Means of Egress (exit design and maintenance)

Grounded in the retrieved California Fire Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

• CFC § 701 High relevance — show source text

  Chapter 7 Fire and Smoke Protection Features

  The maintenance of assemblies required to be fire-resistance rated is a key component in a passive fire protection philosophy. Chapter 7 sets forth requirements to maintain required fire-resistance ratings of building elements and limit fire spread. Section 701 addresses the basics of what construction elements such as fire barriers and smoke barriers need to be maintained as well as defining the owner’s responsibility. Sections 703 through 708, deals with various fire and smoke protection features that must also be maintained.

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  Chapter 8 Interior Finish, Decorative Materials and Furnishings

  The overall purpose of Chapter 8 is to regulate interior finishes, decorative materials and furnishings in new and existing buildings so that they do not significantly add to or create fire hazards within buildings. This chapter is consistent with Chapter 8 of the CBC, which regulates the interior finishes of new buildings.

  Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

  Chapter 9 prescribes the minimum requirements for active systems of fire protection equipment to perform the following functions: detect a fire, alert the occupants or fire department of a fire emergency, and control smoke and control or extinguish the fire. Generally, the requirements are based on the occupancy, the height and the area of the building because these are the factors that most affect firefighting capabilities and the relative hazard of a specific building or portion thereof. This chapter parallels and is substantially duplicated in Chapter 9 of the CBC; however, this chapter also contains periodic testing criteria that are not contained in the CBC. In addition, the special fire protection system requirements based on use and occupancy found in CBC Chapter 4 are duplicated in CFC Chapter 9 as a user convenience.

  Chapter 10 Means of Egress

  The criteria in Chapter 10 regulating the design of the means of egress system are established as the primary method for protection of occupants by allowing timely relocation or evacuation. Both prescriptive and performance language is utilized for determination of a safe exiting system. It addresses all portions of the means of egress system (i.e., exit access, exits and exit discharge) and includes design requirements as well as provisions regulating individual components. The requirements detail the size, arrangement, number and protection of means of egress components. The means of egress protection requirements work in coordination with other sections of the code, such as protection of vertical openings (see Chapter 7 of the CBC), interior finish (see Chapter 8 of the CBC), fire suppression and detection systems (see Chapter 9) and numerous others, all having an impact on life safety. Chapter 10 of the CBC is duplicated in Chapter 10 of the CFC; however, the CFC contains one additional section on the maintenance of the means of egress system in existing buildings.

  Chapter 11 Construction Requirements for Existing Buildings

  Chapter 11 applies to existing buildings constructed prior to the adoption of the code and intends to provide a minimum degree of fire and life safety to persons occupying existing buildings by providing for retroactive requirements to install or upgrade fire safety features to such buildings that do not comply with the minimum requirements of the CBC. Prior to the 2009 edition, its content existed in the CFC but in a random manner that was neither efficient nor user-friendly. In the 2007/2008 International Code Council (ICC) code development cycle, a code change (F294-07/ 08) was approved that consolidated the retroactive elements of CFC into a single chapter for easier and more efficient reference and application to existing buildings.

  Chapter 12 Energy Systems

• CFC § 1001.1 High relevance — show source text

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  10 MEANS OF EGRESS

  User notes:

  About this chapter: Chapter 10 provides the general criteria for designing the means of egress established as the primary method for protection of people in buildings by allowing timely relocation or evacuation of building occupants. Both prescriptive and performance language is utilized in this chapter to provide for a basic approach in the determination of a safe exiting system for all occupancies. It addresses all portions of the egress system (exit access, exits and exit discharge) and includes design requirements as well as provisions regulating individual components. The requirements detail the size, arrangement, number and protection of means of egress components. Functional and operational characteristics that will permit the safe use of components without special knowledge or effort are specified.

  The means of egress protection requirements work in coordination with other sections of the code, such as protection of vertical openings (see Chapter 7), interior finish (see Chapter 8), fire suppression and detection systems (see Chapter 9) and numerous others, all having an impact on life safety. Chapter 10 is subdivided into four main sections: general (Sections 1003–1015), exit access (Sections 1016–1021), exit (Sections 1022–1027) and exit discharge (Sections 1028–1029). Special allowances for the unique requirements for assembly spaces (Section 1030) and emergency escape and rescue openings (Section 1031) complete the chapter. Chapter 10 of this code is duplicated in Chapter 10 the California Fire Code; however, the California Fire Code contains one additional section on maintenance of the means of egress system in existing buildings.

  SECTION 1001—ADMINISTRATION

  1001.1 General. Buildings or portions thereof shall be provided with a means of egress system as required by this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design, construction and arrangement of means of egress components required to provide an approved means of egress from structures and portions thereof.

  1001.2 Minimum requirements. It shall be unlawful to alter a building or structure in a manner that will reduce the number of exits or the minimum width or required capacity of the means of egress to less than required by this code.

  SECTION 1002—MAINTENANCE AND PLANS

  [F] 1002.1 Maintenance. Means of egress shall be maintained in accordance with the California Fire Code .

  [F] 1002.2 Fire safety and evacuation plans. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be provided for all occupancies and buildings where required by the California Fire Code . Such fire safety and evacuation plans shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 401.2 and 404 of the California Fire Code .

  SECTION 1003—GENERAL MEANS OF EGRESS

  1003.1 Applicability. The general requirements specified in Sections 1003 through 1015 shall apply to all three elements of the means of egress system, in addition to those specific requirements for the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge detailed elsewhere in this chapter.

• CFC § 1001.1 High relevance — show source text

  The requirements detail the size, arrangement, number and protection of means of egress components. Functional and operational characteristics that will permit the safe use of components without special knowledge or effort are specified.

  The means of egress protection requirements work in coordination with other sections of the code, such as protection of vertical openings (see Chapter 7), interior finish (see Chapter 8), fire suppression and detection systems (see Chapter 9) and numerous others, all having an impact on life safety. Sections 1003 through 1031 are duplicated text from Chapter 10 of the California Building Code ; however, the California Fire Code contains an additional Section 1032 on maintenance of the means of egress system in existing buildings. Retroactive minimum means of egress requirements for existing buildings are found in Chapter 11.

  SECTION 1001—ADMINISTRATION

  1001.1 General. Buildings or portions thereof shall be provided with a means of egress system as required by this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design, construction and arrangement of means of egress components required to provide an approved means of egress from structures and portions thereof. Sections 1003 through 1031 shall apply to new construction. Section 1032 shall apply to existing buildings.

  Exception: Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with the California Residential Code .

  [BE] 1001.2 Minimum requirements. It shall be unlawful to alter a building or structure in a manner that will reduce the number of exits or the capacity of the means of egress to less than required by this code.

  SECTION 1002—DEFINITIONS

  [BE] 1002.1 Definitions. The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:

  ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS.

  AISLE.

  AISLE ACCESSWAY.

  ALTERNATING TREAD DEVICE.

  AREA OF REFUGE.

  AUTOMATIC FLUSH BOLT.

  BLEACHERS.

  BREAKOUT.

  CIRCULATION PATH.

  COMMON PATH OF EGRESS TRAVEL.

  CONSTANT LATCHING BOLT.

  CORRIDOR.

  DEAD BOLT.

  DEFEND-IN-PLACE.

  DOOR, BALANCED.

  EGRESS COURT.

  EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENING.

  EXIT.

  EXIT ACCESS.

  EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY.

  EXIT ACCESS RAMP.

  EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAY.

  EXIT DISCHARGE.

  EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF.

  EXIT PASSAGEWAY.

  EXTERIOR EXIT RAMP.

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  MEANS OF EGRESS

  EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY.

  FIRE EXIT HARDWARE.

  FIXED SEATING.

  FLIGHT.

  FLOOR AREA, GROSS.

  FLOOR AREA, NET.

  FOLDING AND TELESCOPIC SEATING.

  GRADE FLOOR EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS.

  GRANDSTAND.

  GUARD.

  HANDRAIL.

  HORIZONTAL EXIT.

  INTERIOR EXIT RAMP.

  INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY.

  LOW ENERGY POWER-OPERATED DOOR.

  MANUAL BOLT.

  MEANS OF EGRESS.

  MERCHANDISE PAD.

  NOSING.

  OCCUPANT LOAD.

  OPEN-AIR ASSEMBLY SEATING.

  OPEN-ENDED CORRIDOR.

• CFC § 1803.5.1 High relevance — show source text

  Exception: A drainage system for area wells is not required where the foundation is on well-drained soil or sand-gravel mixture soils in accordance with the United Soil Classification System, Group I Soils, in accordance with Section 1803.5.1 of the Califor- nia Building Code .

  [BE] 1031.6 Bars, grilles, covers and screens. Where bars, grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings, or area wells that serve such openings, the minimum net clear opening size shall comply with Sections 1031.3 and 1031.5. Such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening.

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  MEANS OF EGRESS

  SECTION 1032—MAINTENANCE OF THE MEANS OF EGRESS

  1032.1 General. The means of egress for buildings or portions thereof shall be maintained in accordance with this section.

  [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.11(a) through (d)] Exits, Aisles, Ramps, Corridors and Passageways.

  (a) No person shall install, place or permit the installation or placement of any bed, chair, equipment, concession, turnstile, ticket office or anything whatsoever, in any manner which would block or obstruct the required width of any exit.

  (b) No person shall install, place or permit the installation or placement of any combustible material or equipment in or exposed to any exit.

  Exceptions: (1) Furniture or equipment constructed of wood or other material of similar combustibility may be permitted in an exit or exposed to an exit when approved by the enforcing agency. (2) When approved by the enforcing agency, combustible materials may be permitted in exit foyers and lobbies.

  (c) No person shall install, place or permit the installation or placement of any storage material of any kind in any exit regardless of the required width of such exit.

  Exception: Personal material located in metal lockers in Group B and E occupancies as defined in California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2.

  (d) Aisles shall not be occupied by any person for whom seating is not available.

  1032.2 Reliability. Required exit accesses, exits and exit discharges shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency where the building area served by the means of egress is occupied. An exit or exit passageway shall not be used for any purpose that interferes with a means of egress.

  1032.2.1 Security devices and egress locks. Security devices affecting means of egress shall be subject to approval of the fire code official. Security devices and locking arrangements in the means of egress that restrict, control, or delay egress shall be installed and maintained as required by this chapter.

  1032.2.2 Fire escapes. Security enclosures, fences or screening for fire escape stairways shall be approved by the fire code official and shall be constructed such that they do not impede egress to the public way. Means shall be provided for emergency personnel to access the fire escape stair from the exterior of the enclosure.

• CFC § 1032.2.2.1 High relevance — show source text

  1032.2.2.1 Maintenance. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times and shall be maintained in good working order.

  1032.2.2.2 Examination. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be examined for structural adequacy and safety by a registered design professional or other person acceptable to the fire code official every 5 years. The examination shall determine whether the fire escape stairways and balconies can support the dead load plus a live load of not less than 100 pounds per square foot (4.78 kN/m [2] ). An inspection report shall be submitted to the fire code official after such examination.

  1032.2.3 Locking arrangements in educational occupancies. In Group E occupancies, Group B educational occupancies and Group I-4 occupancies, egress doors with locking arrangements designed to keep intruders from entering the room shall comply with Section 1010.2.8.

  1032.3 Obstructions. A means of egress shall be free from obstructions that would prevent its use, including the accumulation of snow and ice.

  1032.3.1 Group I-2. In Group I-2, the required clear width for aisles, corridors and ramps that are part of the required means of egress shall comply with Section 407.4.3 of the California Building Code and Section 1020.3. The facility shall have a plan to maintain the required clear width during emergency situations.

  Exception: In areas required for bed movement, equipment shall be permitted in the required width where all of the following provisions are met:

  1. The equipment is low hazard and wheeled.
  2. The equipment does not reduce the effective clear width for the means of egress to less than 5 feet (1525 mm).
  3. The equipment is limited to: 3.1. Equipment and carts in use. 3.2. Medical emergency equipment.

  3.3. Infection control carts.

  3.4. Patient lift and transportation equipment. 4. Medical emergency equipment and patient lift and transportation equipment, when not in use, are required to be located on one side of the corridor.

  5. The equipment is limited in number to not more than one per patient sleeping room or patient care room within each smoke compartment.

  [BE] 1032.4 Exit signs. Exit signs shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the building code that was in effect at the time of construction and the applicable provisions in Section 1104. Decorations, furnishings, equipment or adjacent signage that impairs the visibility of exit signs, creates confusion or prevents identification of the exit shall not be allowed.

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  MEANS OF EGRESS

  1032.5 Nonexit identification. Where a door is adjacent to, constructed similar to and can be confused with a means of egress door, that door shall be identified with an approved sign that identifies the room name or use of the room.

• CFC § 1032.2 High relevance — show source text

  Exceptions: (1) Furniture or equipment constructed of wood or other material of similar combustibility may be permitted in an exit or exposed to an exit when approved by the enforcing agency. (2) When approved by the enforcing agency, combustible materials may be permitted in exit foyers and lobbies.

  (c) No person shall install, place or permit the installation or placement of any storage material of any kind in any exit regardless of the required width of such exit.

  Exception: Personal material located in metal lockers in Group B and E occupancies as defined in California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2.

  (d) Aisles shall not be occupied by any person for whom seating is not available.

  1032.2 Reliability. Required exit accesses, exits and exit discharges shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency where the building area served by the means of egress is occupied. An exit or exit passageway shall not be used for any purpose that interferes with a means of egress.

  1032.2.1 Security devices and egress locks. Security devices affecting means of egress shall be subject to approval of the fire code official. Security devices and locking arrangements in the means of egress that restrict, control, or delay egress shall be installed and maintained as required by this chapter.

  1032.2.2 Fire escapes. Security enclosures, fences or screening for fire escape stairways shall be approved by the fire code official and shall be constructed such that they do not impede egress to the public way. Means shall be provided for emergency personnel to access the fire escape stair from the exterior of the enclosure.

  1032.2.2.1 Maintenance. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times and shall be maintained in good working order.

  1032.2.2.2 Examination. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be examined for structural adequacy and safety by a registered design professional or other person acceptable to the fire code official every 5 years. The examination shall determine whether the fire escape stairways and balconies can support the dead load plus a live load of not less than 100 pounds per square foot (4.78 kN/m [2] ). An inspection report shall be submitted to the fire code official after such examination.

  1032.2.3 Locking arrangements in educational occupancies. In Group E occupancies, Group B educational occupancies and Group I-4 occupancies, egress doors with locking arrangements designed to keep intruders from entering the room shall comply with Section 1010.2.8.

  1032.3 Obstructions. A means of egress shall be free from obstructions that would prevent its use, including the accumulation of snow and ice.

  1032.3.1 Group I-2. In Group I-2, the required clear width for aisles, corridors and ramps that are part of the required means of egress shall comply with Section 407.4.3 of the California Building Code and Section 1020.3. The facility shall have a plan to maintain the required clear width during emergency situations.

• CFC § 4.4 High relevance — show source text

  3 (a-c)]||||X|||||||||||||||||||| |[T-19 §4.4]||||X|||||||||||||||||||| |[T-19 §4.5 (a)]||||X|||||||||||||||||||| |[T-19 §4.6 (a)(b)]||||X|||||||||||||||||||| |[T-19 §3.11 (a-d)]_||||X||||||||||||||||||||

  • The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Fire Code are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 19, Division 1 text for the code user’s convenience only. The scope, applicability and appeals procedures of CCR, Title 19, Division I remain the same. The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.

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  10 MEANS OF EGRESS

  User note:

  About this chapter: Chapter 10 provides the general criteria for designing the means of egress established as the primary method for protection of people in buildings by allowing timely relocation or evacuation of building occupants. Both prescriptive and performance language is utilized in this chapter to provide for a basic approach in the determination of a safe exiting system for all occupancies. This chapter addresses all portions of the egress system (exit access, exits and exit discharge) and includes design requirements as well as provisions regulating individual components. The requirements detail the size, arrangement, number and protection of means of egress components. Functional and operational characteristics that will permit the safe use of components without special knowledge or effort are specified.

  The means of egress protection requirements work in coordination with other sections of the code, such as protection of vertical openings (see Chapter 7), interior finish (see Chapter 8), fire suppression and detection systems (see Chapter 9) and numerous others, all having an impact on life safety. Sections 1003 through 1031 are duplicated text from Chapter 10 of the California Building Code ; however, the California Fire Code contains an additional Section 1032 on maintenance of the means of egress system in existing buildings. Retroactive minimum means of egress requirements for existing buildings are found in Chapter 11.

  SECTION 1001—ADMINISTRATION

  1001.1 General. Buildings or portions thereof shall be provided with a means of egress system as required by this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design, construction and arrangement of means of egress components required to provide an approved means of egress from structures and portions thereof. Sections 1003 through 1031 shall apply to new construction. Section 1032 shall apply to existing buildings.

  Exception: Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with the California Residential Code .

  [BE] 1001.2 Minimum requirements. It shall be unlawful to alter a building or structure in a manner that will reduce the number of exits or the capacity of the means of egress to less than required by this code.

• CFC § 10-46 High relevance — show source text

  1023 Interior Exit Stairways and Ramps. . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-46 1024 Exit Passageways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-49 1025 Luminous Egress Path Markings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-50 1026 Horizontal Exits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-51

  1027 Exterior Exit Stairways and Ramps . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-52 1028 Exit Discharge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-53 1029 Egress Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-54 1030 Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-54 1031 Emergency Escape and Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-61 1032 Maintenance of the Means of Egress . . . . . . . . . . . .10-64

  CHAPTER 11 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR

  EXISTING BUILDINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-3

  1101 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3

  1102 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3

  1103 Fire Safety Requirements for Existing Buildings. . . 11-3 1104 Means of Egress for Existing Buildings . . . . . . . . . .11-13 1105 Construction Requirements for Existing Group I-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-18 1106 Requirements for Outdoor Operations. . . . . . . . . .11-22 1107 Energy Storage Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-23 1108 Group A Public Address System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-23 1109 _through 1112 Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• CFC § 9-53 High relevance — show source text

  911 Fire Command Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53

  912 Fire Department Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54

  913 Fire Pumps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55

  914 Emergency Responder Safety Features . . . . . . . . . . 9-56

  915 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56

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  916 Gas Detection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58

  917 Mass Notification Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59

  918 Emergency Responder Communication Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59

  CHAPTER 10 MEANS OF EGRESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

  1001 Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5

  1002 Maintenance and Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5

  1003 General Means of Egress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5

  1004 Occupant Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7

  1005 Means of Egress Sizing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9

  1006 Number of Exits and Exit Access Doorways . . . . . 10-10

  1007 Exit and Exit Access Doorway Configuration . . . . 10-14

  1008 Means of Egress Illumination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14

  1009 Accessible Means of Egress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15

  1010 Doors, Gates and Turnstiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19

  1011 Stairways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29

  1012 Ramps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33

• CFC § 1001.1 High relevance — show source text

  Chapter 10 of this code is duplicated in Chapter 10 the California Fire Code; however, the California Fire Code contains one additional section on maintenance of the means of egress system in existing buildings.

  SECTION 1001—ADMINISTRATION

  1001.1 General. Buildings or portions thereof shall be provided with a means of egress system as required by this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design, construction and arrangement of means of egress components required to provide an approved means of egress from structures and portions thereof.

  1001.2 Minimum requirements. It shall be unlawful to alter a building or structure in a manner that will reduce the number of exits or the minimum width or required capacity of the means of egress to less than required by this code.

  SECTION 1002—MAINTENANCE AND PLANS

  [F] 1002.1 Maintenance. Means of egress shall be maintained in accordance with the California Fire Code .

  [F] 1002.2 Fire safety and evacuation plans. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be provided for all occupancies and buildings where required by the California Fire Code . Such fire safety and evacuation plans shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 401.2 and 404 of the California Fire Code .

  SECTION 1003—GENERAL MEANS OF EGRESS

  1003.1 Applicability. The general requirements specified in Sections 1003 through 1015 shall apply to all three elements of the means of egress system, in addition to those specific requirements for the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge detailed elsewhere in this chapter.

  [DSA-AC & HCD 1-AC] In addition to the requirement of this chapter, means of egress, which provide access to, or egress from, build- ings or facilities where accessibility is required for applications listed in Section 1.8.2.1.2 regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development, or Section 1.9.1 regulated by the Division of the State Architect—Access Compliance, shall also comply with Chapter 11A or Chapter 11B, as applicable.

  Exception: [SFM] Exiting requirements for Fixed Guideway Transit Systems shall be as per Section 443.

  1003.1.1 Means of egress for hospitals. [OSHPD 1] In addition to the requirements of this chapter, means of egress for hospitals shall comply with Part 10 California Existing Building Code Section 311A.

  1003.1.2 Means of egress for hospital buildings removed from acute care service, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities and acute psychiatric hospitals. [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5] In addition to the requirements of this chapter, means of egress for hospital buildings removed from acute care service, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities and acute psychiatric hospi- tals shall comply with OSHPD amendments to Part 10 California Existing Building Code Section 311.

  1003.2 Ceiling height. The means of egress shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches (2286 mm) above the finished floor.

  Exceptions:

  1. Sloped ceilings in accordance with Section 1208.2.

  2. Ceilings of dwelling units and sleeping units within residential occupancies in accordance with Section 1208.2.

  3. Allowable projections in accordance with Section 1003.3.

  4. Stair headroom in accordance with Section 1011.3.

• CFC § 1004.9 High relevance — show source text

  [BE] 1004.9 Posting of occupant load. Every room or space which is used for assembly, classroom, dining, drinking or similar purposes having an occupant load of 50 or more that is an assembly occupancy shall have the occupant load of the room or space posted in a conspicuous place, near the main exit or exit access doorway from the room or space, for the intended configurations. Posted signs shall be of an approved legible permanent design and shall be maintained by the owner or the owner’s authorized agent.

  SECTION 1005—MEANS OF EGRESS SIZING

  [BE] 1005.1 General. All portions of the means of egress system shall be sized in accordance with this section.

  Exception: Aisles and aisle accessways in rooms or spaces used for assembly purposes complying with Section 1030.

  [BE] 1005.2 Minimum width based on component. The minimum width, in inches (mm), of any means of egress components shall be not less than that specified for such component, elsewhere in this code.

  [BE] 1005.3 Required capacity based on occupant load. The required capacity, in inches (mm), of the means of egress for any room, area, space or story shall be not less than that determined in accordance with Sections 1005.3.1 and 1005.3.2.

  [BE] 1005.3.1 Stairways. The capacity, in inches, of means of egress stairways shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such stairways by a means of egress capacity factor of 0.3 inch (7.6 mm) per occupant. Where stairways serve more than one story, only the occupant load of each story considered individually shall be used in calculating the required capacity of the stairways serving that story. Exceptions:

  1. For other than Group H and I-2 occupancies, the capacity, in inches, of means of egress stairways shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such stairways by a means of egress capacity factor of 0.2 inch (5.1 mm) per occupant in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and an emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.

  2. Facilities with smoke-protected assembly seating shall be permitted to use the capacity factors in Table 1030.6.2 indicated for stepped aisles for exit access or exit stairways where the entire path for means of egress from the seating to the exit discharge is provided with a smoke control system complying with Section 909.

  10-10 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

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

  MEANS OF EGRESS

  3. Facilities with open-air assembly seating shall be permitted to the capacity factors in Section 1030.6.3 indicated for stepped aisles for exit access or exit stairways where the entire path for means of egress from the seating to the exit discharge is open to the outdoors.

  4. For Group H-1, H-2, H-3 and H-4 occupancies, the total width of means of egress in inches (mm) shall not be less than the total occupant load served by the means of egress multiplied by 0.7 inches (7.62 mm) per occupant.

• CFC § 1207 High relevance — show source text

  The criteria in Chapter 10 regulating the design of the means of egress system are established as the primary method for protection of occupants by allowing timely relocation or evacuation. Both prescriptive and performance language is utilized for determination of a safe exiting system. It addresses all portions of the means of egress system (i.e., exit access, exits and exit discharge) and includes design requirements as well as provisions regulating individual components. The requirements detail the size, arrangement, number and protection of means of egress components. The means of egress protection requirements work in coordination with other sections of the code, such as protection of vertical openings (see Chapter 7 of the CBC), interior finish (see Chapter 8 of the CBC), fire suppression and detection systems (see Chapter 9) and numerous others, all having an impact on life safety. Chapter 10 of the CBC is duplicated in Chapter 10 of the CFC; however, the CFC contains one additional section on the maintenance of the means of egress system in existing buildings.

  Chapter 11 Construction Requirements for Existing Buildings

  Chapter 11 applies to existing buildings constructed prior to the adoption of the code and intends to provide a minimum degree of fire and life safety to persons occupying existing buildings by providing for retroactive requirements to install or upgrade fire safety features to such buildings that do not comply with the minimum requirements of the CBC. Prior to the 2009 edition, its content existed in the CFC but in a random manner that was neither efficient nor user-friendly. In the 2007/2008 International Code Council (ICC) code development cycle, a code change (F294-07/ 08) was approved that consolidated the retroactive elements of CFC into a single chapter for easier and more efficient reference and application to existing buildings.

  Chapter 12 Energy Systems

  Chapter 12 addresses any provisions related to energy systems found in the CFC. The expansion of such energy systems is related to meeting today’s energy, environmental and economic challenges. Ensuring appropriate criteria to address the safety of such systems in building and fire codes is an important part of protecting the public at large, building occupants and emergency responders. These requirements also facilitate the successful implementation of new technologies.

  All text in Section 1207 of the 2024 CFC with the following designation (Material based on NFPA 855 2023 Ed.) is reproduced with permission from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is based upon NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Station- ary Energy Storage Systems, Copyright © 2023 NFPA. All designated text is either directly copied from the 2023 edition of NFPA 855 or as modified by the ICC Code Development Process. This material is not the complete and official position of NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented solely by the standard in its entirety. NFPA shall not be responsible for the manner in which this information is presented, nor for any interpretations thereof.

  Chapters 13 through 19 Reserved for future use.

  PART IV—SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES AND OPERATIONS

  Chapter 20 Aviation Facilities

  Chapter 20 specifies minimum requirements for the fire-safe operation of airports, heliports and helistops. The principal nonflight operational hazards associated with aviation involve fuel, facilities and operations. Therefore, safe use of flammable and combustible liquids during fueling and maintenance operations is emphasized. Availability of portable Class B:C-rated fire extinguishers for prompt control or suppression of incipient fires is required.

  Chapter 21 Dry Cleaning