BCAB #1327 - Egress from Mini-Storage Building, Sentence 9.9.6.5.(2)

October 20, 1993

BCAB #1327

Re: Egress from Mini-Storage Building, Sentence 9.9.6.5.(2)

Project Description

The project in question is a 32' x 196' mini-storage warehouse containing 44 individually rented storage lockers. The majority of the lockers are provided with an 8' x 8' overhead door and no man door swinging on a vertical axis.

Reason for Appeal

Sentence 9.9.6.5.(2) requires every required exit door to swing on a vertical axis in the direction of exit travel.

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 9.9.6.5.(2)

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 9.9.6.5.(2) for exit 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 #1327

It is the determination of the Board that Sentence 9.9.6.5.(2) applies and doors swinging on a vertical axis are required for egress from the mini 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