Charles Anderson sent me the photos below, of a “secondary” exit from a retail store. I know it’s Wordless Wednesday, but here’s something you should know. With a few exceptions*, the requirements for main exits and other exits are usually the same. If the main exit has to be obvious and available, with one releasing operation to unlatch the door, and a limited amount of opening force, the other exits are subject to those same requirements. The exit in these photos does not comply with this requirement of the IBC and IFC:
Means of egress doors shall be readily distinguishable from the adjacent construction and finishes such that the doors are easily recognizable as doors. Mirrors or similar reflecting materials shall not be used on means of egress doors. Means of egress doors shall not be concealed by curtains, drapes, decorations or similar materials.
*A couple of examples of exceptions: In assembly occupancies, NFPA 101 does not allow delayed egress locks on the main entrance/exit, but does allow them on the other exits. The IBC allows key-operated locks (double-cylinder deadbolts) on the main entrance/exit of some occupancies, but not on the other exits.
Can you think of some other exceptions where the requirements for the main entrance/exit differ from the other exits?
You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
kinda remember a exception on a control ward of a hospital or retirement center?? sound right?/
Yes, in some cases, although CMS and the Joint Commission are not yet using the edition of NFPA 101 that allows the doors to be disguised. Here’s more info: https://idighardware.com/2018/07/decoded-deterring-egress-in-health-care-facilities/.
– Lori
You have to wonder if the leaves are fire retardant as well and how are they attached to the surrounding surfaces!!! I recently had one of my universities put up heavy curtains in front of all the exit doors at the rear of their large auditorium. They wanted to block the light coming in when the doors were opened!!! I guess that’s a common complaint within the theater world. Yeah, NO you can’t do that!!! They took them down…but they weren’t very happy about it!!! Too Bad, ask before you purchase and install!!!
Maybe some sort of window tinting would have satisfied both requirements?
– Lori
The light only comes in when someone opens the door while the play/concert has already started. I did suggest they put the curtains (Treated of course) on the wall of windows in the lobby to darken the lobby so it isn’t such a harsh light. You would think I was telling them to paint the lobby windows black!! “Well that just won’t do” “The best we came up with was the curtains covering the exit doors”!! Yeah…NO… you still can’t cover the exits!!! It’s always something!!!