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by unjust » 3 Apr 2017 10:41
generally with a stair that doesn't allow interior access. e.g. a fire stair that you can only exit to outside from any upper level, including roof.
it's not always required, and tends to become moot when you've got a taller building, but depending on the occupancy (rooftop patio, helipad, mechanical service only, etc) i've had officials balk at the exterior not being egress.
a good argument on it is requiring key access/egress and arguing that it's limited occupancy by trained/authorized personell only, so they need a key to get there and it's few enough folks to not require egress hardware.
a surprising workaround on a high rise was to include a safety phone at the door. this allowed the door to be keyed both sides but meant a technician trapped could call for help. the elevator guys did *not* understand the "we need another emergency phone nowhere near an elevator, and it needs to be IP68 rated" request.
side note on OP, locking function on the inside of the room *can* be bad if it's not life safety compliant. there's been a bunch of really stupid lock kids inside of a burning building ideas being floated the last few years.
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unjust
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by Squelchtone » 3 Apr 2017 10:45
unjust wrote:generally with a stair that doesn't allow interior access. e.g. a fire stair that you can only exit to outside from any upper level, including roof.
it's not always required, and tends to become moot when you've got a taller building, but depending on the occupancy (rooftop patio, helipad, mechanical service only, etc) i've had officials balk at the exterior not being egress.
a good argument on it is requiring key access/egress and arguing that it's limited occupancy by trained/authorized personell only, so they need a key to get there and it's few enough folks to not require egress hardware.
a surprising workaround on a high rise was to include a safety phone at the door. this allowed the door to be keyed both sides but meant a technician trapped could call for help. the elevator guys did *not* understand the "we need another emergency phone nowhere near an elevator, and it needs to be IP68 rated" request.
side note on OP, locking function on the inside of the room *can* be bad if it's not life safety compliant. there's been a bunch of really stupid lock kids inside of a burning building ideas being floated the last few years.
cool, thanks for explaining that. We have such a door at work, but the roof is just HVAC units on a flat roof on the 2nd floor, hopefully someone would just wave or yell down or use their cell if locked out =)

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Squelchtone
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by unjust » 3 Apr 2017 11:06
i work in architecture, and after accessibility compliance, egress compliance is a dark hole. it all makes sense but there's some really arcane options, and then the local official will decide to require something completely outside code because they've had problems with other folks doing stupid things, or they don't like a listed exception. (like requiring accessible wheelchair turning spaces on a service catwalk accessible only by ladder)
locksport has seriously helped my ability to troubleshoot door hardware requirements.
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unjust
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by Squelchtone » 3 Apr 2017 12:12
unjust wrote: (like requiring accessible wheelchair turning spaces on a service catwalk accessible only by ladder)
I'm all for ADA compliance, but some of it is really stupid like the example above. I'm in New England and we have a 150 year old 5 story building, no elevator, stair access only, and when we redid the 4th floor men's room, it had to have outswing door into the hallway, and a handi accessible stall, and sink and water fixtures. Would love to see the arms on the guy who can get his chair up to the 4th floor one stair at a time. It's such a silly rule.. here it's based on how much money you spend on a project and what % of a space you are rebuilding, breach either of these 2 thresholds and the location has to become ADA compliant.
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by unjust » 3 Apr 2017 12:40
so here's why that one makes sense: when the building is further improved, they will be required to put in an elevator. when that elevator is present, the stuff won't have been compliant when it was updated. it's a little obtuse, but it'd be a big liability to allow something to be done with the knowledge that it'll become non-compliant. if they didn't, they'd have to upgrade the remodeled space when the elevator went in.
also, the "wheelchair stall" isn't only for wheelchairs. i've worked with folks who could do a couple of flights, but then used a walker around their floor. (one ancient emeritus professor would do a half a flight, rest on the chair placed there for him at the floor lobby, and repeat up to his 4th floor office. stunning view from up there. amazing guy.)
in a protected historic building where you're never going to see an elevator, there's a strong argument for putting in ambulatory stall instead of a turning radius stall, and there *usually* are variances or exceptions to allow for tweaks like that, but there are also landlords who will limit tenant remodels so as to not trigger costly upgrades.
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