All spaces within each story shall have access to the minimum number of approved independent exits as specified in Table 1021.1 based on the occupant load of such story. For the purposes of this chapter, occupied roofs shall be provided with exits as required for stories.
Exceptions:
1. As modified by Section 403.5.2.
2. As modified by Section 1021.2.
3. Exit access stairways and ramps that comply with Exception 3 or 4 of Section 1016.1 shall be permitted to provide the minimum number of approved independent exits required by Table 1021.1 on each story.
4. Unless otherwise required by other provisions of this chapter, the number of exits from rooms and spaces within a story discharging directly to the exterior at the level of exit discharge shall be determined in accordance with Table 1015.1.
TABLE 1021.1 MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS FOR OCCUPANT LOAD
Exceptions:
1. As modified by Section 403.5.2.
2. As modified by Section 1021.2.
3. Exit access stairways and ramps that comply with Exception 3 or 4 of Section 1016.1 shall be permitted to provide the minimum number of approved independent exits required by Table 1021.1 on each story.
4. Unless otherwise required by other provisions of this chapter, the number of exits from rooms and spaces within a story discharging directly to the exterior at the level of exit discharge shall be determined in accordance with Table 1015.1.
TABLE 1021.1 MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS FOR OCCUPANT LOAD
| OCCUPANT LOAD (persons per story) | MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS (per story) |
| 1-500 | 2 |
| 501-1,000 | 3 |
| More than 1,000 | 4 |
The required number of exits from any story shall be maintained until arrival at grade or the public way.
Open or enclosed parking garages shall not have less than two exits from each parking tier. An unenclosed vehicle ramp constructed in accordance with Section 1010.2 may serve as one of the required exits when provided with pedestrian facilities along the ramp. Such ramps serving open or enclosed parking garages three stories or less in height and serving not more than one level below grade shall further comply with Section 1010.2, Exception 2.
Exception: Where vehicles are mechanically parked, only one exit is required but such exit shall not be a vehicle ramp.
Exception: Where vehicles are mechanically parked, only one exit is required but such exit shall not be a vehicle ramp.
Only one exit shall be required in buildings or from stories of buildings as described below:
TABLE 1021.2 STORIES WITH ONE EXITe, f, g
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
- Stories in buildings as described in Table 1021.2.
- Buildings of Group R-3 occupancy.
- Single-level buildings with the occupied space at the level of exit discharge provided that the story or space complies with Section 1015.1 as a space with one means of egress.
- Buildings of Group R-2 occupancy where all of the following conditions are met:
- The building does not exceed four stories;
- The building contains not more than three dwelling units per story;
- The building is of construction Type I or II;
- The building does not exceed 2,500 square feet (232 m2) per story;
- Each dwelling unit has at least one window facing the street, or facing a lawful yard with open, unobstructed, and direct access to the street;
- The stairway extends to the roof surface through a stairway bulkhead complying with Section 1509.2 provided the roof has a slope not steeper than 20 degrees (0.35 rad). In lieu of the stairway bulkhead, the stair may be constructed against the street wall with one window facing the street at every landing and access to the roof is provided via a scuttle with a stationary, noncombustible access ladder;
- The stairway is enclosed in 2-hour fire-rated walls with all exit doors leading into the stairway having at least 11/2 -hour fire rating; and
- The building shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2.
- Buildings of Group R-2 occupancy of construction Type I or II not exceeding six stories and not exceeding 2,000 square feet (186 m2) per story.
TABLE 1021.2 STORIES WITH ONE EXITe, f, g
| STORY | OCCUPANCY | MAXIMUM OCCUPANTS (OR DWELLING UNITS) PER FLOOR AND TRAVEL DISTANCE |
| First story or basement | A, Bc, Ed, Fc, M, U, Sc | 49 occupants and 75 feet travel distance |
| H-2, H-3 | 3 occupants and 25 feet travel distance | |
| H-4, H-5, I, R | 10 occupants and 75 feet travel distance | |
| Sa | 29 occupants and 100 feet travel distance | |
| Second story | B, F, M, Sa | 29 occupants and 75 feet travel distance |
| R-2 | 4 dwelling units and 50 feet travel distance | |
| Third story | R-2b | 4 dwelling units and 50 feet travel distance |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
- For the required number of exits for open or enclosed parking garages, see Section 1021.1.2.
- Buildings classified as Group R-2 equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and provided with emergency escape and rescue openings in accordance with Section 1029.
- Group B, F and S occupancies in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall have a maximum travel distance of 100 feet.
- Day care occupancies shall have a maximum occupant load of 10.
- Mixed occupancies shall be permitted to be served by single exits provided each individual occupancy complies with the applicable requirements of Table 1021.2 for that occupancy.
- Where applicable, cumulative occupant loads from adjacent occupancies shall be considered in accordance with the provisions of Section 1004.1.
- Basements with a single exit shall not be located more than one story below grade plane.