 125a
R-3e_, R-3.1e_ 20 NP NP 125a, g
R-4e 20 NP NP 125a, g
Sf 29 100 75 100a
U 49 100 75 75a
L See Section 453.6.1 of
the California Building Code
NP NP NP

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. NP = Not Permitted. a. 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 b. Group H occupancies equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.5. c. For a room or space used for assembly purposes having fixed seating, see Section 1030.8. d. For the travel distance limitations and number of exit and exit access requirements for rooms and spaces in Group I-2 or I-2.1, see Section 407.4 of the

California Building Code . e. The common path of egress travel distance shall apply only in a Group R-3 occupancy located in a mixed occupancy building. f. The length of common path of egress travel distance in a Group S-2 open parking garage shall be not more than 100 feet. g. For the travel distance limitations in Groups R-3 and R-4 equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3, see

Section 1006.2.2.6. h. For holding cells, see Section 408.3.11 of the California Building Code. i. In accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 13113(d), there is no requirement for automatic sprinkler protection in an existing Group I-2 located in

Type IA construction.

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.

MEANS OF EGRESS

ment exceeds 400,000 British thermal units (Btu) (422 000 KJ) input capacity. Where two exit access doorways are required, one is permitted to be a fixed ladder or an alternating tread device. Exit access doorways shall be separated by a horizontal distance equal to onehalf the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the room.

[BE] 1006.2.2.2 Refrigeration machinery rooms. Machinery rooms larger than 1,000 square feet (93 m 2 ) shall have not less than two exits or exit access doorways. Where two exit access doorways are required, one such doorway is permitted to be served by a fixed ladder or an alternating tread device. Exit access doorways shall be separated by a horizontal distance equal to one-half the maximum horizontal dimension of the room.

All portions of machinery rooms shall be within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of an exit or exit access doorway.

Exit and exit access doorways shall swing in the direction of egress travel and shall be equipped with panic hardware, regardless of the occupant load served. Exit and exit access doorways shall be tight fitting and self-closing.

[BE] 1006.2.2.3 Refrigerated rooms or spaces. Rooms or spaces having a floor area larger than 1,000 square feet (93 m 2 ), containing a refrigerant evaporator and maintained at a temperature below 68°F (20°C), shall have access to not less than two exits or exit access doorways.

Exit access travel distance shall be determined as specified in Section 1017.1. All portions of a refrigerated room or space shall be within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of an exit or exit access doorway leading to a non- refrigerated area where such rooms are not protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system.

Exception: Where using refrigerants in quantities limited to the amounts based on the volume set forth in the California Mechanical Code. Egress is allowed through adjoining refrigerated rooms or spaces.

[BE] 1006.2.2.4 Electrical rooms. The location and number of exit or exit access doorways shall be provided for electrical rooms in accordance with Section 110.26 of the California Electrical Code for electrical equipment rated 1,000 volts or less, and Section 110.33 of the California Electrical Code for electrical equipment rated over 1,000 volts. Panic hardware shall be provided where required in accordance with Section 1010.2.9.2.

[BE] 1006.2.2.5 Vehicular ramps. Vehicular ramps shall not be considered as an exit access ramp unless pedestrian facilities are provided.

[BE] 1006.2.2.6 Groups R-3 and R-4. Where Group R-3 occupancies are permitted by Section 903.2.8 to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3, the exit access travel distance for Group R-3 shall be not more than 125 feet (38 100 mm). Where Group R-4 occupancies are permitted by Section 903.2.8 to be protected by an

automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3, the exit access travel distance for Group R-4 shall be not more than 75 feet (22 860 mm).

1006.2.2.7 Large family day-care home. Every story or basement of a large family day-care home shall be provided with two exits which are remotely located from each other. Every required exit shall be of a size to permit the installation of a door not less than 32 inches (813 mm) in clear width and not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2,032 mm) in height. A manually operated horizontal sliding door may be used as one of the two required exits.

Where basements are used for day-care purposes, one of the two required exits shall provide access directly to the exterior without entering the first story. The second exit from the basement may either pass through the story above or exit directly to the exterior.

Rooms used for day-care purposes shall not be located above the first story.

Exception: Buildings equipped with an automatic sprinkler system throughout and which have at least one of the required exits providing access directly to the exterior. NFPA 13R may be used in large family day-care homes. The sprinkler omissions of NFPA 13R shall not apply unless approved by the enforcing agency.

Exit doors, including manually operated horizontal sliding doors, shall be openable from the inside without use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.

Tables 1006.3.3(1) and 1006.3.3(2) are not applica- ble to this occupancy classification.

1006.2.2.8 Group I-4 means of egress. Group I-4 facil- ities, rooms or spaces where care is provided for more than 10 children that are 36 months of age or less shall have access to not less than two exits or exit access doorways.

[BE] 1006.3 Egress from stories or occupied roofs. The means of egress system serving any story or occupied roof shall be provided with the number of separate and distinct exits or access to exits based on the aggregate occupant load served in accordance with this section.

[BE] 1006.3.1 Occupant load. Where stairways serve more than one story, or more than one story and an occupied roof, only the occupant load of each story or occupied roof, considered individually, shall be used when calculating the required number of exits or access to exits serving that story.

[BE] 1006.3.2 Path of egress travel. The path of egress travel to an exit shall not pass through more than one adjacent story.

Exception: The path of egress travel to an exit shall be permitted to pass through more than one adjacent story in any of the following:

  1. In Group R-1, R-2 or R-3 occupancies, exit access stairways and ramps connecting four stories or fewer serving and contained within an

10-12 2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE 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.

individual dwelling unit or sleeping unit or live/work unit.

  1. Exit access stairways serving and contained within a Group R-3 congregate residence or a Group R-4 facility.

  2. Exit access stairways and ramps within an atrium complying with Section 404.

  3. Exit access stairways and ramps in open parking garages that serve only the parking garage.

  4. Exit access stairways and ramps serving open-air assembly seating complying with the exit access travel distance requirements of Section 1030.7.

  5. Exit access stairways and ramps between the balcony, gallery or press box and the main assembly floor in occupancies such as theaters, places of religious worship, auditoriums and sports facilities.

  6. Exterior exit access stairways and ramps between occupied roofs.

[BE] 1006.3.3 Egress based on occupant load. Each story and occupied roof shall have the minimum number of separate and distinct exits, or access to exits, as specified in Table 1006.3.3. A single exit or access to a single exit shall be permitted in accordance with Section 1006.3.4. The required number of exits, or exit access stairways or ramps providing access to exits, from any story or occupied roof shall be maintained until arrival at the exit discharge or public way.

[BE] TABLE 1006.3.3 MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS OR

ACCESS TO EXITS PER STORY

MEANS OF EGRESS

  1. Rooms, areas and spaces at the level of exit dis- charge, complying with Section 1006.2.1 with exits that discharge directly to the exterior at the level of exit discharge, are permitted to have one exit or access to a single exit.

  2. Parking garages where vehicles are mechanically parked shall be permitted to have one exit or access to a single exit.

  3. Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies shall be permitted to have one exit or access to a single exit.

  4. Individual single-story or multistory dwelling units shall be permitted to have a single exit or access to a single exit from the dwelling unit provided that both of the following criteria are met:

5.1. The dwelling unit complies with Section 1006.2.1 as a space with one means of egress.

5.2. Either the exit from the dwelling unit discharges directly to the exterior at the level of exit discharge, or the exit access outside the dwelling unit’s entrance door provides access to not less than two approved independent exits.

[BE] 1006.3.4.1 Mixed occupancies. Where one exit, or exit access stairway or ramp providing access to exits at other stories, is permitted to serve individual stories, mixed occupancies shall be permitted to be served by single exits provided that each individual occupancy complies with the applicable requirements of Table 1006.3.4(1) or 1006.3.4(2) for that occupancy. Where applicable, cumulative occupant loads from adjacent occupancies shall be considered to be in accordance with the provisions of Section 1004.1. In each story of a mixed occupancy building, the maximum number of occupants served by a single exit shall be such that the sum of the ratios of the calculated number of occupants of the space divided by the allowable number of occupants indicated in Table 1006.3.4(2) for each occupancy does not exceed one. Where dwelling units are located on a story with other occupancies, the actual number of dwelling units divided by four plus the ratio from the other occupancy does not exceed one.

OCCUPANT LOAD
PER STORY
MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS OR
ACCESS TO EXITS FROM STORY
1–500 2
501–1,000 3
More than 1,000 4

[BE] 1006.3.4 Single exits. A single exit or access to a single exit shall be permitted from any story or occupied roof, where one of the following conditions exists:

  1. The occupant load, number of dwelling units and exit access travel distance do not exceed the values in Table 1006.3.4(1) or 1006.3.4(2).

[BE] TABLE 1006.3.4(1) STORIES WITH ONE EXIT OR ACCESS TO ONE EXIT FOR R-2 AND R-3 OCCUPANCIES

STORY OCCUPANCY MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
DWELLING UNITS
MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS
TRAVEL DISTANCE
Basement, first, second or third story above grade plane R-2a, b
R-3a
4 dwelling units
NA
125 feet
NA
Fourth story above grade plane and higher R-3a NA 125 feet

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. NP = Not Permitted. NA = Not Applicable. a. Buildings classified as Group R-2 or R-3 equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and

provided with emergency escape and rescue openings in accordance with Section 1031. b. This table is used for R-2 occupancies consisting of dwelling units. For R-2 occupancies consisting of sleeping units, use Table 1006.3.4(2).

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.

MEANS OF EGRESS

[BE] TABLE 1006.3.4(2) STORIES WITH ONE EXIT OR ACCESS TO ONE EXIT FOR OTHER OCCUPANCIES e

STORY OCCUPANCY MAXIMUM OCCUPANT
LOAD PER STORY
MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS
TRAVEL DISTANCE (feet)
First story above or below grade plane A, Bb, E, Fb, M, U 49 75
First story above or below grade plane H-2, H-3 3 25
First story above or below grade plane H-4, H-5, I, R-1, R-2a, c_, R-2.2_ 10 75
First story above or below grade plane Sb, d 29 75
First story above or below grade plane I-2, I-2.1 7 occupants 50 feet
Second story above grade plane B, F, M, Sd 29 75
Third story above grade plane and higher NP NA NA

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. NP = Not Permitted. NA = Not Applicable. a. Buildings classified as Group R-2 equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and provided

with emergency escape and rescue openings in accordance with Section 1031. b. Group B, F and S occupancies in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall have a

maximum exit access travel distance of 100 feet. c. This table is used for R-2 occupancies consisting of sleeping units. For R-2 occupancies consisting of dwelling units, use Table 1006.3.4(1). d. The length of exit access travel distance in a Group S-2 open parking garage shall be not more than 100 feet. e. For Group L occupancies see Section 453.6.1 of the California Building Code.

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