Dead end corridors
I can’t quite figure out why the building code permits I2 occupancies to have larger dead end corridors than other occupancies especially considering that I2 could have patients that can not self preserve and require additional time to escape a life safety hazard not less. If anyone can dumb this down for me or correct my interpretation of building code id welcome it:
In Group I-3, Condition 2, 3 or 4, occupancies, the dead end in a corridor shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
In occupancies in Groups B, E, F, I-1, M, R-1, R-2, S and U, where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, the length of the dead-end corridors shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
A dead-end corridor shall not be limited in length where the length of the dead-end corridor is less than 2.5 times the least width of the dead-end corridor.
In Group I-2, Condition 2 occupancies, the length of dead-end corridors that do not serve patient rooms or patient treatment spaces shall not exceed 30 feet (9144 mm
Comments (6)
You’re interpreting it correctly. The life safety codes take the entire life safety system into consideration.
30 feet really isn’t that far and as you’ve noted, it’s less than some other occupancies.
I-2 occupancies typically do not evacuate during a fire or most other emergencies. Patient rooms are not allowed to be in those dead ends, so it’s not like they would be trapped there if a fire were in the immediate area.
There are a lot of other strict fire safety measures in I-2. All new I-2s are protected by sprinklers and the rest should be well on their way to meeting the CMS deadline. There are limits to combustible storage, there are more requirements around fire and smoke barriers, are all Type I or Type II construction…
I-2 has a minimum corridor width of 96 inches where I-1 or R-1 is 36. That’s a big difference.
Hi Tim, so while the buildout does not permit for patient rooms in a dead end corridor, I have seen this code applied to ILSM where patient rooms allow the individual to say that the dead end can exceed the 30’ dead end. A common path of travel is then applied to the exiting during the ILSM. Very strange. My interpretation is that at no time should a patient care area have less than two separate means to exit a fire/smoke compartment.
While most patients do not “evacuate” they are supposed to seek an area of refuge. I just don’t see how that’s possible in a dead end.