Means of Egress - Suite-to-Suite Exit/Suite Direct Exit to Stairwell
What is the requirement for suite-to-suite exits or suite direct exit to a stairwell?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
Suites are groups of rooms that for the purposes of life safety, function as one big room. The 2012 edition of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code lists the requirements for suites in health care occupancies at 18/19.2.5.7. They are limited in size based on whether they are sprinkled, used for patient care, and used for sleeping.
Sleeping suites greater than 1000 square feet and patient care non-sleeping suites greater than 2500 square feet require two means of egress. One of these means of egress shall be directly into a corridor, but the other means of egress may be into an adjacent suite, so long as the perimeter wall and door between the two suites meet corridor requirements (smoke resistive and the door must be positive latching). Either of these required means of egress may be substituted with a door that goes directly into an exit stair, exit passageway, or exit door to the exterior.
Reference LS.02.01.20 EP 30 & 31
Suites are groups of rooms that for the purposes of life safety, function as one big room. The 2012 edition of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code lists the requirements for suites in health care occupancies at 18/19.2.5.7. They are limited in size based on whether they are sprinkled, used for patient care, and used for sleeping.
Sleeping suites greater than 1000 square feet and patient care non-sleeping suites greater than 2500 square feet require two means of egress. One of these means of egress shall be directly into a corridor, but the other means of egress may be into an adjacent suite, so long as the perimeter wall and door between the two suites meet corridor requirements (smoke resistive and the door must be positive latching). Either of these required means of egress may be substituted with a door that goes directly into an exit stair, exit passageway, or exit door to the exterior.
Reference LS.02.01.20 EP 30 & 31
Manual:
Behavioral Health
Chapter:
Life Safety LS
First published date: April 11, 2016
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on October 26, 2021
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