Last Sunday I made my 2nd annual Mothers Day pilgrimage to a fabulous weekly market that is a combination farmers’ market, arts and crafts show, food truck smorgasbord, and a big old warehouse selling vintage clothing, furniture, accessories, etc.  There was a 4-foot high key for sale but I didn’t splurge.  🙂

As I stood outside the warehouse I noticed that everyone who went in or out of the exit (which was not the main entrance),  had something to say about the “ramp.”  This exit would clearly not be considered accessible, but it was even difficult for able-bodied visitors to use.  I’m not a ramp expert, but according to the 2012 IBC, ramps used as part of an egress route can have a maximum rise of 30 inches, with a running slope not steeper than 8 percent (1 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal).  There are also requirements for landings and maneuvering clearances which obviously don’t exist at this exit.

This is not a temporary building – the vintage market is open year-round, and it has been open for quite a while (but not so long that it hasn’t been visited by an inspector in decades).  It’s not in a backwoods town…it’s an urban area.  On beautiful Sundays the place is mobbed.  So how does an egress situation like this fly?

Ramp to Exterior

Group Exiting

Exit Ramp

Egress Plan

Ramp Exterior

A belated Happy Mothers Day to all of the moms out there!

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