Code Change Proposal E100 - Horizontal Exits on an Occupied Roof

​This post is a continuation of the Proposed Code Change Series, where I highlight some of the interesting and controversial code changes that were presented at the 2024 ICC Committee Action Hearings (CAH). These proposed changes, which could become part of the 2027 ICC codes, are the first step of the updated ICC code development process that now includes two Committee Action Hearings (CAH1 and CAH2), as well as the Public Comment Hearing (PCH).

​Please note that I am serving on the 2024-2026 IBC Egress Committee, so many of these articles in this series will be egress related. Each post is my attempt to summarize the code change proposal and the presentation/discussion from CAH1, but please refer to the links below that include the actual code change proposal language and the CAH1 recording. These posts are not intended to provide my personal opinion or commentary on the code changes.  

Code Change Proposal E100 - Horizontal Exits on an Occupied Roof 

Link: Code Change Proposal  
Link: Hearing Recording

Summary of Code Change  
This proposal seeks to allow the provision of a horizontal exit on a 2-hour roof without any rated walls or barriers for separation. 

Summary of Testimony and Discussion  
There was no testimony in support of the proposal. 

Several participants testified in opposition, stating that this proposal did not make sense and that the proposed change was attempting to claim the allowances of a horizontal exit when there was no actual separation provided. 

One committee member stated that they have seen this approach taken in the past, but it was part of a detailed alternate methods request and should not be in the model code language. 

CAH1 Result  
This code change proposal was disapproved by the committee, with a vote of 14-0.