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Exit Systems Compliance Guidelines

 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

Arizona State University (ASU) has facilities of various types of occupancy and construction, which are occupied 24 hours a day. Access and egress systems are required by local, state, and federal regulations to be maintained free of obstruction and separated from other areas within the facility. ASU Department of Environmental Health & Safety’s primary objective is to identify safety hazards, ensure that facility design accommodates occupancy use,  ensure all areas comply with occupancy limits and to maintain exit systems in order to ensure safe access and egress. The following guideline has been prepared for all occupants of university facilities in accordance with applicable codes and standards, ASU Fire Prevention and Safety Plan, and ASU Policies and Procedures.

REQUIREMENTS

Exiting
An exit system is a continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in the building to a public way. There are specific exit widths required for specific types of occupancies and areas within a facility. Generally, no material is permitted to obstruct the exit width requirement from any occupied space in a facility to the exit discharge of the facility. The maximum occupant load determines the exit width requirement.  The facility is designed to accommodate egress at maximum occupancy. The following guidelines will help ensure the exit system is continuous and unobstructed:

1. Employee areas only--must maintain a minimum of 24 inches exit width, the width requirement increases when the occupancy increases. For compliance of employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a minimum of 36 inches exit width is required (door width cannot be less than 32 inches).

2. Public access areas, e.g., an assembly area, classrooms, lecture halls, and corridors, must maintain aisle and exit widths as required by calculation of occupancy limits and type of occupancy. In any public access situation, the minimum exit width will not be less than 36 inches but most facilities on campus require more than 44 inches.

3. Storage of combustible or flammable materials, and hazardous materials are prohibited within corridors, exit enclosures, stairways, or any public access area designed for egress.

4. No more than 25% of a wall of an exit system can be covered with combustible material (posters, brochures, newspapers, etc) without applying special safety measures, e.g., fire retardant treatment of the combustible material or shielded with transparent noncombustible material.

5. Doors designated as emergency exits must be identified with an illuminated exit sign.

Exit Doors
Exit doors are part of the exit system and must be maintained in an operable condition. Some doors are rated to separate areas within the facility and must bare the manufacturer’s rating label and must be maintained in an operable condition. The following will help ensure the facility is maintained safe and comply with applicable codes:

1. Exit doors shall be operable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge.

2. Exit doors shall open in the direction of exit travel.

3. Exit doors shall be equipped with panic hardware, push handles, or other approved devices. Dead bolt locks are not permitted on exit doors.

4. Fire doors must be maintained in fully automatic operation, unobstructed, and in accordance to applicable codes and manufacturer’s recommendations. Fire doors must be clearly labeled with the fire rating and the user must maintain the fire rating as designed.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

29 CFR § 1910.37
Arizona Administrative Code R4-36-201 et seq.

UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTATION AND MANUALS

Arizona State University Fire Prevention and Safety Plan

This guideline is provided as a general guideline for exiting systems and does not cover all code compliance issues. If you have any questions or concerns, or need additional information, contact the ASU Fire Marshal at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at EHS@asu.edu.

Mailing Address: PO Box 873804, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3804
Contact Email: EHS@asu.edu
Phone: (480) 965-1823
FAX:  (480) 965-0736