5.2 Elevators, Platform Lifts, Areas of Refuge, and Exterior Areas for Assisted Rescue
Key Takeaways
An elevator in an accessible means of egress needs ASME A17.1 emergency operation and signaling, standby power, and an area of refuge unless the building is sprinklered throughout or another 1009.4.2 exception applies.
Platform lifts may be part of an accessible means of egress where permitted on a required accessible route, except under the existing-site-constraint item, and need standby power (1009.5).
An area of refuge needs one 30 x 52 inch wheelchair space for each 200 occupants or portion thereof, without reducing egress width, and each space may be blocked by no more than one adjoining space.
Areas of refuge are separated by a smoke barrier or horizontal exit, are within exit access travel distance, have direct access to a stairway or elevator, and have two-way communication.
Exterior areas for assisted rescue have 1-hour exterior walls extending 10 feet beyond the landing (unless sprinklered), sides at least 50 percent open, and 48-inch stairways unless sprinklered.
5.2 Elevators, Platform Lifts, Areas of Refuge, and Exterior Areas for Assisted Rescue
The components that make accessible egress possible for a person who cannot use stairs are elevators, platform lifts, areas of refuge and exterior areas for assisted rescue. Each has a specific set of conditions in IBC 1009.4 to 1009.7.
Elevators (1009.4)
To be part of an accessible means of egress, an elevator must meet both:
- 1009.4.1 Standby power: The elevator meets the emergency operation and signaling device requirements of ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Section 2.27, and standby power is provided per IBC Chapter 27 and Section 3003.
- 1009.4.2 Area of refuge: The elevator is accessed from an area of refuge complying with 1009.6.
Area of refuge exceptions for elevators:
- Open parking garages.
- Buildings sprinklered throughout per NFPA 13 or 13R.
- Elevators not required to be located in a shaft under Section 712.
- Elevators serving smoke-protected or open-air assembly seating complying with 1030.6.2 and 1030.6.3.
- Elevators accessed from a refuge area used with a horizontal exit.
Note that sprinklers remove the area of refuge, not standby power. A sprinklered building that relies on an elevator under 1009.2.1 still needs the A17.1 Section 2.27 operation and standby power.
Platform Lifts (1009.5)
Platform lifts may serve as part of an accessible means of egress where allowed as part of a required accessible route in IBC 1110.11 (2024) or 1110.9 (2021), except Item 10 (the existing-exterior-site-constraints item). Standby power for the lift is provided per Chapter 27. A lift serving a stage or a jury box may therefore also serve as the accessible egress from it, with standby power.
Areas of Refuge (1009.6)
| Section | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1009.6 | Every required area of refuge is accessible from the space it serves by an accessible means of egress |
| 1009.6.1 Travel distance | Maximum travel distance from any accessible space to an area of refuge does not exceed the exit access travel distance permitted for the occupancy in 1017.1 |
| 1009.6.2 Stairway or elevator access | Direct access to a stairway complying with 1009.3 and 1023 or an elevator complying with 1009.4; exception for an interior area of refuge at the level of exit discharge with direct access to an exterior exit door |
| 1009.6.3 Size | One wheelchair space 30 x 52 in. for each 200 occupants or portion thereof, based on the occupant load of the area of refuge and the areas it serves; spaces may not reduce the means of egress minimum width or required capacity; access to any wheelchair space may not be obstructed by more than one adjoining wheelchair space |
| 1009.6.4 Separation | Smoke barrier per Section 709 or a horizontal exit per 1026, designed to minimize smoke intrusion; not required for areas of refuge within an interior exit stairway enclosure complying with 1023, or in outdoor facilities where exit access is essentially open to the outside |
| 1009.6.5 Two-way communication | Two-way communication complying with 1009.8.1 and 1009.8.2 |
Worked Example: Sizing Wheelchair Spaces
A floor with an occupant load of 520 is served by two stairways, each with an area of refuge in an enlarged landing. If each area of refuge serves the full floor:
- 520 / 200 = 2.6, and "portion thereof" rounds up, so 3 wheelchair spaces of 30 x 52 inches are needed at each area of refuge.
- The spaces must sit outside the required stair landing and stair width so that egress width is not reduced.
- Arrange them so no space is blocked by more than one adjoining space; a row of three spaces deep against a wall fails.
If the occupant load is split, the count is based on the occupant load of the area of refuge and the areas served by it.
Exterior Areas for Assisted Rescue (1009.7)
An exterior area for assisted rescue is used at an exit on the level of exit discharge where the exit discharge does not include an accessible route to a public way, for example a door that opens to a landing with steps down to grade. It must be reached by an accessible route from the area served and must comply with:
| Section | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1009.7.1 Size | Wheelchair spaces per 1009.6.3 (30 x 52 in. per 200 occupants or portion) |
| 1009.7.2 Separation | Exterior walls separating the area from the building interior have at least a 1-hour fire-resistance rating, rated for exposure from the inside. The rated construction extends horizontally 10 ft beyond the landing on either side, or equivalent rated construction extends out perpendicular to the wall 4 ft on the side of the landing, and vertically from the ground to 10 ft above the area's floor level or the roof line, whichever is lower; openings are protected per Section 716. Exception: not required in buildings sprinklered throughout |
| 1009.7.3 Openness | Open to the outside air; sides other than the separation walls at least 50 percent open, distributed to minimize smoke accumulation |
| 1009.7.4 Stairways | Stairways that are part of the means of egress for the area provide 48 in. clear between handrails, except in buildings sprinklered throughout |
Signs, instructions and two-way communication for areas of refuge and exterior areas for assisted rescue are covered in Section 5.3.
Exam Traps
| Trap | Correct rule |
|---|---|
| 30 x 48 wheelchair space in an area of refuge | 30 x 52 inches |
| One space per 100 occupants | One per 200 occupants or portion thereof |
| Sprinklers remove standby power for egress elevators | Sprinklers remove the area of refuge only |
| A platform lift justified only by site constraints may serve as egress | Item 10 is excluded from 1009.5 |
| Exterior area for assisted rescue used above grade | It serves exits at the level of exit discharge |
An area of refuge serves areas with a combined occupant load of 410. How many 30 by 52 inch wheelchair spaces does IBC 1009.6.3 require?
2
4
1
3
A new eight-story building is sprinklered throughout with an NFPA 13 system and uses an elevator as an accessible means of egress. Which requirement still applies to that elevator under IBC 1009.4?
An area of refuge at each floor
Standby power and ASME A17.1 emergency operation and signaling
A 48-inch clear width between handrails in the elevator lobby
An exterior area for assisted rescue at each floor
In a nonsprinklered building, an exterior area for assisted rescue is provided at a ground-level exit landing. How far must the 1-hour fire-resistance-rated exterior wall extend horizontally beyond the landing on each side?
10 feet
4 feet
6 feet
15 feet
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