2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE (IBC)

INTRODUCTORY NOTES on IBC Chapter 10, MEANS of EGRESS

Narratives in the Means of Egress section are based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), Chapter 10, and the International Fire Code (IFC), Chapter 10. Library organization mirrors the section organization of those publications:

  • Section 103: General Means of Egress
  • Section 104: Occupant Load
  • Section 106: Number of Exits and Exit Access Doorways
  • Section 107: Exit and Exit Access Doorway Configuration
  • Section 108: Means of Egress Illumination
  • Section 109: Accessible Means of Egress
  • Section 1010: Doors, Gates, and Turnstiles
  • Section 1011: Stairways
  • Section 1012: Ramps
  • Section 1013: Exit Signs
  • Section 1014: Handrails
  • Section 1015: Guards
  • Section 1016: Exit Access
  • Section 1017 Exit Access Travel Distance
  • Section 1018: Aisles
  • Section 1019: Exit Access Stairways and Ramps
  • Section 1020: Corridors
  • Section 1021: Egress Balconies
  • Section 1022: Exits
  • Section 1023: Exit Access and Stairway Ramps
  • Section 1024: Corridors
  • Section 1025: Luminous Egress Path Markings
  • Section 1026: Horizontal Exits
  • Section 1027: Exterior Exit Stairways and Ramps
  • Section 1030: Emergency Escape and Rescue

 

General Notes:

1. Jurisdictional requirements may vary according to which building code has been adopted and the particular version (year) of the code. The International Code Council (ICC) typically updates their code publications every three years, but most jurisdictions do not adopt each new version as it is released because of the costs involved.

2. Determining adequate occupancy and egress dimensions will require referring to Use and Occupancy Classification (Chapter 3) and various Tables in Chapter 10.

3. Many codes are highly specific and/or contain multiple exceptions. Providing narratives based on all primary codes and all their exceptions would result in cluttering this library with seldom-used information. Inspectors interested in identifying deficiencies based on building code should perform research related to the use/occupancy and installed systems/major components of the building they will inspect before performing the walk-through portion of their inspection.

 

REGULATION

The design, construction, and arrangement of the Means of Egress for commercial and industrial buildings is most widely regulated by the International Building Code (IBC), while residential buildings are typically governed by the International Residential Code (IRC).

The portions of the IBC addressing means of egress work in tandem with codes from the International Fire Code (IFC). Both are International
Code Council (ICC) publications.

 

WHAT IS THE MEANS OF EGRESS?

The Means of Egress consists of three parts, the:

1. Exit access;

2. Exit; and

3. Exit discharge.

The exit access, exit, and exit discharge, starts at any occupiable point in the building, ends at a public way, and may include:   Intervening rooms, aisle access ways, accessible means of egress, aisles, doors/doorways, corridors, egress balconies, exit access doorways, exit access ramps, exit access stairways, gates, interior exit ramps, interior exit stairways, vertical exit enclosures, horizontal exits, exit passageways, and  exterior exit stairways.

Note: Explanations for these terms can be found in the IBC under “Definitions”.

The “Means of Egress” incudes all of the components along the pathway from any occupied point to a public way.

Public way:  A street, alley, or parcel of land open to the outside air leading to a street, that has been deeded, dedicated, or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use and has a clear width and height of not less than 10 feet. (3048 mm).