BFS 3440, Building Construction for Fire Protection
The Three Parts of the Means of Egress
Craig Quigley
Professor Scott Rounds
28 June 2012
Craig Quigley
Professor Scott Rounds
28 June 2012
The Three Parts of the Meаns of Egress
The means of egress is а “continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way.” The codes treat means of egress as a comprehensive “system” of components (Brannigan & Corbett, 2008).
A meаns of egress has three independent and different segments: the exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge.
The exit access is the part of the means of egress system that leads from a main portion of a building or structure to an exit. It includes halls, corridors, aisles, and other walking or escape paths. The exit is the part of a means of egress that is separated from other interior spaces of a building or structure by fire-resistance construction and opening protection as required to provide a secure path if egress travel between the exit access and exit discharge. Exits include exterior exit doors at ground level, exit passageways, exterior exit stairs, exterior exit ramps, and horizontal exits.
The exit discharge is that part of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way which is a street, alley, or other area devoted for use. Solving means of egress problems to meet the codes requirements can be a hard work for code officials and building construction professionals, but the importance of providing a safe means of escape from hazardous environment cannot be overstressed.
All structures and buildings designed to have people occupy them must have a means of egress. The main reason behind these rules is to make sure that there are few instances of danger to the worker or the occupant in the case of a major incident. The means of egress can also protect tenants from the resulting gases or smoke that come from the fire and they also ensure
Craig Quigley
Professor Scott Rounds
28 June 2012
Craig Quigley
Professor Scott Rounds
28 June 2012
The Three Parts of the Meаns of Egress
The means of egress is а “continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way.” The codes treat means of egress as a comprehensive “system” of components (Brannigan & Corbett, 2008).
A meаns of egress has three independent and different segments: the exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge.
The exit access is the part of the means of egress system that leads from a main portion of a building or structure to an exit. It includes halls, corridors, aisles, and other walking or escape paths. The exit is the part of a means of egress that is separated from other interior spaces of a building or structure by fire-resistance construction and opening protection as required to provide a secure path if egress travel between the exit access and exit discharge. Exits include exterior exit doors at ground level, exit passageways, exterior exit stairs, exterior exit ramps, and horizontal exits.
The exit discharge is that part of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way which is a street, alley, or other area devoted for use. Solving means of egress problems to meet the codes requirements can be a hard work for code officials and building construction professionals, but the importance of providing a safe means of escape from hazardous environment cannot be overstressed.
All structures and buildings designed to have people occupy them must have a means of egress. The main reason behind these rules is to make sure that there are few instances of danger to the worker or the occupant in the case of a major incident. The means of egress can also protect tenants from the resulting gases or smoke that come from the fire and they also ensure
References: Brannigan, F. L., & Corbett, G. P. (2008). Brannigan’s Building Construction for the Fire Service (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. International Building Code, International Code Council Inc., Washington, DC, 2009. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 2010.