BCAB #1326 - Egress from Mini-Storage Building, Sentences 3.3.1.3.(8) & 3.3.1.10.(1)

Last updated on March 24, 2016

October 20, 1993

BCAB #1326

Re: Egress from Mini-Storage Building, Sentences 3.3.1.3.(8) & 3.3.1.10.(1)

Project Description

The project in question is a mini-storage warehouse containing 24 - 10' x 20' and 4 - 12' x 20' individually rented storage lockers. Each locker is provided with an 8' x 7' overhead door and there are no man doors swinging on a vertical axis.

Reason for Appeal

Sentence 3.3.1.10.(1) requires every door providing access to exit from a suite to swing on a vertical axis.

Appellant's Position

The appellant contends that because there is no occupant load in the storage lockers and people will only occupy them when the overhead doors are open there is no need for swinging egress doors as required by Sentence 3.3.1.10.(1).

Building Official's Position

The building official maintains that the Code does not exempt floor areas or suites with no human occupancy from the requirements of Sentence 3.3.1.10.(1) for egress doors that swing on a vertical axis. Therefore, the overhead doors are not acceptable and must be replaced with or supplemented by swinging man doors.

Appeal Board Decision #1326

The Board considers that Article 3.4.6.11. is the appropriate Code requirement for egress from these mini storage units. This Article requires the exit doors to swing on a vertical axis in the direction of exit travel. Therefore, the Code does not permit overhead doors as the only means of egress from the storage units. Although the Board considers the building does have an occupant load, as indicated by Table 3.1.16.A., if the appellant feels there is no life safety hazard due to the way the building is used, a submission can be made to the building official under Section 2.5, Equivalents.

George R. Humphrey, Chair