5.1 Accessible Means of Egress: Number, Components, Elevators, and Stairways

5.1 Accessible Means of Egress: Number, Components, Elevators, and Stairways

The ICC 21 outline assigns 10% of the exam, about 8 questions, to "verify compliance of the accessible means of egress." The provisions sit in IBC Section 1009, which is not in Chapter 11 but is scoped into it: IBC 1103.2.2 keeps 1009 applicable even within employee work areas, and IEBC 306 controls existing buildings. Section numbers below are the same in the 2021 and 2024 IBC.

How Many (1009.1)

Accessible spaces shall be provided with not less than one accessible means of egress. Where more than one means of egress is required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any accessible space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by not less than two accessible means of egress.

So the count follows the general egress count. A space or story that needs two exits under 1006.2 or 1006.3 needs two accessible means of egress from each accessible portion.

Exceptions:

1. Only one accessible means of egress is required from an accessible mezzanine served by a stairway, elevator or platform lift complying with 1009.3, 1009.4 or 1009.5.
2. In assembly areas with ramped or stepped aisles, one accessible means of egress is permitted where the common path of egress travel is accessible and meets Section 1030.8.

Components (1009.2)

Each required accessible means of egress must be continuous to a public way and may consist of one or more of:

A stairway counts toward an accessible means of egress even though a wheelchair user cannot descend it unaided: the design assumes assisted evacuation from an area of refuge or a sprinklered floor.

When an Elevator Is Required (1009.2.1)

In buildings where a required accessible floor (and, in the 2021 IBC, an occupied roof) is four or more stories above or below a level of exit discharge, at least one required accessible means of egress must be an elevator complying with 1009.4. The 2024 IBC also triggers the elevator where an accessible occupiable roof is above a story that is three or more stories above the level of exit discharge.

Exceptions, both for buildings sprinklered throughout per NFPA 13 or 13R (903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2):

1. The elevator is not required on floors provided with a horizontal exit and located at or above the levels of exit discharge.
2. The elevator is not required on floors provided with a ramp complying with 1012.

Counting stories: a floor that is the fourth story above the level of exit discharge triggers the requirement. In a building whose street level is the level of exit discharge, the fifth floor is four stories above it.

Doors (1009.2.2)

Where doors are part of an accessible route to an exit, area of refuge or exterior area for assisted rescue, maneuvering clearances required by A117.1 must be provided in the direction of egress. Where a door leads to an area of refuge or exterior area for assisted rescue and re-entry to the floor is possible, clearances are required on both sides. Exception: maneuvering clearances are not required at doors to exit stairways above and below the level of exit discharge where the exit enclosure does not include an area of refuge.

Stairways (1009.3)

To be part of an accessible means of egress, a stairway between stories must meet three tests:

Area of refuge exceptions for stairways (1009.3.3):

1. Exit access stairways where two-way communication is provided at the elevator landing per 1009.8.
2. Buildings sprinklered throughout per NFPA 13 or 13R.
3. Stairways serving open parking garages.
4. Smoke-protected or open-air assembly seating complying with 1030.6.2 and 1030.6.3.
5. Group R-2 occupancies.
6. Stairways reached from a refuge area in conjunction with a horizontal exit.

Existing Buildings and Additions

• IEBC 306.7.2: accessible means of egress required by IBC Chapter 10 are not required to be added in existing facilities. IEBC 306.3 (2021) or 306.2 (2024) still requires existing accessible means of egress to be maintained, including during construction, unless approved temporary accessible egress is provided.
• Historic structures (306.7.16 or 306.7.18): accessible means of egress are not required.
• Additions are new construction. The 2024 IEBC (306.6.1) states that at least one accessible means of egress from an addition is required where IBC 1009.1 requires it.

Worked Example

A new six-story Group B office building is not sprinklered. Each story has an occupant load requiring two exits.

• Each accessible floor needs two accessible means of egress (1009.1).
• Floors five and six are four or more stories above the level of exit discharge, so one of their accessible means of egress must be an elevator complying with 1009.4 (standby power and an area of refuge, since the building is not sprinklered).
• The exit stairways used as the second accessible means of egress need 48 inches between handrails and an area of refuge, because neither the sprinkler exception nor any other exception applies.
• If the building were sprinklered throughout, the 48-inch width and area of refuge would not be required at the stairways, and the elevator would not need an area of refuge, although it would still need standby power.