An exit route is a continuous, unobstructed path that allows employees to move from any point in the workplace to a place of safety. Exit routes must be planned, maintained, and kept usable at all times, not just during an emergency.
Parts of an Exit Route
An exit route has three basic parts:
- Exit Access
The portion of the route that leads to an exit (hallways, aisles, corridors). - Exit
The protected part of the route, generally separated from other areas, provides a safe route to the discharge. - Exit Discharge
The part of the route that leads directly outside or to a safe area such as a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside.
Requirements and Good Practices
Permanent and Protected
- Exit routes must be a permanent part of the workplace.
- Fire-resistant materials must separate exits:
- 1-hour rating if the exit connects 3 or fewer stories
- 2-hour rating if the exit connects 4 or more stories
Enough Exits for the Workforce
- The number of exit routes must be adequate for the number of employees and the hazards present.
- Review the Life Safety Code and site conditions to confirm you have enough exits for expected occupancy.
Exit Discharge Must Lead to Safety
- Each discharge must lead directly outside or to a safe area with access to the outside.
- The discharge area must be large enough to hold the expected number of evacuees without creating crowding or a second hazard.
Doors: Must Open Easily in an Emergency
- Exit doors must be unlocked from the inside.
- Employees must be able to open exit route doors without keys, tools, or special knowledge.
- Exit doors must not have devices or alarms that could prevent emergency use if the device fails.
- Exit doors must be side-hinged.
- Doors must swing in the direction of exit travel when:
- the room is designed for more than 50 occupants, or
- the room is a high-hazard area.
Minimum Size and Clearance
- Exit route ceiling height must be at least 7 ft. 6 in.
- Any ceiling projection must not be lower than 6 ft. 8 in. from the floor.
- Exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points.
- Items in the route must not reduce the width below the minimum.
Outdoor Exit Routes (When Used)
Outdoor exit routes are allowed, but they must still be safe and reliable:
- Provide guardrails where an unenclosed side creates a fall hazard.
- If snow or ice is likely, the route must be enclosed or controlled so it doesn’t become a slip hazard.
- Keep outdoor routes reasonably straight, with smooth, solid, and substantially level walking surfaces.
- Avoid dead ends; outdoor exit routes must not have a dead end longer than 20 feet.
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