N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 1028: Section BC 1028: Exit Discharge

1028.1 General.

Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide a direct path of egress travel to grade. The exit discharge shall not reenter a building. The combined use of Exceptions 1 and 2 below shall not exceed 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of the required exits.

Exceptions:

1. Not more than 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through protected areas on the level of discharge provided all of the following conditions are met:

1.1. Such protected area shall be provided with a free and unobstructed path of travel to an exterior exit door and such exit is readily visible and identifiable within 40 feet from the point of termination of the enclosure.

1.2. The protected area of the level of exit discharge is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating for the enclosure.

1.3. The protected area shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system. Portions of the level of exit discharge with access to the egress path shall be either equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, or separated from the egress path in accordance with the requirements for the enclosure of interior exit stairways or ramps.

1.4. Where a required interior exit stairway or ramp and an exit access stairway or ramp serve the same floor level and terminate at the same level of exit discharge, the termination of the exit access stairway or ramp and the exit discharge door of the interior exit stairway or ramp shall be separated by a distance of not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) or not less than one-fourth the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building, whichever is less. The distance shall be measured in a straight line between the exit discharge door from the interior exit stairway or ramp and the last tread of the exit access stairway or termination of slope of the exit access ramp.

1.5. The capacity of the protected area shall not be less than required by Section 1028.2 in addition to the occupant load of all exits serving communication spaces.

2. Not more than 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of the interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through a vestibule provided all of the following conditions are met:

2.1. The entire area of the vestibule is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating of the interior exit stairway or ramp enclosure.

2.2. The depth from the exterior of the building is not greater than 10 feet (3048 mm) and the length is not greater than 30 feet (9144 mm).

2.3. The area is separated from the remainder of the level of exit discharge by a fire partition constructed in accordance with Section 708.

Exception: The maximum transmitted temperature rise is not required.

2.4 The area is used only for means of egress and exits directly to the outside.

3. In buildings in occupancy Group R-2, up to 100 percent of the number and minimum width and required capacity of the interior exit stairways and ramps are permitted to egress through a protected area on the level of discharge, if all of the following conditions are met:

3.1. Egress is provided in two different directions from the discharge points of all interior exit stairways and ramps to the exterior of the building that are remote from each other.

3.2. The exit discharges are arranged and constructed so as to minimize the possibility that all exit discharges would be compromised by smoke, fire or other emergency condition.

3.3. Such protected areas shall comply with all requirements of Exception 1 above.

4. Horizontal exits complying with Section 1026 shall not be required to discharge directly to the exterior of the building.

1028.1.1 Fire Department access.

Where Exception 1 or 2 to Section 1028.1 is not applied, not less than one exit that discharges directly to the exterior shall be accessible to the Fire Department:

1. Through an exit access door directly from the building entrance. Such exit access door shall only be used by the Fire Department and shall not be used as an exit. Signage indicating "No Exit. FDNY Access Only" shall be posted on both sides of the exit access door; or

2. Within a maximum of 100 feet (30 480 mm) from the building entrance. Such distance shall be measured along a natural and unobstructed path between the nearest points of the exit doors.

1028.2 Exit discharge width or capacity.

The minimum width or required capacity of the exit discharge shall be not less than the minimum width or required capacity of the exits being served.

1028.3 Exit discharge components.

Exit discharge components shall be sufficiently open to the exterior so as to minimize the accumulation of smoke and toxic gases.

1028.4 Egress courts.

Egress courts serving as a portion of the exit discharge in the means of egress system shall comply with the requirements of Sections 1028.4.1 and 1028.4.2.

1028.4.1 Width or capacity.

The required capacity of egress courts shall be determined as specified in Section 1005, but the minimum width shall be not less than 44 inches (1117.6 mm), except as specified herein. Egress courts serving Group R-3 and U occupancies shall be not less than 36 inches (914.4 mm) in width. The required capacity and width of egress courts shall be unobstructed to a height of 7 feet 6 inches (2286 mm).

Exception: Encroachments complying with Section 1005.7.

Where an egress court exceeds the minimum required width and the width of such egress court is then reduced along the path of exit travel, the reduction in width shall be gradual. The transition in width shall be affected by a guard not less than 36 inches (914.4 mm) in height and shall not create an angle of more than 30 degrees (0.52 rad) with respect to the axis of the egress court along the path of egress travel. The width of the egress court shall not be less than the required capacity.

1028.4.2 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.

Exception: Protection of exterior walls shall not be required where:

1. Egress courts serving an occupant load of less than 10.

2. Egress courts serving Group R-3.

1028.6 Access to a public way.

The exit discharge shall provide a direct and unobstructed access to a public way.

Exception: Where access to a public way cannot be provided, a safe dispersal area shall be provided where all of the following are met:

1. The area shall be of a size to accommodate not less than 5 square feet (0.46 m

2

) for each person.

2. The area shall be located on the same lot not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) away from the building requiring egress.

3. The area shall be permanently maintained and identified as a safe dispersal area.

4. The area shall be provided with a safe and unobstructed path of travel from the building.

5. The area shall be illuminated in accordance with Section 1008.