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Topic:   Bedroom emergency egress through closet - 719 visits (1 today, 1 this week)

Michael Thomas
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Posts: 571
From:Evanston, IL
Registered: Jul 2005

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posted March 26, 2007 06:14 AM            

OK, this is clearly wrong, but where exactly are the prohibitions stated?

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Thanks

Bob White
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From:Cartersville, GA
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posted March 26, 2007 06:37 AM            

You can find them in section 1026 of the IBC (2006) (if you've got an apartment building) or in section R310 of the IRC (2006)for a one- and two-family dwelling.

Sorry, no time to quote right now, and I don't have Section# for earlir versions of code.

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Bob White
Abide-Able Home Inspections

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Tim Moreira
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From:New Port Richey, Florida
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posted March 26, 2007 06:41 AM            

Michael,

From the 03 IRC:

Bold is mine.

310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required.
Basements with habitable space and every sleeping room shall have at least one openable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency egress and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided they shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor. Where a door opening having a threshold below the adjacent ground elevation serves as an emergency escape and rescue opening and is provided with a bulkhead enclosure, the bulkhead enclosure shall comply with Section 310.3. The net clear opening dimensions required by this section shall be obtained by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening from the inside. Emergency escape and rescue openings with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground elevation shall be provided with a window well in accordance with Section R310.2.

310.1.1 Minimum opening area.
All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minutemen clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.530 m2).
Exception: Grade floor openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet (0.465 m2).

310.1.2 Minimum opening height.
The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches (610 mm).

310.1.3 Minimum opening width.
The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches (508 mm).

Once you have to go through a doorway I would consider that to be another room in my opinion. The closet is in a separate room which makes that window invald for the EERO requirements of the sleeping room.

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Tim Moreira
Suncoast Home Inspections
Suncoasthomeinspections@yahoo.com

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Michael Thomas
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From:Evanston, IL
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posted March 26, 2007 08:39 AM            

Thanks to you both.

Jerry Peck
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From:Ormond Beach, Florida
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posted March 26, 2007 06:33 PM            

Tim,

"Once you have to go through a doorway I would consider that to be another room in my opinion. The closet is in a separate room which makes that window invald for the EERO requirements of the sleeping room."

C-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y think of what you just said.

The 2003 IRC Commentary has cleared that up. (bold and underlining are mine)
- Because so many fire deaths occur as the result of occupants of residential buildings being asleep during a fire, the IRC requires that basements with habitable spaces and all sleeping rooms have windows or doors that may be used for emergency escape or rescue. The requirement for emergency escape and egress openings in sleeping rooms exists because a fire will usually have spread before the occupants are aware of the problem, and the normal exit channels may be blocked. The requirement for basements exists because they are so often used as sleeping rooms. Openings required for emergency escape or rescue must be located on the exterior of the building so that rescue can be performed from the exterior. Alternatively, occupants may escape from that opening to the exterior of the building without having to travel through the building itself. Therefore, where openings are required, they should open directly into a public street, public alley, yard or court. After the occupants pass through the emergency escape and rescue opening, their continued egress is essential. Where a basement contains sleeping rooms and a habitable space, an emergency escape and rescue opening is required in each sleeping room but is not required in adjoining areas of the basement.
(The commentary goes on for several more paragraphs about the sizes, etc.)

"Without having to travel through", i.e., got to be able to get out right there.

Oh, yeah, back to the closet not being part of a bedroom ... think electrical ... think arc fault ... think ...

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Jerry Peck
Ormond Beach
(i.e., Daytona Beach area)

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Tim Moreira
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From:New Port Richey, Florida
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posted March 26, 2007 07:18 PM            

OK Jerry,

Now I'm really confused.

quote:

---

Alternatively, occupants may escape from that opening to the exterior of the building without having to travel through the building itself

---

If the exterior door to the room is on fire, then they have to exit through the closet door which is traveling through the building itself is it not?

I once did an AC change out for a paraplegic who took out the closet and made it the entry door to his room, through the closet which he still kept as a closet.

I really don't know what I just said???

I just didn't think you would have to exit through another room for your EERO to apply.

Another question then (hypothetically speaking): I have a master bedroom with no EERO in it but I have a bathroom inside the bedroom that has a window that meets the EERO size requirements. Is this acceptable for EERO? Meaning you have to exit through the bathroom and use it's window to exit???

I would think not. If so, please explain to me how it is. I can't understand how you can be allowed to exit through another door to get to your EERO.

Thank you.

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Tim Moreira
Suncoast Home Inspections
Suncoasthomeinspections@yahoo.com

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[This message has been edited by Tim Moreira (edited March 26, 2007).]

Jerry Peck
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From:Ormond Beach, Florida
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posted March 26, 2007 07:44 PM            

I didn't say you could.

I was posting IRC commentary which clarified (I thought) that you "could not" do that.

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Jerry Peck
Ormond Beach
(i.e., Daytona Beach area)

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