# Florida Building Code - Egress Requirements

**Based on**: 7th Edition Florida Building Code (2023), derived from IBC 2021
**Applicable Chapters**: FBC Chapter 10 (Means of Egress)

---

## Quick Reference - Critical Numbers

| Requirement | Value | Code Section |
|-------------|-------|--------------|
| Min corridor width | 44" (36" if <50 occupants) | 1020.2 |
| Min door width | 32" clear | 1010.1.1 |
| Max door width | 48" single leaf | 1010.1.1 |
| Min door height | 80" (6'-8") | 1010.1.1 |
| Max travel distance (unsprinklered) | Varies by occupancy | Table 1017.2 |
| Max travel distance (sprinklered) | Varies by occupancy | Table 1017.2 |
| Max dead-end corridor | 20' (50' if sprinklered) | 1020.4 |
| Max common path of travel | 75' (100' B/S occ sprinklered) | 1006.2.1 |
| Stair min width | 44" (36" if <50 occupants) | 1011.2 |
| Stair max riser | 7" | 1011.5.2 |
| Stair min tread | 11" | 1011.5.2 |
| Handrail height | 34" - 38" | 1014.2 |
| Guard height | 42" min | 1015.3 |

---

## Occupant Load Factors

### Table 1004.5 - Maximum Floor Area Allowances Per Occupant

| Use | Area per Occupant |
|-----|-------------------|
| **Assembly - Standing space** | 5 sq ft gross |
| **Assembly - Unconcentrated (tables/chairs)** | 15 sq ft net |
| **Assembly - Concentrated (chairs only)** | 7 sq ft net |
| **Business** | 150 sq ft gross |
| **Educational - Classrooms** | 20 sq ft net |
| **Industrial** | 100 sq ft gross |
| **Mercantile - Basement/ground floor** | 30 sq ft gross |
| **Mercantile - Upper floors** | 60 sq ft gross |
| **Residential** | 200 sq ft gross |
| **Storage** | 300 sq ft gross |
| **Parking garages** | 200 sq ft gross |
| **Kitchen (commercial)** | 200 sq ft gross |
| **Library - Reading rooms** | 50 sq ft net |
| **Library - Stacks** | 100 sq ft gross |
| **Exercise rooms** | 50 sq ft gross |
| **Stages/platforms** | 15 sq ft net |
| **Accessory storage** | 300 sq ft gross |
| **Swimming pools** | 50 sq ft (water surface) |
| **Skating rinks** | 50 sq ft gross |

**Gross vs Net**:
- Gross = Total floor area within exterior walls
- Net = Actual occupied area (excludes corridors, stairs, restrooms, walls)

---

## Number of Exits Required

### Table 1006.3.1 - Minimum Number of Exits

| Occupant Load | Minimum Exits |
|---------------|---------------|
| 1 - 500 | 2 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 3 |
| More than 1,000 | 4 |

### Single Exit Exceptions (1006.3.2)
A single exit is permitted when:

| Occupancy | Max Occupants | Max Travel Distance | Max Stories |
|-----------|---------------|---------------------|-------------|
| A, B, E, F, M, U | 49 | 75' (100' sprinklered) | 1 |
| H-2, H-3 | 3 | 25' | 1 |
| H-4, H-5, I, R-1 | 10 | 75' (100' sprinklered) | 1 |
| R-2, R-3 | 20 | 75' (125' sprinklered) | 1 |
| S | 29 | 100' (150' sprinklered) | 1 |

---

## Exit Separation (1007.1)

When 2 exits required:
- **Minimum separation** = 1/2 diagonal distance of floor area
- **Sprinklered buildings** = 1/3 diagonal distance

When 3+ exits required:
- At least 2 must meet the separation distance
- Others arranged for reasonable access

---

## Travel Distance (Table 1017.2)

### Maximum Travel Distance to Exit

| Occupancy | Without Sprinklers | With Sprinklers |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------|
| A, E, F-1, M, R, S-1 | 200 ft | 250 ft |
| B | 200 ft | 300 ft |
| F-2, S-2, U | 300 ft | 400 ft |
| H-1 | 75 ft | 75 ft |
| H-2 | 100 ft | 100 ft |
| H-3 | 150 ft | 200 ft |
| H-4 | 175 ft | 200 ft |
| H-5 | 200 ft | 250 ft |
| I-1 | 200 ft | 250 ft |
| I-2 | 150 ft | 200 ft |
| I-3 | 150 ft | 200 ft |
| I-4 | 150 ft | 200 ft |

---

## Common Path of Egress Travel (1006.2.1)

Maximum distance before reaching a point with 2 separate paths:

| Occupancy | Without Sprinklers | With Sprinklers |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------|
| B, F, S | 75 ft | 100 ft |
| All others | 75 ft | 75 ft |
| R-2, R-3 | 75 ft | 125 ft |
| I-3 | 100 ft | 100 ft |
| H-1, H-2, H-3 | 25 ft | 25 ft |
| H-4 | 75 ft | 75 ft |
| H-5 | 75 ft | 100 ft |

---

## Dead-End Corridors (1020.4)

- **Maximum length**: 20 feet
- **With sprinklers**: 50 feet (most occupancies)
- **Group I-3**: 50 feet (unsprinklered)
- **Groups B, E, F, M, S, U**: 50 feet if corridor serves <50 occupants

---

## Exit Doors (1010)

### Door Width Requirements
- **Minimum clear width**: 32" (815mm)
- **Maximum leaf width**: 48" (1219mm)
- **Minimum height**: 80" (2032mm)
- **Main exit**: Must accommodate 50% of total occupant load

### Door Swing Direction
Doors must swing in direction of egress when:
- Serving High Hazard occupancy
- Serving occupant load > 50

### Door Hardware
- **Panic hardware required** when occupant load > 50 in:
  - Assembly (A)
  - Educational (E)
  - High Hazard (H)
- **Maximum operating force**: 15 lbs to release, 30 lbs to open
- **Hardware height**: 34" to 48" above floor

### Special Door Types
- **Revolving doors**: Must have adjacent swing door
- **Power-operated doors**: Must be openable manually
- **Sliding doors**: Prohibited in means of egress (exceptions apply)

---

## Corridors (1020)

### Width Requirements
| Occupant Load | Minimum Width |
|---------------|---------------|
| Any | 44" |
| < 50 occupants | 36" |
| I-2 (patient bed movement) | 96" |
| I-2 (where beds moved) | 8 feet |

### Fire-Resistance Rating (Table 1020.1)

| Occupancy | Required Rating |
|-----------|-----------------|
| H-1, H-2, H-3 | 1 hour |
| H-4, H-5 | 1 hour |
| I-1 | Not required (sprinklered) |
| I-2 | Smoke partitions |
| I-3 | 1 hour |
| R | Not required (sprinklered) |
| All others (sprinklered) | Not required |
| All others (unsprinklered) | 1 hour |

---

## Stairs (1011)

### Dimensional Requirements
| Element | Requirement |
|---------|-------------|
| Min width | 44" (36" if <50 occupants) |
| Max riser height | 7" |
| Min riser height | 4" |
| Min tread depth | 11" |
| Max nosing projection | 1-1/4" |
| Nosing radius | Max 9/16" |
| Riser uniformity | Max 3/8" variation |
| Tread uniformity | Max 3/8" variation |
| Headroom | 80" minimum |

### Handrails (1014)
- **Height**: 34" to 38" measured from stair nosing
- **Required on both sides** when width > 44"
- **Extensions**: 12" horizontal at top, one tread depth + 12" at bottom
- **Graspability**: 1-1/4" to 2" circular, or equivalent
- **Clearance from wall**: 1-1/2" minimum

### Guards (1015)
- **Required when**: Drop > 30"
- **Height**: 42" minimum
- **Opening limitations**: 4" sphere cannot pass through
- **Residential stairs**: 4-3/8" sphere (6" for triangular openings at tread)

---

## Exit Signs (1013)

### Where Required
- Every exit door
- Every exit access door
- Corridors leading to exits
- Changes in direction along egress path

### Requirements
- **Illumination**: Internal or external
- **Letter height**: 6" minimum
- **Stroke width**: 3/4" minimum
- **Visibility**: From 100' viewing distance
- **Power**: Emergency power required
- **Tactile signage**: At exit doors (raised letters + Braille)

---

## Emergency Lighting (1008)

### Where Required
- Aisles, corridors, ramps, stairs within means of egress
- Lobbies, exit passageways
- Assembly spaces
- Rooms > 1,000 sq ft in Group B

### Requirements
- **Duration**: 90 minutes minimum
- **Illumination level**: 1 foot-candle average, 0.1 foot-candle minimum
- **Power source**: Batteries or generator

---

## Accessible Means of Egress (1009)

### Requirements
- **Number**: Same as required exits
- **Path**: Accessible route to public way
- **Areas of refuge**: Required when elevators not part of egress
- **Two-way communication**: Required at areas of refuge

### Elevators in Egress (1009.4)
Permitted when:
- Building fully sprinklered
- Elevator meets fire service access requirements
- Standby power provided

---

## Horizontal Exits (1026)

### Requirements
- **Fire wall**: 2-hour minimum
- **Door rating**: 1-1/2 hour (90 minutes)
- **Refuge area**: 3 sq ft per occupant from each side
- **Maximum travel**: Cannot exceed 50% of required exits

---

## Exit Passageways (1024)

### Requirements
- **Fire-resistance**: 1 hour (3 stories or less), 2 hours (4+ stories)
- **Width**: Based on occupant load
- **Penetrations**: Limited, protected openings only
- **Termination**: At public way or exit discharge

---

## Assembly Seating (1029)

### Aisle Width
| Serving Seats on | Minimum Width |
|------------------|---------------|
| One side only | 36" clear + 0.3" per seat |
| Both sides | 42" + 0.3" per seat |

### Row Spacing
- **Minimum clear width**: 12" between rows
- **Self-aisle row**: 22" minimum (dead-end), 12" others

### Aisle Accessways
- From seat to aisle: 12" minimum clear
- With continental seating: 22" from seat

---

## Florida-Specific Amendments

### High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) - Miami-Dade/Broward
- Impact-resistant glazing at exits
- Enhanced door hardware requirements
- Wind load design for exit components

### Educational Facilities
- Florida Fire Prevention Code applies
- Enhanced egress for hurricane shelter schools
- Corridor width may increase for shelter requirements

### High-Rise Buildings (>75')
- Stairway re-entry every 5 floors
- Smokeproof enclosures or pressurized stairs
- Fire service access elevators
- Two-way communication in stairs

---

## Quick Checks for Common Occupancies

### Office Building (B)
- [ ] 150 sq ft per occupant
- [ ] Travel distance: 200' / 300' sprinklered
- [ ] Common path: 75' / 100' sprinklered
- [ ] 2 exits if > 49 occupants
- [ ] 44" corridors (36" if < 50)

### Restaurant/Assembly (A-2)
- [ ] 15 sq ft per occupant (unconcentrated)
- [ ] Travel distance: 200' / 250' sprinklered
- [ ] Panic hardware if > 50 occupants
- [ ] Main exit: 50% of occupant load capacity

### Residential Multi-Family (R-2)
- [ ] 200 sq ft per occupant
- [ ] Travel distance: 200' / 250' sprinklered
- [ ] Common path: 75' / 125' sprinklered
- [ ] Single exit OK for 20 occupants, 125' travel

### Retail (M)
- [ ] 30 sq ft per occupant (main floor)
- [ ] 60 sq ft per occupant (upper floors)
- [ ] Travel distance: 200' / 250' sprinklered
- [ ] Main entrance must serve 50% of load

---

## Formulas

### Egress Width Calculation
```
Egress width = Occupant load × Factor

Factors:
- Stairs: 0.3" per occupant
- Other components: 0.2" per occupant
- Sprinklered: 0.2" stairs, 0.15" other
```

### Example Calculation
```
Office building: 10,000 sq ft
Occupant load: 10,000 ÷ 150 = 67 occupants
Exit width needed: 67 × 0.2" = 13.4" → Use 32" min door
Number of exits: 2 (>49 occupants)
Separation: Half diagonal of floor
```

---

*Reference: Florida Building Code 7th Edition (2023), Chapter 10*
*Always verify with local AHJ for amendments and interpretations*
