MEANS OF EGRESS EVALUATION

Properly Designed Building Exit Routes are Important to Life Safety

TEC reviews and assists in the design of means of egress for all types of facilities. Egress design can be based on code-specified prescriptive requirements, such as the number, capacity, and location of exits. Design can also be based on performance measures, such as required safe egress time, calculated exiting rates and times, and assessment of potential hazard conditions.

Development of Alternative Designs

TEC works with clients to ensure that the design can meet code as well as the client’s goals and objectives. While codes often have very specific egress requirements, there are a myriad of design options to achieve compliance. We will outline the applicable code requirements, review proposed design schemes for compliance, and work with the client to develop and evaluate the egress designs.

Where full compliance is not feasible or achievable, or where the design necessitates egress provisions beyond the scope of the code, we assist the client by developing and evaluating alternative egress design solutions. Alternative designs can be developed using the Code Equivalency process, or through the use of Performance-Based Design methods. In either case we will assist with the approval process through Negotiations with the authorities having jurisdiction.

Preparation of Fire Safety Plans

TEC prepares Fire Safety Plans for the project. The plans illustrate the relevant egress and life safety features, including a summary of applicable code criteria, exit locations, occupant load calculations, egress capacities, travel distances, dead-ends, and exit discharge routes. If performance-based methods are used, the plans will also include the relevant design criteria. Fire Safety Plans aid the client and code official by clearly documenting the egress design.