Section 10

SECTION 10.2.5.
6 HORIZONTAL EXITS
A. APPLICATION
1. A horizontal exit is a way of passage from one building to an area of refuge in another building on approximately the
same level, or a way of passage through or around a wall or partition to an area of refuge on approximately the same level
in the same building, which affords safety from fire or smoke from the area of escape and areas communicating therewith.
2. Horizontal exits may be substituted for other exits to an extent that the total exit capacity of the other exits (stairs,
ramps, doors leading out side the building) will not be reduced below half that required for the entire area of the building
or connected building if there were no horizontal exits, except for heath care occupancies, the total exit capacity of the
other exits (stairs, ramps, doors leading outside the building) shall not be reduced below one-third (1/3) that required for
the entire area of the building.
B. EGRESS FROM AREA OF REFUGE
1. Every fire section allowed in connection with a horizontal exit shall have in addition to the horizontal exit or exits at
least one stairway, doorway leading outside or other standard exit. Any fire section not having a stairway or doorway
leading outside shall be considered as part of an adjoining section with stairway.
2. Every horizontal exit shall be arranged that there are continuously available paths of travel leading from each side of
the exit to stairways or other standard means of egress leading to outside the building. This requirement is complied with
where the entire areas from each side of the horizontal exit to the stairways or other standard means of egress are occupied
by the same tenant; or where there are public corridors or other continuously available passageways leading from each
side of the exit to stairway or other standard means of egress leading to outside of the building.
3. Whenever either side of the horizontal exit is occupied, doors used in connection with the horizontal exit shall swing in
opposite directions and shall not be locked from either side.
4. The floor area on either side of a horizontal exit shall be sufficient to hold the occupant of both floor areas, allowing not
less than threetenths square meter (0.3 m2) clear floor areas per person.
5. Every building shall be provided with separate means of egress. in cases where means of egress is by means of
horizontal exit to another building or structure, the exits of said building shall be maintained, properly protected and
readily accessible to the occupants of the other building.
C. BRIDGES AND BALCONIES
1. Each bridge or balcony utilized in conjunction with horizontal exits shall comply with the structural requirements for
outside stairs and shall have guards and handrails in general conformity with the requirements of Section 10.2.5.4 of this
IRR for stairs and smokeproof enclosures.
2. Every bridge or balcony shall be at least as wide as the door leading to it and not less than one hundred twelve
centimeters (112 cm) for new construction.
3. Every door leading to a bridge or balcony serving as a horizontal exit from a fire area, shall swing with exit travel out
of the fire area.
4. Where the bridge of balcony serves as a horizontal exit in one direction, only the door from the bridge or balcony into
the area of refuge shall swing in.
5. Where the bridge or balcony serve as a horizontal exit in both direction, doors shall be provided in pairs swinging in
opposite directions, only the door swinging with the exit travel to be counted in determination of exit width, unless the
bridge or balcony has sufficient floor area to accommodate the occupant load of either connected or fire area on the basis
of three-tenths square meter (0.3 m2) per person or in existing buildings by specific permission of the City/Municipal Fire
Marshal having jurisdiction, in which case doors on both ends of the bridge or balcony may swing out from the buildings.
6. The bridge or balcony floor shall be level with the floor of the building.
7. Ramps shall be employed where there is a difference in level between connected buildings or floor areas. Steps may be
used where the difference in elevation is greater than fifty three and one-third centimeters (53.34 cm). Ramps and stairs
shall be in accordance with the sections of this Rule pertaining to ramps, stairs and outside stairs.
8. All wall openings, in both of the connected buildings or fire areas any part of which is within three meters (3 m) of any
bridge or balcony as measured horizontally or below, shall be protected with fire doors or fixed metal-frame wired-glass
windows, except where bridges have solid sides not less than one and eight-tenths meters (1.8 m) in height, such
protection of wall openings may be omitted.
D. OPENINGS THROUGH WALLS FOR HORIZONTAL EXITS

1. Walls connected by a horizontal exit between buildings shall be of non-combustible material having a two (2) hour fire
resistance rating. They shall provide a separation continuous to the ground.
2. Any opening in such walls, whether or not such opening serves as an exit, shall be adequately protected against the
passage of fire or smoke there from.
3. Swinging fire exit doors on horizontal exits shall swing with the exit travel. Where a horizontal exit serves on both
sides of a wall there shall be adjacent openings with swinging doors at each wall, opening in opposite directions, with
signs on each side of the wall or partitions indicating as the exit door which swings with the travel from that side, or other
approved arrangements providing doors always swinging with any possible exit travel.
4. Sliding fire doors shall not be used on a horizontal exit except where the doorway is protected by a fire door on each
side of the wall in which such sliding fire doors are located. In this case, one fire door shall be of the swinging type as
provided in paragraph "C" (3) of this Section and the other may be an automatic sliding fire door that shall be kept open
whenever the building is occupied.
E. OMISSION OF FIRE PARTITION ON CERTAIN FLOORS
1. Where a fire partition is used to provide a horizontal exit in any storey of a building, such partition may be omitted in
any lower storey under the following conditions:
a. The open fire area storey from which the fire partition is omitted shall be separated from the storeys above by
construction having at least a 2-hour resistance rating.
b. Required exits from the storeys above the open fire area storey shall be separated there from by construction having a
2-hour fire resistance rating and shall discharge outside without travel through the open fire area storey.
c. Vertical openings between the open fire area storey and the storeys above shall be enclosed with construction having a
2-hour fire resistance rating. Other details shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 10.2.5.2 of this
IRR.
2. Where a fire partition is used to provide a horizontal exit for any storey below the discharge level, such partition may be
omitted at the level of the discharge under the following conditions:
a. The open fire area storey shall be separated from the storeys below by construction having at least a 2-hour fire
resistance rating.
b. Required exits from storeys below the open fire area storey shall be separated from the open fire area storey by
construction having a 2-hour fire resistance rating and all discharge directly outside without travel through the open fire
area storey.
c. Vertical openings between the open fire area storey and the floors below shall be enclosed with the construction having
a 2-hour fire resistance rating. Other details shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 10.2.5.2 of
this IRR.

Section 10

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SECTION 10.2.5.

D. OPENINGS THROUGH WALLS FOR HORIZONTAL EXITS

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