Code Change Proposal E99 - Rating of Exit Passageways

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 E99 - Rating of Exit Passageway 
Link: Code Change Proposal  
Link: Hearing Recording  

Summary of Code Change  
This proposal seeks to clarify the required rating for an exit passageway. Essentially, the proposal states that exit passageways have a minimum rating of 1-hour, and then if they are extending from an interior exit stairway or ramp that they have to be not less than the rating of that stairway or ramp. ​

A schematic of the code clarification from code change proposal E99.

Summary of Testimony and Discussion  
The proponent of this proposal stated that the code intent has always been to allow a 1 hour exit passageway prior to entering a 2 hour exit stairway, but that the code has been frequently misinterpreted to require a 2 hour exit passageway any time there is a 2 hour exit stairway. 

There was minimal opposition testimony, with one participant stating they just need the proposal language to be clarified. 

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