Question:
Was curious on thoughts related to exit access through storage rooms: For an Etro store we are doing in Beverly Hills, the issue came up because California Code is based on UBC. I remember that SBCCI 94 prohibited a means of egress through kitchens, closet, storerooms, but this was taken out I believe in SBCCI 97, and is not in the Florida Code. But ICC 2003 has this provision. On the NFPA side, they have specific chapters for new and mercantile occupancies where exit access through storage areas is allowed, provided certain provisions. NFPA 5000 carries on these allowances. Given that ICC 2003 and NFPA 5000 are at odds with each other, and that, for instance, Florida Building Code will become for aligned with ICC 2003 next year, how does one resolve this significant discrepancy between ICC and NFPA (which I prefer, for obvious reasons). Anyone ever run across this- essentially a difference between a building official and fire marshal interpretation?

Answer: Q: Was curious on thoughts related to exit access through storage rooms: For an Etro store we are doing in Beverly Hills, the issue came up because California Code is based on UBC. I remember that SBCCI 94 prohibited a means of egress through kitchens, closet, storerooms, but this was taken out I believe in SBCCI 97, and is not in the Florida Code. A: Check FBC 10.1.3 "closets...and similar areas..." OTH, If a merchantile occupancy requires a second means of egress, then it is common for it to be through the back of house areas. While a separate egress is preferable, showing the proposed layout for the "stockroom" with shelving and clear egress will usually be sufficient for a permit application. Showing egress striping on the plans would be sound due dilegence. That said, many building departments will leave that sort of call to the Fire Department...they're the ones who have to recover the bodies. Q: But ICC 2003 has this provision. On the NFPA side, they have specific chapters for new and mercantile occupancies where exit access through storage areas is allowed, provided certain provisions. NFPA 5000 carries on these allowances. Given that ICC 2003 and NFPA 5000 are at odds with each other, and that, for instance, Florida Building Code will become for aligned with ICC 2003 next year, how does one resolve this significant discrepancy between ICC and NFPA (which I prefer, for obvious reasons). Anyone ever run across this- essentially a difference between a building official and fire marshal interpretation?

A: I'd add that in the long run I believe Florida will be heading away from ICC (since they could've adopted it in the first place) and toward NFPA 5000. Though this is not the common wisdom, one of the goals of the FBC was to bring the Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code into alignment. I wouldn't anticipate the fire departments abandoning NFPA, nor being weakened politically to the point where they are forced to. Throw in that NFPA 5000 allows building performance analysis in addition to prescriptive compliance. The other possibility (and perhaps more likely) is that ICC will morph to parallel NFPA.