Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS › Chapter 10 - Means of Egress › Section 1002 - DEFINITIONS › Subsection 1002.1 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this
				  chapter and as used elsewhere in this code, have the meanings shown
				  herein.
ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS.
A continuous and
				  unobstructed way of egress travel from any
accessible
point in
				  a building or facility to a
public way
.
AISLE.
An unenclosed
exit
				  access
component that defines and provides a path of egress
				  travel.
AISLE ACCESSWAY.
That portion of an
exit
				  access
that leads to an
aisle
.
ALTERNATING TREAD DEVICE.
A device that has a
				  series of steps between 50 and 70 degrees (0.87 and 1.22 rad) from horizontal,
				  usually attached to a center support rail in an alternating manner so that the
				  user does not have both feet on the same level at the same time.
AREA OF REFUGE.
An area where persons unable to
				  use
stairways
can remain temporarily to await instructions or
				  assistance during emergency evacuation.
BLEACHERS.
Tiered seating supported on a
				  dedicated structural system and two or more rows high and is not a building
				  element (see "
Grandstands
").
COMMON PATH OF EGRESS TRAVEL.
That portion of
exit access
which the occupants are required to traverse
				  before two separate and distinct paths of egress travel to two
exits
are available. Paths that merge are common paths of
				  travel. Common paths of egress travel shall be included within the permitted
				  travel distance.
CORRIDOR.
An enclosed
exit
				  access
component that defines and provides a path of egress travel to
				  an
exit
.
DOOR, BALANCED.
A door equipped with
				  double-pivoted hardware so designed as to cause a semicounter balanced swing
				  action when opening.
EGRESS COURT.
A court or
yard
which provides access to a
public way
for one or more
exits
.
EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENING.
An operable
				  window, door or other similar device that provides for a means of escape and
				  access for rescue in the event of an emergency.
EXIT.
That portion of a
means of
				  egress
system which is separated from other interior spaces of a
				  building or structure by fire-resistance-rated construction and opening
				  protectives as required to provide a protected path of egress travel between
				  the
exit access
and the
exit discharge
. Exits
				  include exterior exit doors at the
level of exit discharge
,
				  vertical
exit enclosures
,
exit passageways
,
exterior exit
stairways
, exterior
exit
ramps
and
horizontal
				  exits
.
EXIT ACCESS.
That portion of a
means of
				  egress
system that leads from any occupied portion of a building or
				  structure to an
exit
.
EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY.
A door or access point
				  along the path of egress travel from an occupied room, area or space where the
				  path of egress enters an intervening room, corridor, unenclosed
exit
				  access
stair
or unenclosed
exit
				  access
ramp
.
EXIT DISCHARGE.
That portion of a
means
				  of egress
system between the termination of an
exit
and a
public way
.
EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF.
The
story
at the point at which an
exit
terminates and an
exit discharge
begins.
EXIT ENCLOSURE.
An
exit
component that is separated from other interior spaces of a building or
				  structure by fire-resistance-rated construction and opening protectives, and
				  provides for a protected path of egress travel in a vertical or horizontal
				  direction to the
exit discharge
or the
public
				  way
.
EXIT, HORIZONTAL.
A path of egress travel from
				  one building to an area in another building on approximately the same level, or
				  a path of egress travel through or around a wall or partition to an area on
				  approximately the same level in the same building, which affords safety from
				  fire and smoke from the area of incidence and areas communicating
				  therewith.
EXIT PASSAGEWAY.
An
exit
component that is separated from other interior spaces of a building or
				  structure by fire-resistance-rated construction and opening protectives, and
				  provides for a protected path of egress travel in a horizontal direction to the
exit discharge
or the
public way
.
FIRE EXIT HARDWARE.
Panic hardware that is
listed
for use on
fire door
assemblies
.
FLIGHT.
A continuous run of rectangular treads,
winders
or combination thereof from one landing to
				  another
FLOOR AREA, GROSS.
The floor area within the
				  inside perimeter of the
exterior walls
of the building under
				  consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for
				  corridors, stairways, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or
				  other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided
				  with surrounding
exterior walls
shall be the usable area under
				  the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area
				  shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.
FLOOR AREA, NET.
The actual occupied area not
				  including unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, toilet
				  rooms, mechanical rooms and closets.
FOLDING AND TELESCOPIC SEATING.
Tiered seating
				  having an overall shape and size that is capable of being reduced for purposes
				  of moving or storing and is not a building element.
GRANDSTAND.
Tiered seating supported on a
				  dedicated structural system and two or more rows high and is not a building
				  element (see "
Bleachers
").
GUARD.
A building component or a system of
				  building components located at or near the open sides of elevated walking
				  surfaces that minimizes the possibility of a fall from the walking surface to a
				  lower level.
HANDRAIL.
A horizontal or sloping rail intended
				  for grasping by the hand for guidance or support.
MEANS OF EGRESS.
A continuous and unobstructed
				  path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a
				  building or structure to a
public way
. A means of egress
				  consists of three separate and distinct parts: the
exit
				  access
, the
exit
and the
exit
				  discharge
.
MERCHANDISE PAD.
A merchandise pad is an area
				  for display of merchandise surrounded by
aisles
, permanent
				  fixtures or walls. Merchandise pads contain elements such as nonfixed and
				  moveable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions as indicated in
				  Section 105.2 from which customers browse or shop.
NOSING.
The leading edge of treads of
stairs
and of landings at the top of
stairway
flights
.
OCCUPANT LOAD.
The number of persons for which
				  the
means of egress
of a building or portion thereof is
				  designed.
PANIC HARDWARE.
A door-latching assembly
				  incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force
				  in the direction of egress travel.
PHOTOLUMINESCENT.
Having the property of
				  emitting light that continues for a length of time after excitation by visible
				  or invisible light has been removed.
PUBLIC WAY.
A street, alley or other parcel of
				  land open to the outside air leading to a street, that has been deeded,
				  dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use
				  and which has a clear width and height of not less than 10 feet (3048
				  mm).
RAMP.
A walking surface that has a running slope
				  steeper than one unit vertical in 20 units horizontal (5-percent slope).
SCISSOR STAIR.
Two interlocking
stairways
providing two separate paths of egress located
				  within one stairwell enclosure.
SELF-LUMINOUS.
Illuminated by a self-contained
				  power source, other than batteries, and operated independently of external
				  power sources.
SMOKE-PROTECTED ASSEMBLY SEATING.
Seating served
				  by
means of egress
that is not subject to smoke accumulation
				  within or under a structure.
STAIR.
A change in elevation, consisting of one
				  or more risers.
STAIRWAY.
One or more
flights
of
stairs
, either exterior or interior, with the necessary
				  landings and platforms connecting them, to form a continuous and uninterrupted
				  passage from one level to another.
STAIRWAY, EXTERIOR.
A
stairway
that is open on at least one side, except for required structural columns,
				  beams,
handrails
and
guards
. The adjoining
				  open areas shall be either
yards
,
courts
or
public ways
. The other sides of the exterior stairway need not
				  be open.
STAIRWAY, INTERIOR.
A
stairway
not meeting the definition of an
exterior
stairway
.
STAIRWAY, SPIRAL.
A
stairway
having a closed circular form in its plan view with uniform section-shaped
				  treads attached to and radiating from a minimum-diameter supporting
				  column.
SUITE.
A group of patient treatment rooms or
				  patient sleeping rooms within Group I-2 occupancies where staff are in
				  attendance within the
suite
, for supervision of all patients
				  within the suite and the suite is in compliance with the requirements of
				  Sections 1014.2.2 through 1014.2.7.
WINDER.
A tread with nonparallel edges.