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In the corridors of an apartment building (wrap) there are fire doors that are double-egress pairs that are left-hand-reverse by left-hand reverse which follows the natural traffic pattern within the corridor.  However, there are also several right-hand-reverse by right-hand-reverse in the same corridor.
Is there a requirement one way or another on which direction these are supposed to be? I informed the project manager that the egress needs to follow the natural traffic pattern. I was curious about the different flow patterns of the doors so I researched the code but was unable to locate anything in the code regarding whether it was code or not, except for the AHJ. The county where I live also agreed with me but if someone out there knows if this is code please respond. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
10 Comments
Corey Eppinghaus
12/21/2022 08:16:40 am
Just making comment to see what comes of this.
Glenn Berger
12/21/2022 08:25:37 am
Need a plan view to determine current requirements for door swings. Many of these older facilities have undergone several renovations, which have impacts on current egress requirements.
Todd E Wyatt
12/21/2022 08:34:26 am
SHORT ANSWER
Aviv
12/21/2022 10:54:56 am
How could a corridor be 50 occupants on each side of every one of those doors? is it really long? or must you account traversing through it from adjacent spaces?
Todd E Wyatt
12/22/2022 08:49:36 am
Yes, the calculated Occupant Load (OL) would include rooms, areas and spaces that access the (shared) Exit Access Corridors (EAC) that then lead to an Exit (e.g. Interior Exit Staiway). Any cross-corridor doors in an EAC that would be used by >50 occupants are required to swing in the direction of egresss.
Colin Triming
12/21/2022 10:33:57 am
I agree that the code doesn't answer this question as stated. Unless you happen to be from Australia (like me) you have been taught to keep right since you were knee high to a grasshopper. If the corridor is full of smoke and you come to the doors you might get confused and head back the way you came. It could also be confusing for firefighters. I think these doors should be turned around.
martin m
12/21/2022 09:41:29 pm
To the right in the states too growing up
Alex
12/27/2022 06:39:43 am
I agree with Colin. I am not aware of a code section that states cross doors have to swing in a certain direction per side but it is common to always keep right. I would recommend switching the entire assembly so the door on the right is opposite.
mike bauer
12/21/2022 11:06:45 am
We have alot of these in our jurisdiction in apartment buildings with enclosed corridors. They are separating the building into different fire areas under section 707 (Fire Barriers) with a 2 hour rating for residential construction. Under normal conditions they are held open by magnetic devices connected to the fire alarm system. The only thing we would look at if the direction of travel were in question is the travel distance to an exit. If the doors were placed in one part of the building where the path was required to be through them, then they would have to open in the path of egress travel. We have not had this issue as on both sides of the Fire Barrier door, there have been two exits available within the required travel distance.
DS
12/21/2022 01:04:21 pm
This is usually a designer using the fire compartment allowance in the IBC to increase the floor size or square footage of the building. It basically is providing exit access in both directions and has an active door leaf in one direction from each side. This could also be because of an assembly occupancy with an occupant load greater than 49, but is not typically the case in the R-2 occupancies. Leave a Reply. |
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