Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 69AER24-3 - Means of Egress

(1) Doors.

(a) All doors in fire rated or smoke proof corridors shall be self-closing doors.

(b) Opposite swinging smoke stop doors in smoke partitions within the corridor shall comply with the requirements of section 8.4.3 of the edition of NFPA 101, as adopted in rule 69A-3.012, F.A.C.

(c) Darkroom doors.

1. In darkrooms with a capacity of 10 or more persons, a revolving darkroom door, if used, shall:

a. Have a pop-out safety feature; and,

b. Be equipped with a remotely located side-hinged door for secondary egress.

2. In darkrooms with a capacity of fewer than 10 people, a revolving darkroom door with a pop-out safety feature is permitted to be used as the primary means of egress.

3. Revolving darkroom doors with a pop-out safety feature shall be conspicuously labeled.

4. In buildings designed on or after October 18, 1994, the requirements of this section apply to darkrooms with an occupancy of 6 or more.

(d) Exit doors shall swing in the direction of exit travel.

(e) All egress doors and gates, regardless of use or location serving spaces designed to be occupied by 6 or more students, shall swing in the direction of exit travel.

(2) Existing smoke stop doors shall meet the requirements of subdivision 8.3.4 of NFPA 101, the edition as adopted in rule 69A-3.012, F.A.C.

(a) Smoke stop doors may be used to create a secondary means of egress from interior instructional spaces.

(b) When a pair of smoke stop doors is located within a corridor, each leaf shall be designed to swing in a direction opposite from the other and each leaf in the pair of doors shall swing in a right-hand direction.

(c) Door stops shall be provided at the head and sides of smoke stop door frames.

(d) Smoke stop door frames shall be free of center mullions.

(e) Smoke stop doors shall be free of locking devices and may be held in the open position only in accordance with section 7.2.1.8 of NFPA 101.

(3) Special Function Doors.

(a) Special function doors such as revolving doors, power operated doors, or horizontal sliding doors shall not be used as a means of egress.

(b) Revolving doors shall have a side-hinged exit door within 10 feet and within the same wall.

(c) Turnstiles shall comply with subdivision 7.2.1.11 of NFPA 101, the edition as adopted in rule 69A-3.012, F.A.C.

(4) Folding Doors and Folding Partitions. Where permanently mounted folding or movable partitions are used to divide a room into smaller spaces capable of being occupied by 6 or more persons, a separate exit from each space or a permanent full height 5' foot wide opening between the spaces shall be provided. This requirement applies to spaces occupied by 10 or more persons in buildings occupied prior to October 18, 1994.

(5) Gates used to secure buildings or used for egress shall be side-hinged and shall allow egress at all times without assistance from the side from which egress is to be made.

(6) Screen and storm doors on exits shall be hinged on the same side as the exit door and swing in the direction of exit travel.

(7) Doors and gates shall be equipped with hardware which allows egress at all times.

(8) All fire-rated doors and solid core doors in partitions rated at 1/2 hour or more, or installed in smoketight partitions, shall be self-closing.

(9) Emergency Rescue (Escape) Openings (Secondary Means of Egress).

(a) In existing non-sprinklered buildings, every instructional space, and other spaces normally subject to student occupancy of 10 or more, shall have at least one (1) window, panel, or door leading to the exterior or to a separate atmosphere.

(b) For buildings designed after October 18, 1994, the emergency rescue (escape) opening shall be provided in rooms over 250 square feet used for classroom or other educational purposes or normally subject to student occupancy of 6 or more.

(c) Windows and panels shall be operable from the inside by a single operation and without the use of tools.

(d) A security screen or grill installed on a window or panel shall be operable from the inside by the same single operation as the window or panel and without the use of tools. The release device shall be readily identifiable and accessible.

(10) Interior instructional spaces shall be provided with side-hinged or double acting communicating doors providing secondary means of egress and emergency rescue (escape). The door shall provide direct access to:

(a) A separated exit corridor;

(b) A separate atmosphere;

(c) At least one enclosed exit stair; or

(d) Another classroom which has a minimum of two doors that open to separate atmospheres.

(11) Specialties and Signage.

(a) Emergency rescue openings shall be marked with a sign that reads: "EMERGENCY RESCUE - KEEP AREA CLEAR."

(b) Secondary means of egress and emergency escape openings shall be marked with a sign that reads: "EMERGENCY ESCAPE" or "EMERGENCY EGRESS - KEEP AREA CLEAR."

(c) Where manual pull stations are located inside student-occupied spaces, a permanently affixed sign reading "FIRE ALARM PULL STATION INSIDE" shall be placed outside that space and adjacent to the door.

(d) A graphic diagram of primary and secondary evacuation routes shall be posted adjacent to the primary exit door from each student-occupied space. The diagram shall clearly indicate, by contrasting color and number, the primary and secondary route of evacuation.

Exception: When an exit door from a self-contained classroom opens directly to the exterior.

(12) Open Plan Schools.

(a) Each space designed to be occupied by 50 persons or more shall have 2 or more means of egress.

(b) Open plan assembly areas shall have exits leading directly to the exterior and shall be separated from other required exits of the open plan.

(13) Maximum travel distances.

(a) Exits shall be maintained so that the maximum length of travel from any point in the building or space (including places of assembly) to an exit shall not exceed 150' feet.

(b) In a building equipped with a fully automatic fire sprinkler system, the travel distance to an exit may be increased to 200 feet.

(c) Open mezzanines shall be permitted to exit to the exterior from within the space below.

(14) Corridors and hallways.

(a) Corridors shall be arranged so that each end leads to an exit and shall be without pockets or dead ends more than 20' feet in length.

(b) Hallway widths in office and service areas shall be a minimum of 44'' inches in width.

(c) Child Care. Areas designated for children's sleeping mats, cots, or cribs shall include a clearly marked exit passageway.

(15) Interior Stairs, Exterior Stairs, and Smoke-Proof Towers.

(a) The minimum clear width of stairways serving as a required means of egress for student occupied areas shall be 44'' inches.

(b) All interior stairways shall open directly to the exterior, into a protected vestibule or into a protected corridor that opens to the exterior.

(c) The areas above or below exit stairs and ramps, whether interior or exterior, shall not be used as a closet for storage of any kind, or for any other purpose.

(d) Interior corridors or stairwells shall be free of piping systems designed for flammable liquids or gases.

(16) Kilns.

(a) Kiln rooms and areas shall be provided with adequate exhaust to dispel emitted heat to the exterior.

(b) Kilns shall be located away from paths of egress or exits.

(c) Kilns shall be located in separate rooms when serving students through grade three.

(d) Kiln rooms shall be provided with automatic heat or smoke detection devices appropriate for the environment.

(17) Boiler Rooms.

(a) Boilers shall comply with chapter 554, F.S., and rule chapter 69A-51, F.A.C. A valid boiler inspection certificate of compliance issued by the State Fire Marshal shall be displayed and clearly visible, when required.

(b) Each boiler room door shall:

1. Open directly to the outside and, if opening toward a building or path of egress, shall have opening protection in accordance with section 8.3.4 of NFPA 101; or

2. When a door opens into the interior of the building, the door shall swing into the boiler room and have opening protection in accordance with section 8.3.4 of NFPA 101.

(c) All rooms housing a fuel-fired heat producing appliance that does not meet the minimum thresholds of rule chapter 69A-51, F.A.C., and with an input capacity of 60,000 BRUs per hour or more, and that is intended to supply hot water or steam, shall be equipped with heat detectors connected to any required fire alarm system. Access room doors shall have opening protection in accordance with section 8.3.4 of NFPA 101.

(18) Shade Houses or Green Houses.

(a) A minimum of two remotely located side hinged doors that swing in the direction of egress shall be provided from each shade or green house.

(b) Fire alarm pull stations shall be located within 200' feet of any shade or green house.

(c) Fire alarm horns shall be audible inside the shade or green house.

(19) Stages and Platforms. Stages and platforms, including props and equipment, shall conform to the specific requirements of chapter 13 of NFPA 101, the edition as adopted in rule 69A-3.012, F.A.C.

(20) Electrical. Emergency lighting shall be provided in all student-occupied areas and group toilets.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 69AER24-3

Rulemaking Authority 633.104(1), (7), 633.206, 1013.12(1) FS. Law Implemented 633.104(7), 633.206, 633.208, 1013.12, 1013.371, 1013.38 FS.

New 11/26/2006, Amended 5/18/2008, Amended by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 187, September 24, 2024 effective 9/19/2024 (EMERGENCY).