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Chapter 10: Means of Egress
Section BC 1001: Administration
Section BC 1002: Definitions
Section BC 1003: General Means of Egress
1003.1 Applicability.
1003.2 Ceiling height.
1003.3 Protruding objects.
1003.3.1 Headroom.
1003.3.2 Post-mounted objects.
1003.3.3 Horizontal projections.
1003.3.4 Clear width.
1003.4 Floor surface.
1003.5 Elevation change.
1003.6 Means of egress continuity.
1003.7 Elevators, escalators and moving walks.
Section BC 1004: Occupant Load
Section BC 1005: Means of Egress Sizing
Section BC 1006: Number of Exits and Exit Access Doorways
Section BC 1007: Exit and Exit Access Doorway Configuration
Section BC 1008: Means of Egress Illumination
Section BC 1009: Accessible Means of Egress
Section BC 1010: Doors, Gates and Turnstiles
Section BC 1011: Stairways
Section BC 1012: Ramps
Section BC 1013: Exit Signs
Section BC 1014: Handrails
Section BC 1015: Guards
Section BC 1016: Exit Access
Section BC 1017: Exit Access Travel Distance
Section BC 1018: Aisles
Section BC 1019: Exit Access Stairways and Ramps
Section BC 1020: Corridors
Section BC 1021: Egress Balconies
Section BC 1022: Exits
Section BC 1023: Interior Exit Stairways and Ramps
Section BC 1024: Exit Passageways
Section BC 1025: Luminous Egress Path Markings
Section BC 1026: Horizontal Exits
Section BC 1027: Exterior Exit Stairways and Ramps
Section BC 1028: Exit Discharge
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1002.1.1 Terms defined elsewhere in this code.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
   ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS.
   AISLE.
   AISLE ACCESSWAY.
   ALTERNATING TREAD DEVICE.
   AREA OF RESCUE ASSISTANCE.
   ASSEMBLY SPACE.
   ASSISTED RESCUE PATH.
   BLEACHERS.
   BREAKOUT.
   COMMON PATH OF EGRESS TRAVEL.
   CORRIDOR.
   CORRIDOR, INTERIOR.
   CORRIDOR, PUBLIC.
   CROSS AISLE.
   DEAD END.
   DOOR, BALANCED.
   EGRESS COURT.
   EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENING.
   EXIT.
   EXIT ACCESS.
   EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY.
   EXIT ACCESS RAMP.
   EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAY.
   EXIT DISCHARGE.
   EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF.
   EXIT, HORIZONTAL.
   EXIT PASSAGEWAY.
   EXTERIOR EXIT RAMP.
   EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY.
   FIRE EXIT HARDWARE.
   FIXED SEATING.
   FLIGHT.
   FLOOR AREA, GROSS.
   FLOOR AREA, NET.
   FOLDING AND TELESCOPIC SEATING.
   GRANDSTAND.
   GUARD.
   HANDRAIL.
   INTERIOR EXIT RAMP.
   INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY.
   LOW ENERGY POWER-OPERATED DOOR.
   MEANS OF EGRESS.
   MERCHANDISE PAD.
   NOSING.
   OCCUPANT LOAD.
   OCCUPANT SENSOR.
   OPEN-ENDED CORRIDOR.
   PANIC HARDWARE.
   PHOTOSENSOR.
   POWER-ASSISTED DOOR.
   POWER-OPERATED DOOR.
   PUBLIC WAY.
   RAMP.
   REFUGE AREA.
   SCISSOR STAIRWAY.
   SELF-LUMINOUS.
   SMOKE-PROTECTED ASSEMBLY SEATING.
   STAIR.
   STAIRWAY.
   STAIRWAY, SPIRAL.
   WINDER.
1002.1.2 Definitions specific to this chapter.
The following terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings shown herein:
   COLLECTING SAFE AREA. A safe area that receives occupants from the assembly space it serves, as well as from other safe areas.
   OPEN EXTERIOR SPACE. A street or other public space; or a yard, court, or plaza open on one or more sides and unroofed or open on all sides, which provides egress to a street or public space.
   SAFE AREA. An interior or exterior space that serves as a means of egress by providing a transitional area from, and that also serves as a normal means of entry to, an assembly space.
   SEATING SECTION. An area of seating bounded on all sides by aisles, cross aisles, walls or partitions.
Section BC 1003: General Means of Egress
1003.1 Applicability.
The general requirements specified in Sections 1003 through 1015 shall apply to all three elements of the means of egress system, in addition to those specific requirements for the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge detailed elsewhere in this chapter.
1003.2 Ceiling height.
The means of egress shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet, 6 inches (2286 mm).
Exceptions:
   1.   Ceilings that are permitted to be less than 7 feet, 6 inches (2286 mm) in accordance with Section 1208.2.
   2.   Ceilings of dwelling units and sleeping units within residential occupancies in accordance with Section 1208.2.
   3.   Allowable projections in accordance with Section 1003.3.
   4.   Stair headroom in accordance with Section 1011.3.
   5.   Door height in accordance with Section 1010.1.1.3.
   6.   Ramp headroom in accordance with Section 1012.5.2.
   7.   The clear height of floor levels in vehicular and pedestrian traffic areas in of public and private parking garages in accordance with Section 406.4.1.
   8.   Areas above and below mezzanine floors in accordance with Section 505.2.
1003.3 Protruding objects.
Protruding objects on circulation paths shall comply with the requirements of Sections 1003.3.1 through 1003.3.4.
1003.3.1 Headroom.
Protruding objects are permitted to extend below the minimum ceiling height required by Section 1003.2 where a minimum headroom of 84 inches (2133.6 mm) is provided over any walking surface, including walks, corridors, aisles and passageways. Not more than 50 percent of the ceiling area of a means of egress shall be reduced in height by protruding objects.
   Exception: Door closers and stops shall not reduce headroom to less than 78 inches (1981.2 mm).
A barrier shall be provided where the vertical clearance is less than 80 inches (2032 mm) high. The leading edge of such a barrier shall be located 27 inches (685 mm) maximum above the floor.
1003.3.2 Post-mounted objects.
A free-standing object mounted on a post or pylon shall not overhang that post or pylon more than 4 inches (101.6 mm) where the lowest point of the leading edge is more than 27 inches (685 mm) and less than 80 inches (2032 mm) above the walking surface. Where a sign or other obstruction is mounted between posts or pylons and the clear distance between the posts or pylons is greater than 12 inches (304.8 mm), the lowest edge of such sign or obstruction shall be 27 inches (685 mm) maximum or 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum above the finished floor or ground.
   Exception: These requirements shall not apply to sloping portions of handrails between the top and bottom riser of stairs and above the ramp run.

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