Chapter 8 - Means of Egress

Question 1

A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any point in a building or or structure to a public way.

Answer 1

means of egress

Question 2

The means of egress consists of three parts:

Answer 2

1. exit access
2. exit
3. exit discharge

Question 3

A ________ is any street, alley, or similar parcel of land essentially unobstructed from the ground to the sky that is permanently appropriated to the public for public use and has a clear width of not less than ___ ft.

Answer 3

public way

10’

Question 4

The ________ is that portion of the means of egress that leads to the entrance of an exit.

It may or may not be protected, depending on the specific requirements of the code.

Answer 4

exit access

Question 5

In concept, ______ doesn’t provide a protected path of travel. In the IBC, even fire-rated corridors are considered exit access.

Answer 5

exit access

Question 6

The ____ is the portion of the building where travel distance is measured and regulated.

Answer 6

exit access

Question 7

The _____ is the portion of the egress system that provides a protected path of egress between the exit access and the exit discharge.

Answer 7

exit

Question 8

_____ are fully enclosed and protected from all other interior spaces by fire-resistance-rated construction with protected openings.

Answer 8

Exits

Question 9

The ________ is the portion of the egress system between the termination of an exit and a public way.

Answer 9

exit discharge

Question 10

_______ typically include portions outside the exterior walls, such as exterior exit balconies exterior exit stairways, and exit courts. It may also include building lobbies of multistory buildings if one of the exit stairways opens onto the lobby and certain conditions are met.

Answer 10

exit discharge areas

Question 11

The ______ is the number of people that a building code assumes will occupy a given building or portion of a building

Answer 11

occupant load

Question 12

The _____ is the amount of floor area presumed to be occupied by one person

Answer 12

occupant load factor

Question 13

___ floor area includes stairs, corridors, toilet rooms mechanical rooms, closets, and interior partition thicknesses

Answer 13

gross

Question 14

____ floor area includes just the space actually used.

Answer 14

net

Question 15

When the number of occupants of a space exceeds the number given in the code, then at least ____ exits must be provided

Answer 15

two

Question 16

Even if two exits are not required based on occupant load, if the common path of travel exceeds the distance given in the code, then ____ exits from a space are required.

Answer 16

two

Question 17

The number of exits is determined by three factors:

Answer 17

1. occupancy and occupancy load
2. maximum common path of travel distance
3. specific requirements when large occupant loads are encountered

Question 18

Once the number of exits required for each room, space or group of rooms is determined, the ___ and ___ of those exits must be determined.

Answer 18

arrangement and width

Question 19

_____ is the distance that an occupant must travel from the most remote point in the occupied portions of the exit access to the entrance to the nearest exit.

Answer 19

Travel distance

Question 20

One a person is safely in an exit, ____ is not an issue

Answer 20

travel distance

Question 21

_______ are based on the occupancy of the building and whether or not the building is sprinklered.

Answer 21

Maximum travel distances

Question 22

The required minimum width of exits is determined by multiplying the occupant load by a factor of ____ for stairways

Answer 22

.3

Question 23

Required stairway widths for stairways serving more than one story are calculated using the occupant load of_________, rather than the combined occupant load. The number resulting from the calculation is the ______________ in inches

Answer 23

each story separately

minimum total width

Question 24

A _____ is a portion of an exit access leading to an exit whose purpose is to provide a safe means of egress from a room or space to a building exit or another approved exit way, such as a stairway.

Answer 24

corridor

Question 25

Doors opening into a path of egress may reduce the required width up to _______ the required width during the course of the swing, but when fully open, the door may project no more than ___ inches the required width.

Answer 25

1/2

7

Question 26

handrails may reduce the required means of egress width no more than ___ inches on each side

Answer 26

4 1/2”

Question 27

With a few exceptions, corridors must be have a ___-hr fire rating

Answer 27

1-hr

Question 28

Doors placed in 1-hr corridors must have a fire rating of at least ____ minutes

Answer 28

20

Question 29

In the IBC, the definition of a corridor makes it clear that it is an _____ component

Answer 29

exit access component

Question 30

The risers of the stair cannot be less than ___ inches or more than ____

Answer 30

4

7

Question 31

The tread must be at least ____ inches.

Answer 31

11

Question 32

The top of the handrail must be between __ in and ___ in above the nosing of the treads and extend not less than ___ in beyond the top riser and not less than the depth of ______ beyond the bottom riser. The ends must be __________ or _________.

Answer 32

34 and 38

12 inches

the depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser

returned to the wall or floor OR terminate in a newel post

Question 33

The gripping portion of a handrail cannot be less than ___inches or more than ____ inches in diameter (cross-sectional dimensions)

Answer 33

1 1/4” 2”

Question 34

There must be a space at least ____“wide between the wall and the handrail.

Answer 34

1 1/2”

Question 35

The formal permitting process begins after the interior designer has completed the drawings and specifications. These are given to the contractor, who has been selected through a bidding process or negotiation. The contractor is responsible for submitting the documents to the local building department, or as it is often called, the ________________.

Answer 35

authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)

Question 36

The plans submitted for permit are reviewed by one or more ________. For larger projects, the duties are usually split between a building ________ and _____, ____, and _______. The local ________ may also review the plans.

Answer 36

plans examiners

plans examiners and electrical, mechanical, and structural plan examiners.

local fire marshall

Question 37

Inspections are made at specific times during construction. For interior design projects, there are the following inspections:

Answer 37

• framing
• gypsum wallboard
• plumbing
• mechanical
• electrical
• final inspection

Question 38

The _____ inspection is done before both sides of partitions are covered and verifies that partitions are built correctly.

At this time, ____ and ___ are done to confirm that all work inside the partitions was correctly performed.

Answer 38

framing

rough electrical and rough plumbing

Question 39

______ inspections are also done when the equipment is roughed in

Answer 39

Mechanical

Question 40

A wallboard inspection is done after all the wallboard is up, but before finishing to verify that ___________.

Answer 40

all walls and fire-rated partitions are constructed correctly.

Question 41

A final inspection is made for ____, ___, and ____.

Answer 41

finishes, electrical, and final plumbing

Question 42

Other items are also inspected. These can include ___, ___, _____, and other elements governed by the code.

Answer 42

glazing, handrails, door installation, and other elements governed by the code

Question 43

The final inspection may also include __________________.

Answer 43

testing the fire alarm and sprinkler system, with the involvement of the fire marshal or fire department.

Question 44

When the final inspectino has been successfully completed, a ________ is issued by the AHJ

Answer 44

CO (Certificate of Occupancy)

Question 45

What is an area of refuge

Answer 45

An area where persons unable to use stairways can remain temporarily to await instructions or assistance during emergency evacuation.

Question 46

What is a horizontal exit?

Answer 46

An exit through a minimum 2 hour rated wall that divides a building into two more separate exit access areas to afford safety from fire and smoke.