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32A-144 IEBC SECTION 705 MEANS OF EGRESSSECTION 705 MEANS OF EGRESS 705.1 Scope. The requirements of this section shall be limited to work areas that include exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant within the work area in which Level 2 alterations are being performed, and where specified they shall apply throughout the floor on which the work areas are located or otherwise beyond the work area. Section 705 is entirely devoted to the means-of-egress requirements in existing buildings that are undergoing Level 2 or 3 alterations. The requirements of this section apply to the work area only, unless there are specific sections addressing supplemental requirements; in which case, the requirements will apply throughout the floor under consideration or beyond. The provisions of Section 705 are applicable only when the alteration work area includes exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant. As such, in multiple- tenant buildings where the reconfiguration of space takes place within one of the tenant spaces and does not include corridors or exits that affect others, the tenant space undergoing alterations need only comply with the means-of-egress requirements of Section 604. In essence, if there are any egress conditions that are considered unsafe, the conditions must be remedied. It is not necessary to confirm that the level of egress safety has not been reduced compared to the current conditions. 705.2 General. The means of egress shall comply with the requirements of this section. Exceptions: 1. Where the work area and the means of egress serving it complies with NFPA 101. 2. Means of egress conforming to the requirements of the building code under which the building was constructed shall be considered compliant means of egress if, in the opinion of the code official, they do not constitute a distinct hazard to life. The provisions of Section 705 are intended to address improvements in the means of egress that are crucial for the safe egress of occupants. With the exception of very old buildings, most existing buildings designed under the building codes of a jurisdiction provide a certain degree of safe egress. Accordingly, unless the code official finds that all or parts of the means of egress system constitute a distinct hazard, the meansof- egress does not need to comply with Section 705 as long as it complies with the requirements of the building code under which it was built, including NFPA 101. Where the code official finds a distinct hazard, the provisions of Section 705 could be applied or whatever other remedy determined by the code official must be followed. This provision is also found in Section 1027.1 of the IFC. 705.3 Number of exits. The number of exits shall be in accordance with Sections 705.3.1 through 705.3.3. The number of exits in any building is one of the most important factors in the safe egress of occupants. The IBC and IFC make it unlawful to reduce the number of exits in a building. 705.3.1 Minimum number. Every story utilized for human occupancy on which there is a work area that includes exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant within the work area shall be provided with the minimum number of exits based on the occupancy and the occupant load in accordance with the International Building Code. In addition, the exits shall comply with sections 705.3.1.1 and 705.3.1.2. Given that the number of exits is so important, this section requires that every story with a work area that falls within the limitations discussed in Section 705.1 be provided with a minimum number of exits as required for new construction (in accordance with the IBC). The code does, however, provide exceptions that allow single-exit construction, many of which are common to the IBC, as listed in Section 705.3.1.1. In addition, fire escapes can be used as a solution where more than one exit is required, as provided in Section 705.3.1.2. 705.3.1.1 Single-exit buildings. Only one exit is required from buildings and spaces of the following occupancies: 1. In Group A, B, E, F, M, U and S occupancies, a single exit is permitted in the story at the level of exit discharge when the occupant load of the story does not exceed 50 and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm). 2. Group B, F-2, and S-2 occupancies not more than two stories in height that are not greater than 3,500 square feet per floor (326 m2), when the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm). The minimum fire-resistance rating of the exit enclosure and of the opening protection shall be 1 hour. 3. Open parking structures where vehicles are mechanically parked. 4. In community residences for the developmentally disabled, the maximum occupant load excluding staff is 12. 5. Groups R-1 and R-2 not more than two stories in height, when there are not more than four dwelling units per floor and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm). The minimum fire-resistance rating of the exit enclosure and of the opening protection shall be 1 hour. 6. In multilevel dwelling units in buildings of occupancy Group R-1 or R-2, an exit shall not be required from every level of the dwelling unit provided that one of the following conditions is met: 6.1. The travel distance within the dwelling unit does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm); or 6.2. The building is not more than three stories in height and all third-floor space is part of one or more dwelling units located in part on the second floor; and no habitable room within any such dwelling unit shall have a travel distance that exceeds 50 feet (15 240 mm) from the outside of the habitable room entrance dwelling unit. 7. In Group R-2, H-4, H-5 and I occupancies and in rooming houses and child care centers, a single exit is permitted in a one-story building with a maximum occupant load of 10 and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm). 8. In buildings of Group R-2 occupancy that are equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system, a single exit shall be permitted from a basement or story below grade if every dwelling unit on that floor is equipped with an approved window providing a clear opening of at least 5 square feet (0.47m2) in area, a minimum net clear opening of 24 inches (610 mm) in height and 20 inches (508 mm) in width, and a sill height of not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the finished floor. 9. In buildings of Group R-2 occupancy of any height with not more than four dwelling units per floor; with a smokeproof enclosure or outside stair as an exit; and with such exit located within 20 feet (6096 mm) of travel to the entrance doors to all dwelling units served thereby. 10. In buildings of Group R-3 occupancy equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system, only one exit shall be required from basements or stories below grade. There are 10 specific conditions described where the building or a certain story could be provided with only one single exit. Several of these 10 conditions are either the same or similar to various provisions in the IBC. For example, Item 1 in this section is similar to the first row in Table 1021.2 of the IBC. The only difference is that Item 1 of this section allows the condition at the level of exit discharge in multiple-story buildings as opposed to Table 1021.2 of the IBC that allows this condition in a one-story building only. Item 3 of this section is the same as Section 1021.1.2 of the IBC, and Item 7 is the same as the third row in Table 1021.2 of the IBC. The characteristics considered for a building to be of single-exit construction include occupancy, maximum height of building above grade plane, maximum occupants or dwelling units per floor, and exit access travel distance per floor. The occupant load of each floor is determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 1004.1 of the IBC. The exit access travel distance is measured along the natural and unobstructed path to the exit, as described in Section 1016.1 of the IBC.