Building and Fire Codes

1029.1 General. In addition to the means of egress required by this  chapter, provisions shall be made for emergency escape and rescue in  Group R and 1-1 occupancies. Basements and sleeping rooms below the  fourth story above grade plane shall have at least one exterior  emergency escape and rescue opening in accordance with this section.  Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency escape and  rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not  be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Such openings shall open  directly into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public  way.

Exceptions:

1. In other than Group R-3 occupancies, buildings equipped throughout  with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section  903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
2. In other than Group R-3 occupancies, sleeping rooms provided with a  door to a fire-resistance-rated corridor having access to two remote  exits in opposite directions.
3. The emergency escape and rescue opening is permitted to open onto a  balcony within an atrium in accordance with the requirements of Section  404, provided the balcony provides access to an exit and the dwelling  unit or sleeping unit has a means of egress that is not open to the  atrium.
4. Basements with a ceiling height of less than 80 inches (2032 mm)  shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue windows.
5. High-rise buildings in accordance with Section 403.
6. Emergency escape and rescue openings are not required from  basements or sleeping rooms that have an exit door or exit access door  that opens directly into a public way or to a yard, court or exterior  exit balcony that opens to a public way.
7. Basements without habitable spaces and having no more than 200  square feet (18.6 m2) in floor area shall not be required to have  emergency escape windows.

1029.2 Minimum size. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.53 m2).

Exception:

• The minimum net clear opening for emergency escape and rescue grade-floor openings shall be 5 square feet (0.46 m2).

1029.2.1 Minimum dimensions. The minimum net clear opening height  dimension shall be 24 inches (610 mm). The minimum net clear opening  width dimension shall be 20 inches (508 mm). The net clear opening  dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the opening.1029.3 Maximum height from floor. Emergency escape and rescue  openings shall have the bottom of the clear opening not greater than 44  inches (1118 mm) measured from the floor.1029.4 Operational constraints. Emergency escape and rescue openings  shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys  or tools. Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices are permitted to be  placed over emergency escape and rescue openings provided the minimum  net clear opening size complies with Section 1029.2 and such devices  shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a  key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal  operation of the escape and rescue opening. Where such bars, grilles,  grates or similar devices are installed in existing buildings, smoke  alarms shall be installed in accordance with Section 907.2.11 regardless  of the valuation of the alteration.1029.5 Window wells. An emergency escape and rescue opening with a  finished sill height below the adjacent ground level shall be provided  with a window well in accordance with Sections 1029.5.1 and 1029.5.2.1029.5.1 Minimum size. The minimum horizontal area of the window well  shall be 9 square feet (0.84 m2), with a minimum dimension of 36 inches  (914 mm). The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape  and rescue opening to be fully opened.1029.5.2 Ladders or steps. Window wells with a vertical depth of more  than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be equipped with an approved permanently  affixed ladder or steps. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of  at least 12 inches (305 mm), shall project at least 3 inches (76 mm)  from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches (457 mm) on  center (o.c.) vertically for the full height of the window well. The  ladder or steps shall not encroach into the required dimensions of the  window well by more than 6 inches (152 mm). The ladder or steps shall  not be obstructed by the emergency escape and rescue opening. Ladders or  steps required by this section are exempt from the stairway  requirements of Section 1009. 

1029.5 Window wells. An emergency escape and rescue opening with a  finished sill height below the adjacent ground level shall be provided  with a window well in accordance with Sections 1029.5.1 and 1029.5.2.

1029.5.1 Minimum size. The minimum horizontal area of the window well  shall be 9 square feet (0.84 m2), with a minimum dimension of 36 inches  (914 mm). The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape  and rescue opening to be fully opened.

1029.5.2 Ladders or steps. Window wells with a vertical depth of more  than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be equipped with an approved permanently  affixed ladder or steps. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of  at least 12 inches (305 mm), shall project at least 3 inches (76 mm)  from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches (457 mm) on  center (o.c.) vertically for the full height of the window well. The  ladder or steps shall not encroach into the required dimensions of the  window well by more than 6 inches (152 mm). The ladder or steps shall  not be obstructed by the emergency escape and rescue opening. Ladders or  steps required by this section are exempt from the stairway  requirements of Section 1009.

1030.1 General. The means of egress for buildings or portions thereof shall be maintained in accordance with this section.

1030.2 Reliability. Required exit accesses, exits or exit discharges  shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments  to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency when the  areas served by such exits are occupied. Security devices affecting  means of egress shall be subject to approval of the fire code official.

1030.3 Obstructions. A means of egress shall be free from  obstructions that would prevent its use, including the accumulation of  snow and ice.

1030.4 Exit signs. Exit signs shall be installed and maintained in  accordance with Section 1011. Decorations, furnishings, equipment or  adjacent signage that impairs the visibility of exit signs, creates  confusion or prevents identification of the exit shall not be allowed.

1030.5 Non exit identification. Where a door is adjacent to,  constructed similar to and can be confused with a means of egress door,  that door shall be identified with an approved sign that identifies the  room name or use of the room.

1030.6 Furnishings and decorations. Furnishings, decorations or other  objects shall not be placed so as to obstruct exits, access thereto,  egress therefrom, or visibility thereof. Hangings and draperies shall  not be placed over exit doors or otherwise be located to conceal or  obstruct an exit. Mirrors shall not be placed on exit doors. Mirrors  shall not be placed in or adjacent to any exit in such a manner as to  confuse the direction of exit.

1030.7 Emergency escape openings. Required emergency  escape openings shall be maintained in accordance with the code in  effect at the time of construction, and the following: Required  emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the  inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles,  grates or similar devices are allowed to be placed over emergency escape  and rescue openings provided the minimum net clear opening size  complies with the code that was in effect at the time of construction  and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside  without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is  required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening.