Exits

1. Exits

2. Purpose of the regulation • The workplace must have adequate exit routes and exits to use in an emergency • Review 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E - Means of Egress 1a

3. Exit routes and exits • Exit routes are continuous and unobstructed paths of exit from any point within a workplace to a safe area 2a

4. Exit routes and exits • Exit routes consist of the following three parts: • Access to the exit • The exit • Way from the exit to the outside 2b

5. Exit routes and exits • Exit routes include all vertical and horizontal areas: • Stairs • Ramps • Aisles 2c

6. Exit routes and exits • An exit is the portion of the exit route that generally is separated from other areas to provide a protected way of travel out of the workplace 2d

7. Exit route and exit requirements • At least two exit routes that are remote from each other must be available • Single exit routes are allowed in some cases 3a

8. Exit route and exit requirements • Other means of escape should be available if there is only one exit route • Fire escapes • Accessible windows • More than two exit routes may be needed in some cases 3b

9. Exit route and exit requirements • When determining the number of exit routes needed, consider: • the size of the building • building occupancy • the arrangement of the workplace 3c

10. Fire-resistance requirements for exits • There must be a separation between the exit and the rest of the workplace • Exits must be protected by a self-closing fire door 4a

11. Fire-resistance requirements for exits • The fire door must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory • Fire doors must not be blocked open 4b

12. Exit routes must be kept safe • Exit routes must be kept free of obstructing material or equipment • Exit routes must have adequate lighting • Stairs or ramps can be part of the exit route 5a

13. Exit routes must be kept safe • The purpose of the exit route is to reach an exit • Exit routes cannot lead employees toward a dead end, or through a room that can be locked 5b

14. Exit routes must be kept safe • Exit routes must be free of highly flammable furnishings or decorations • Signs along the exit route indicate the direction of travel to the nearest exit 5c

15. Requirements to ensure that exits are safe • Exits must lead directly outside or to an open space with access to the outside • The area beyond the exit has to have enough room for the people most likely to use the exit 6a

16. Requirements to ensure that exits are safe • Exit doors must be easy to open without keys or special instructions • Exit doors cannot have any alarm/device that would restrict emergency use of the exit should the device fail 6b

17. Requirements to ensure that exits are safe • When exit route stairs continue beyond the floor where people exit, there must be doors or partitions at the exit discharge floor • A side-hinged exit door must be used to connect any room to an exit route 6c

18. Requirements to ensure that exits are safe • Doors must swing out from the room into the exit route if a room: • may be occupied by more than 50 people; or • contains highly flammable or explosive materials 6d

19. Exit routes must have adequate capacity & size • Exit routes must be able to support the maximum-permitted occupant load for each floor of the building • The exit route’s capacity must not decrease along the direction of exit travel 7a

20. Exit routes must have adequate capacity & size • Exit routes must be at least: • 6 feet, 8 inches high • 28 inches wide 7b

21. Exit routes must have adequate capacity & size • Exits must be wider if necessary to accommodate the occupant load • Minimum sizes must be met even if objects project into the exit route 7c

22. Requirements for outdoor exit routes • Outdoor exits must meet the same requirements as indoor exit routes • Outdoor exit routes must have guardrails to protect unenclosed sides 8a

23. Requirements for outdoor exit routes • Routes must be covered if accumulation of snow or ice is likely 8b

24. Requirements for outdoor exit routes • Routes must be reasonably straight with smooth, solid, substantially level floors • Routes must have no dead ends longer than 20 feet 8c

25. Exit routes must be marked • Each exit must be clearly visible and marked with a sign that says: 9a

26. Exit routes must be marked • The line of sight to the exit must be free of displays and objects • Exit signs must be properly illuminated 9b

27. Exit routes must be marked • Exit doors must be free of decorations or other signs that obscure visibility • Doorways/passageways that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked: 9c

28. Requirements for alarm systems • Workplaces must have operable employee alarm systems • Alarms must have distinctive signals to warn employees of fire or other emergencies 10a

29. Maintenance requirements • When the workplace contains fire retardant paints/coatings, fire retardant properties must be maintained 11a

30. Maintenance requirements • Keep the following in proper working order: • Sprinkler systems • Alarm systems • Fire doors • Exit lighting • Other safeguards to protect employees 11b

31. Maintaining exits during construction/repair • Exits must be available before employees are allowed in a workplace under construction • Fire protection must be provided if employees are in a workplace during repair activities 12a

32. Maintaining exits during construction/repair • When flammable/explosive materials are used during construction: • employees may not be exposed to hazards that are otherwise not present • employee escape may not be impeded by the use of these materials 12b