BCAB #1218 - Guards for Exterior Exit Passageways on a Residential Building - Articles 3.3.4.6. & 3.4.7.6.

August 30, 1990

BCAB #1218

Re: Guards for Exterior Exit Passageways on a Residential Building - Articles 3.3.4.6. & 3.4.7.6.

Project Description

High-rise residential apartment building with exterior exit passageways surrounding an inner courtyard.

Reason for Appeal

Article 3.3.4.6. requires non-climbable guards "around balconies in buildings of residential occupancy."

Appellant's Position

The appellant maintains that Article 3.3.4.6. does not apply to exit passageways but only to balconies of residential occupancy such as the private balconies attached to each suite. Guards in other public areas such as shopping malls are not required to be non-climbable so neither should exit passageways on residential buildings.

Building Official's Position

The building official feels that Article 3.3.4.6. applies to all balconies in buildings of residential occupancy, including a balcony used as an exit passageway .

Appeal Board Decision #1218

The Board considers that for the purposes of Article 3.3.4.6. the exterior passageway in question is a balcony and the required guard must not facilitate climbing. In arriving at this decision the Board consulted the "Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary of Building and Construction Terms" which defines balcony as "any above-ground walkway or platform connected to the outside of a building."

George R. Humphrey, Chair