§27-534 Exit Openings

Exit openings from assembly spaces shall comply with the following:

(a) Capacity. The capacity of exit openings shall be listed as in table 8-1, based on the number of occupants for whom the opening satisfies the primary travel distance requirement.

(b) Width. Exit openings shall be at least thirty-six inches wide for single doors and at least sixty-six inches but not more than eighty-eight inches wide for doors swinging in pairs, except that in assembly spaces having an occupant load of over three hundred persons, single door openings shall be at least forty-four inches wide.

(c) Classification. Exit openings from assembly spaces shall be classified as follows:


(d) Distribution of classes. The required exit capacity from F-2 places of assembly, and from all other assembly spaces in which the net floor area, exclusive of stage area, is twelve square feet or more per person may be provided by exit openings of any class. The required exit capacity from assembly spaces in which the net floor area, exclusive of stage area, is less than twelve square feet per person shall be distributed so that exit openings of each class are provided to comply with the following requirements:

1. For assembly spaces in which the mean floor level is not more than fifteen feet above or below the adjoining grade elevation, the exit capacity shall be distributed as follows:
   Class 1--not less than forty per cent
   
   Class 2--not more than sixty per cent
   
   Class 3--not more than forty per cent
2. For assembly spaces in which the mean floor level is more than fifteen feet, but not more than thirty feet, above or below the adjoining grade elevation, the exit capacity shall be distributed as follows:
   Class 1--not less than sixty per cent
   
   Class 3--not more than forty per cent
3. For assembly spaces in which the mean floor level is more than thirty feet above or below the adjoining grade elevation, the exit capacity shall be distributed as follows:
   Class 1--not less than one hundred per cent

(e) Location. No exit opening shall be closer than twelve feet to any part of a stage using scenery or scenic elements. All exit openings shall be clearly identifiable and shall not be disguised as part of a wall or covered in any way to obscure them from view. Where, because of the configuration of the assembly space enclosure an exit opening is not visible from all seats using it as a means of egress, directional exit signs shall be placed on the enclosure alongside the exit opening to indicate its location. These signs shall be in addition to those required over the exit opening.

(f) Locking. No exit door shall be locked so as to prevent egress from an assembly space while it is occupied.

TABLE 8-1
DETERMINATION OF EXIT AND ACCESS REQUIREMENTS

Notes:
^a See section 27-533. When an exit opening from an assembly space discharges into corridor that does not meet the requirements of this code for a safe area, the travel distance shall include the distance within the corridor to an exit.
^b See paragraph four of subdivision (b) of section 27-546 for stages.
^c See paragraph three of subdivision (b) of section 27-547 for stages.
^d In place of assembly completely equipped with automatic sprinklers, this distance may be increased fifty percent.
^e See section 27-532.
*Bracket not enacted but probably intended.