ibc 2015 travel distance

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Measuring Exit Access Travel Distances

October 10, 2022 by Nick Ostrowski

The exit access configuration within a building is impacted by multiple code requirements to ensure that occupants can safely reach an exit and continue to the exit discharge. One of the major limitations that is required to be evaluated when configuring the exit access arrangement is Exit Access Travel Distance. Exit Access Travel Distances are limitations that identify the maximum distance from any point of a story to an exit. These are measured along the exit path from the most remote point of a story along the natural and unobstructed path of horizontal and vertical egress travel to the entrance to an exit (2015 IBC 1017.3). An exit can include exterior exit doors at the level of exit discharge, interior exit stairways and ramps, exit passageways, exterior exit stairs and ramps and horizontal exits.

Although IBC Section 1017.3 and NFPA 101 Section 7.6 outline how this measurement is taken, there are some common questions raised specific to this process given the different components exit access configurations consist of. The following include a few clarifications to address some these misconceptions while measuring Exit Access Travel Distances:

• Travel Distances are measured to the nearest exit , not all exits. The most remote point on the floor is required to be within the exit access travel distance limitations to any one exit on the floor.
• Often, travel distances change throughout the design of a project. Introducing new furniture or wall partitions for a tenant fitout or alternate furniture layout on a floor may obstruct an existing exit access path. As a result, the new exit access path could exceed the maximum travel distance beyond what is permitted. As design changes take place, it should be confirmed that compliant exit access travel distances are maintained.
• If an exit access stairway or ramp is provided along the path of travel, the Exit Access Travel Distance includes the travel down the exit access stairway/ ramp. The measurement along exit access stairways is required to be made on a plane parallel and tangent to the stair tread nosing’s in the center of the stair and landings. The measurement along ramps is required to be made on the walking surface in the center of the ramp and landings.

It is important to understand how to measure exit access travel distances. If you have any questions on or concerns about this information, please contact our office at [email protected] .

Application of any information provided, for any use, is at the reader’s risk and without liability to Code Red Consultants. Code Red Consultants does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in this blog as applicable codes and standards change over time. The application, enforcement and interpretation of codes and standards may vary between Authorities Having Jurisdiction and for this reason, registered design professionals should be consulted to determine the appropriate application of codes and standards to a specific scope of work.

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The IBC’s modification to exit access travel distance

Understanding the international building code’s increase for group f-1 and s-1 occupancy..

The 2015 International Building Code includes a key modification, increasing the length of exit access travel distance from 250 ft to 400 ft (if it meets specific criteria) for buildings containing Group F-1 and/or S-1 occupancy.

This change is significant to the design industry, building owners and occupants of large distribution and manufacturing facilities. Understanding the code’s implications for your existing and future facilities will ensure you’re properly prepared. A brief timeline of exit access travel distance

• 1994: In the 1994 Uniform Building Code, the exit access travel distance in a building protected with a fire sprinkler system was typically 200 ft. The exit access travel distance could be increased to 400 ft when facilities storing or manufacturing noncombustible products were provided with smoke/heat vents in addition to the fire sprinkler system.
• 1997: In the 1997 Uniform Building Code, this section was revised to allow this increase to apply to all warehouses and factories if they were protected with a fire sprinkler system and smoke/heat vents. This exit access travel distance increase resulted in larger buildings with open, undivided areas. A typical warehouse ranged from 600 to 700 ft wide. As buildings continued to grow, 600 ft became the narrow dimension for a warehouse, with many buildings exceeding 1000 ft in length.
• 2009/2012: The 2009/2012 editions of the International Building Code were revised to eliminate the 400 ft exit travel distance for large Group S-1 warehouses and large Group F-1 manufacturing facilities equipped with smoke and heat vents. This change was made because thermally activated vents were judged not to warrant such an increase.

The effects of eliminating the 400 ft exit travel distance

Due to the 400 ft loss, designers had to modify new warehouse and manufacturing facilities’ proportions or incur the cost of providing additional exits. And while it was clear to many in the industry that the original rationale for 400 ft was faulty, eliminating the requirement in its entirety was not an option.

The industry focused on ways to increase the travel distance for large buildings containing Group F-1 and/or S-1 occupancy.

Task group 400

An industry group in California came together as "Task Group 400" and conducted a fire modeling study, which demonstrated that the vast volume of large buildings could be used to contain smoke.

The group’s report was reviewed by the California State Fire Marshal’s Office and presented to the California Building Standard Commission, requesting a reinstatement of the 400 ft travel distance without any special protection, provided all of the following are met:

1. The portion of the building classified as Group F-1 or S-1 is limited to one story in height.

2. The minimum height from the finished floor to the bottom of the ceiling or roof slab or deck is 24 ft.

3. The building is equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system in accordance with section 903.3.1.1.

The exit access travel distance reversal was successfully passed, and California adopted an amended version of the 2009 International Building Code as the 2010 California Building Code.

California’s code change was later adopted into the 2015 edition of the International Building Code – the model code for most states.It should be noted that, although code no longer requires smoke and heat vents for this travel distance increase, vents or mechanical smoke removal system, are still required by Section 910.3 and 910.4  for Group S-1 and F-1 buildings of more than 50,000 sq ft. There are exceptions, however, for frozen food warehouses and areas with specific types of sprinkler systems.

Sonja Antunovic-Curcic has over 15 years of experience in architectural design. She has a strong technical background and ability to effectively transform challenges into opportunities. Her experience involves design of new buildings, expansions or alterations to existing buildings. This article originally appeared on Stellar Food for Thoughts . Stellar is a CFE Media content partner. Edited by Joy Chang, digital project manager, CFE Media, [email protected]

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.

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Egress through Intervening Spaces w/ different Max Travel Distances

• Thread starter Mech
• Start date Jun 2, 2020

Registered User

• Jun 2, 2020

2015 IBC Unlimited Area building, Non-separated B, F-2, S-2 use groups with sprinklers. Maximum travel distance is 400 ft for F-2 and S-2, but only 300 ft for B. If I want to have people from the F-2 and S-2 areas egress through the B section, what is the maximum travel distance allowed for F-2 and S-2? Would I perform a unity calculation by verifying the ratio of the distance traveled in the F-2 and S-2 area divided by 400 ft (maximum for F-2 and S-2) plus the distance traveled in the B area divided by 300 (max for B) equals less than or equal to 1? The portion of travel in the B occupancy is through one of two corridors that are each less than 40 ft long and are straight. The corridors have doors opening to offices, toilet rooms, cafeteria, and/or a closet.  

Sawhorse 123

I am thinking max is what occupancy you start in And does not change Maximum travel distance is 400 ft for F-2 and S-2, but only 300 ft for B. Interesting question. Will see what others say. What are the total building dimensions ?? And occupant load?  

As cda states, it is where you start. If you are in a Group F-2 and you egress through a Group B, you have 400 feet of travel distance permitted. If you are in a Group B and you egress through a Group F-2, you have 300 feet of travel distance permitted.  

$ ~ $ ~ $ Mech, FWIW, ...I also agree with **cda** & **RLGA** . The actual 400 ft. distance is a non-negotiable length.......That is the absolute max. distance of travel permitted, regardless of which Occ. Groups are egressed through. $ ~ $ ~ $  

• Jun 3, 2020

I see a rated exit corridor coming to this project  

Its where you start....You don't get more even if you enter a space with more, and certainly not with less....Corridor would not help with TD, Rated EXIT would...  

Thank you for the replies. I ran out of time last night when writing my post. I wanted to get out of the city before it got too late. cda - the building is 400,000 sq ft. It is about 785'x510' I would never increase the max allowable beyond what is written in the code . . . and I would not try to travel 400 ft from F-2 and then an additional 300 ft from B.  

TheCommish said: I see a rated exit corridor coming to this project Click to expand...

Mech said: Thank you for the replies. I ran out of time last night when writing my post. I wanted to get out of the city before it got too late. cda - the building is 400,000 sq ft. It is about 785'x510' I would never increase the max allowable beyond what is written in the code . . . and I would not try to travel 400 ft from F-2 and then an additional 300 ft from B. Click to expand...

More doors or revise the equipment layout would work. The building has been erected under a shell permit. We are preparing an egress plan now that the F-2 / S-2 is being fitted out by the owner.  

• Jun 5, 2020

You can also look into the possible use of a horizontal exit IBC section 1026