*
As a Building Code Official in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I recently had occation to deny a rough inspection due to an exit door violation. The door in question leads to the exterior of the building and is considered the second means of egress. The door measured 2468 and did not qualify as an exit door because of it’s size. The code specifically states that single family dwellings incorporate at least one 3068 sideswinging door and all other exit doors shall be 32 inches whether they are egress doors or not. Sliding doors are allowed provided the active door is 32 inches. I wanted to give everyone a quick heads up, hope this helps.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding's editorial director has some fun news to share.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Well, I don't want to be argumentative but I am involved with code development and disagree in principal. If a house, or any building, meets the requirements for means of egress, I don't believe adding another door of any size adversely impacts teh safety of the occupants. Suppose I add a doggy door - does that need to be minimum 38" X 80"? Say I have a saint bernard and it needs a big doggy door. Is that ok until my kids start using it and then its not permitted?
Stairs that aren't required are another similar issue. If the building meets all requirements do I then violate the code by adding an additional stair that is very narrow or very steep?
Please be sure that the building meets all the requirements but please don't regulate the non-safety issues of additional features an owner or designer might add.
Or call that extra and under sized door a window.
*Bulldog,I'm kinda surprised that anyone would use a 2'4" door as an exterior door. Seems kind narrow to me. That's the size we put on bathrooms and closets. Mostly what I see are 2'8" or 3'0" for exterior doors. Safty issues aside, it would be kinda hard to move furniture through a samll exterior door. Bad design all around.Ed. Williams
*Bulldog,Do you interpret the code to mean that I can use a 5-0 6-0 window which qualifies as a legal bedroom exit window, but I can't use a 5-0 6-8 sliding glass door in the same location, since the opening width is only 26 inches?
*Hi Bulldog,Nice that you're on the job to ensure compliance to the code, however, where were you when these plans where submitted for permit?Wouldn't that be the time to point out the deficiency?Gabe
*
As a Building Code Official in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I recently had occation to deny a rough inspection due to an exit door violation. The door in question leads to the exterior of the building and is considered the second means of egress. The door measured 2468 and did not qualify as an exit door because of it's size. The code specifically states that single family dwellings incorporate at least one 3068 sideswinging door and all other exit doors shall be 32 inches whether they are egress doors or not. Sliding doors are allowed provided the active door is 32 inches. I wanted to give everyone a quick heads up, hope this helps.