In Compliance column in the May/June issue of NFPA Journal, Ron Coté, Principal Life Safety Engineer at the National Fire Protection Agency, debunks two myths regarding NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.
The first myth is that all assembly occupancy rooms with an occupancy load more than 50 must have a second egress door. This is not true, although many do have second exit access doors “in order not to violate the common path of travel limitation,” Coté writes.
For most room locations and arrangements, a second exit access door from the room can be positioned to provide occupants with a second travel path. The presence of the second exit access door can reduce what would otherwise be an excessive common path of travel to one that is within the permitted distance.
Coté also debunks the myth that exit signs are required at exits only. The signs are actually required in three locations: at exits, in the exit access, and in exit access corridors of new construction. They are required in the exit access when the exit or way to reach the exit is not readily apparent, as might be the case where additional turns in the egress path are needed to reach an exit.
They may also be needed when in exit access corridors of new construction no point is in excess of the particular sign’s rated viewing distance or the 100-foot (30-meter) default value, whichever is less, from the nearest sign.
Related Stories
| Jul 5, 2012
Continued tax breaks necessary for widespread adoption of net zero buildings
Tax breaks passed by the U.S. government to encourage construction of green buildings are set to expire in 2012 and 2013.
| Jun 28, 2012
Six buildings now recognized under Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge (LBC), a green ratings system for design and construction that judges a building based on its actual performance, not just its projected performance at the design stage, has recognized six buildings to date.
| Jun 28, 2012
Label for building products will have ‘global warming number’
The director of the 2030 Challenge for Products says that the organization is aiming to place a label on building products that will list what’s in it, and how much embodied carbon each product represents.
| Jun 28, 2012
Top building material executive urges building resilience in sustainability standards
A meeting of 1,000 business executives at the recent Rio+20 environmental conference featured a passionate plea to include building resilience in efforts to boost sustainability.
| Jun 28, 2012
Following spate of skyscraper balcony glass panel breakages, Ontario adopts code change
Ontario's housing minister announced new building code rules to help prevent glass panels from breaking off high-rise balconies during hot weather.
| Jun 28, 2012
Factory worker deaths in Italy raise questions on building codes after earthquakes
Italian officials are questioning seismic building standards and inspection procedures in the aftermath of two damaging earthquakes.
| Jun 21, 2012
Brazilian engineering/construction firm Odebrecht sues Florida over ban on companies doing business in Cuba
Odebrecht Construction Inc., a Brazilian engineering and construction company, is suing the State of Florida over a new law that bans governments from hiring companies with business ties to Cuba.
| Jun 21, 2012
String of shattered glass balcony panels prompts call for code reform in Ontario
Since last summer, glass balconies have shattered at 13 different buildings in Toronto.
