The exit is one of the most important passive fire protection elements in a building, and is fundamental in the event of an emergency. It is the building occupants’ life-line out of a building, as well as safe access into the building for emergency responders.

Having previously worked as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), I have reviewed hundreds of design drawings. I’ve put together a list highlighting the items I have found can be overlooked during the design (in regards to exits). I’ve also put together a cheat sheet summarizing these items for easy reference… downloadable link at bottom of post!

1. Integrity of Exits

This is probably the one that is most often overlooked during design as it requires a lot of coordination, and I have found it is not well understood.

On top of fire separation requirements in Section 3.1., an exit fire separation has additional restrictions to ensure service penetrations to not adversely affect the integrity of the exit. This means, that what may be okay for a typical fire separation, is not good enough for an exit fire separation. These additional requirements are found in Article 3.4.4.4., and apply to the exit stair, as well as any exit corridor which connects an exit stair to the exterior.

What may be okay for a typical fire separation, is not good enough for an exit fire separation.

The only permitted openings in an exit fire separation are:

• Standpipe and sprinkler piping,
• Electrical wires and cables that serve only the exit,
• Openings required by high building provisions [3.2.6.],
• Exit doorways, and
• Wired glass and glass block.

You will notice that ductwork is not a permitted penetration in an exit separation. Even if the duct has a fire and/or smoke damper, it is not permitted by code.

I’ve also recently started digging deeper into partial penetrations in exit fire separations, as this is a common issue. In concrete stair shafts it is not really a concern, however in combustible construction, an exit fire separation is often also used as a wall to run services for the adjacent space. I am of the strong opinion this is not permitted, and a furring wall (or other solution) must be provided.

2. Exit Through Lobbies

The only slight relaxation for exit requirements is when an exit is permitted to lead through a lobby… which I have seen applied very loosely in many instances. The word ‘lobby’ is where I think most of the confusion stems from. The lobby still needs to provide a high level of protection, and should not contain an occupancy. The only relaxations permitted are:

• Spaces other than residential, care, industrial, or service rooms can open onto the lobby,
• The fire separation between the lobby and a room for direct supervision does not require a fire-resistance rating,
• The fire separation between the lobby and adjacent occupancies does not require a fire-resistance rating if the building is sprinklered, and
• Passenger elevators can open onto the lobby.

You will also notice that ductwork is not a relaxation for exit though lobbies, however I am often told that it is ‘standard practice and acceptable’. If the code did permit duct penetrations, I would imagine the code would also require smoke dampers at those locations, which it does not…. some food for thought.

3. Exterior Exit Facility Protection

The exit is defined as “that part of a means of egress…that leads from the floor area it serves….protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare.” Long story short, the exit continues until an occupant is led safely out of the building, and past the building to safety. If an occupant leaves an exit door, but then has a confined path of travel past a fire compartment with unprotected openings, exterior exposure protection should be provided.

The common interpretation is to apply the requirements in Sentence 3.2.3.13.(2) to confined paths of travel (even though many codes just state exterior stair or ramp). The City of Vancouver has actually amended their code to include this wording, which is great!

4. Distance Between Exits

The further apart exits are placed, the better chance one will be available in an emergency situation. The Building Code has minimum distance requirements dependent on the presence of a public corridor, sprinklers, and floor dividing fire separations. The distance is measured as the most direct path smoke would travel between exits, including through any interior wall that is not constructed as a fire separation.

5. Emergency Crossover Floors

Crossover floors to allow occupants to enter a floor area from an exit stair are required in all buildings 4 storeys or more. This is a change in the most recent code editions that is often overlooked. To limit the amount of travel an occupant in potentially untenable conditions, a crossover floor is required so that travel up or down to an unlocked door does not exceed 2 storeys.

6. “Convenience” Exterior Door Security

An exterior door that leads to the outside of a building could be interpreted as an exit door, regardless of the presence of an exit sign. We recommend discussing the requirements for “convenience” doors with the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) when planning any type of locking devices that would impede free egress from the building. It is a fine line balancing security needs with life safety, but it is imperative that the building and fire departments are included in discussions early on as well.

7. Guard Height on Exit Stairs

A change from previous editions of the code, the minimum height of guards on exit stairs (in addition to landings) is 1 070 mm. This is further increased to 1 500 mm where the adjacent ground level is more than 10 m below.

Free Downloadable Link

Get a FREE downloadable guide summarizing the above here. On the Resources page, scroll down and you will find the guide!