1007.6 Areas of Rescue Assistance

Every required area of rescue assistance shall be accessible from the space it serves by one or more accessible means of egress components as listed in Section 1007.2. The maximum travel distance from any accessible space to an area of rescue assistance shall not exceed the travel distance permitted for the occupancy in accordance with Section 1016.1. Every required area of rescue assistance shall have direct access to a stairway within an exit enclosure complying with Sections 1007.3 and 1022 or an elevator complying with Section 1007.4. Where an elevator lobby is used as an area of rescue assistance, the shaft and lobby shall comply with Section 1022.9 for smokeproof enclosures except where the elevators are in an area of rescue assistance, such lobby shall be part of a horizontal exit or protected by a smoke barrier.

Exceptions:

1. A stairway serving an area of rescue assistance is not required to be enclosed where permitted in Sections 1016.1 and 1022.1.
2. Smokeproof enclosure is not required for an elevator lobby used as an area of rescue assistance where the elevator is not required to be enclosed.

Each area of rescue assistance shall be sized to accommodate one wheelchair space of 30 inches by 48 inches (762 mm by 1219 mm) for each 200 occupants or portion thereof, based on the occupant load of the area of rescue assistance and areas served by the area of rescue assistance. Such wheelchair spaces shall not reduce the required means of egress width. Access to any of the required wheelchair spaces in an area of rescue assistance shall not be obstructed by more than one adjoining wheelchair space.

Each area of rescue assistance shall be separated from the remainder of the story by a smoke barrier complying with Section 710 or a horizontal exit complying with Section 1025. Each area of rescue assistance shall be designed to minimize the intrusion of smoke.

Exception: Areas of rescue assistance located within an exit enclosure.

Areas of rescue assistance shall be provided with a two-way communication system complying with Sections 1007.8.1 and 1007.8.2.