§ 50.23. Means of egress capacity.
(a) A unit of width is the required width for one person or a single line of persons to exit from a building.
(b) The units of width table shall be as follows:
Units Doorways
(Width in inches)Stairs & Corridors
(Width in inches)1 1/2 32 36 2 40 44 2 1/2 50 50 An additional 10 inches shall be required for each 1/2 unit of width above 2 1/2 units. Credit for units of width shall not be given for a fractional part other than 1/2 unit.
(c) Doorways shall have a minimum clear opening of 32 inches except as indicated in § § 50.25(q) (relating to stair towers) and 50.26(q) (relating to intercommunicating stairways).
(d) The capacity in number of persons per unit of width for approved components of means of egress shall be 60 persons. Buildings protected by automatic sprinkler systems shall be allowed 90 persons per unit of width.
(e) The following table lists the maximum permissible square feet per person for the purpose of determining the minimum number of units of exit:
Occupants Based on Net Floor Area
Square Feet Per Person All purpose rooms 10 Bowling alleys (exclusive of area occupied by the alleys) 10 Classrooms 28 Court rooms and other public rooms in public buildings (exclusive of seating) 40 Dance halls, lodge halls and similar occupancies 7 Dining areas 15 Dormitories and wards 75 Drafting rooms and engineering rooms 60 Factories for heavy manufacturing, garages, warehouses, etc. 300 Factories for light manufacturing 80 Hotels and apartments (the actual capacity of sleeping areas) 125 Laboratories 100 Libraries, reading rooms and museums 30 Main exercise rooms of gymnasiums 10 Markets and showrooms and mercantile establishments 50 Offices up to 400 square feet in area 100 Offices more than 400 square feet in area 60 Power houses, boiler rooms, and the like 500 Recreation rooms 10 Vocational shops and similar occupancies in schools 100 Rooms or areas with fixed seats—One occupant per seat
1. Net floor area shall be taken to mean all usable floor space, including all areas occupied by equipment or furnishings, but not including corridors, toilet rooms, and such other accessory rooms as may be provided.
2. Bleachers or benches without arms between seats shall be computed on the basis of not more than one person for every 18 inches in length of the bleachers or bench.
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 51.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 52.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 53.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 54.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 55.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 56.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 57.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); 34 Pa. Code § 58.23 (relating to means of egress capacity); and 34 Pa. Code § 59.23 (relating to means of egress capacity).
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