Insights topic · 1 article
Life Safety and Egress
Calculating occupant load, counting and spacing exits, measuring travel distance, and preparing the life safety plan reviewers expect.
Means of egress requirements come from Chapter 10 of the International Building Code, the New York City Building Code or NFPA 101, depending on the jurisdiction and the occupancy. Occupant load drives the number of exits, their width and the allowable travel distance. The guides below cover the calculations and the drawings reviewers expect.
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What a life safety plan shows, where the IBC requires it (Section 107.2.3), how it differs from a fire safety and evacuation plan, and when a project needs one in…
Questions this topic answers
What it is
| Question | Code basis | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| What Is a Life Safety Plan? | 2021 IBC 107.2.3, Ch. 10; 2022 NYC BC and AC 28-104.7; NJ UCC 2024 I-Codes (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15); PA UCC 2021 I-Codes (34 Pa. Code Ch. 403); MD 2021 IBC and NFPA 101 (2024); DE Reg. 701 (2026) and NFPA 101 (2024) | Oct 2026 |
From the project portfolio
Egress and smoke modeling for a sports venue
- Indoor arena
- Smoke-protected seating
- CFD modeling
Result: Kept roughly 400 seats that standard egress widths would have removed.
Read the project story Warehouse & Distribution · York area, PACode consulting for a warehouse expansion with new high-piled storage areas
- 180,000 SF addition
- High-piled storage
- Existing building tie-in
Result: The owner avoided retrofitting the original 220,000 square feet.
Read the project story Manufacturing · Reading area, PALife safety and sprinkler review for a manufacturing plant renovation
- 1950s plant
- New product line
- Existing building code
Result: Upgrades were required in just two of the seven production areas.
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