California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 1 - General Physical Conditions and Structures › Article 2 - Standard Specifications › Section 3226 - Corridors and Exterior Exit Balconies

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) General. This section shall apply to
						every corridor serving as a required exit for an occupant load of 10 or more.
						For the purposes of the section, the term "corridor" shall include "exterior
						exit balconies" and any covered or enclosed exit passageway, including
						walkways, tunnels and malls. Partitions, rails, counters and similar space
						dividers not over 5 feet, 9 inches in height above the floor shall not be
						construed to form corridors. (Title 24, Part 2, Section
						3304(a).)
(b) Exit corridors shall be continuous until
						egress is provided from the building and shall not be interrupted by
						intervening rooms.
EXCEPTION: Foyers, lobbies or reception rooms
						  constructed as required for corridors shall not be construed as intervening
						  rooms.
(Title 24, Part 2, Section
						  3304(a).)
(c) Height. Corridors and exterior exit
						balconies shall have a clear height of not less than 7 feet measured to the
						lowest projection from the ceiling. (Title 24, Part 2, Section
						3304(c).)
(d) Projections. The required width of
						corridors shall be unobstructed.
EXCEPTION: Handrails and doors, when fully opened,
						  shall not reduce the required width by more than 7 inches. Doors in any
						  position shall not reduce the required width by more than one-half. Other
						  nonstructural projections such as trim and similar decorative features may
						  project into required width 1 ½ inches on each side.
(Title 24, Part 2, Section
						  3304(d).)
(e) Access to Exits. Exits shall be so
						arranged that it is possible to go in either direction from any point in a
						corridor to a separate exit, except for dead ends not exceeding 20 feet in
						length. This subsection shall apply to all occupancies regardless of occupant
						load.
(Title 24, Part 2, Section
						  2-3304(e).)
(f) Changes in Elevation. When a corridor or
						exterior exit balcony is accessible to an elevator, changes in elevation of the
						floor shall be made by means of a ramp.
(Title 24, Part 2, Section
						  2-3304(f).)
(g) Where accumulation of snow or ice is
						likely because of the climate, the exterior way of exit shall be protected by a
						roof, unless it serves as the sole normal means of access to the rooms or
						spaces served, in which case it may be assumed that snow and ice will be
						regularly removed in the course of normal occupancy. (Title 24, Part 2, Section
						2-3304(i).)
(h) Exterior ways of exit shall have smooth,
						solid floors, substantially level, and shall have guardrails on the unenclosed
						sides.
(i) A permanent, reasonably
						straight path of travel shall be maintained over the required exterior way of
						exit. There shall be no obstruction by railings, barriers, or gates that divide
						the open space into sections appurtenant to individual rooms, or other uses.
						Where the Division finds the required path of travel to be obstructed by
						furniture or other movable objects, the division may require that they be
						fastened out of the way or the division may require that railings or other
						permanent barriers be installed to protect the path of travel against
						encroachment.
1. New
						  section filed 6-20-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No.
						  25).
2. Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter
						  (Register 76, No. 29).
3. Amendment filed 5-25-83; effective
						  thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 22). Approved by State Building
						  Standards Commission 1-24-83.
Note: Authority cited: Section
							 142.3, Labor
							 Code. Reference: Section
							 142.3, Labor
							 Code; and Section
							 18943(c),
							 Health and Safety Code.