Egress Door Definition Clarification

[mcyr (Marcel Cyr, CMI)]

The basic reason for doors to open in is safety, and security. And exterior door could be blocked and the hinge barrel would be on the exterior where the pin removal would be accessible.
Unless you have NRP hinges, for sucurity, you are still safer to swing the door inwards.
And yes, it is easier to open a locked door that swings out, even with a metal door frame.

[kleonard (Kevin Leonard, CPI/CMI)]

@jmckee

really ? that is interesting, I’ve never heard that before but Im in Ohio …we prefer our tornadoes… dont have much use for hurricanes around here…

Yep, we had a tornado touchdown about 10 miles NW of my house today, pretty unusual for February.

[tglaze (Thomas Glaze)]

I can see the confusion by only using the term “egress door” and the definition used by certain codes. I think the more proper wording for residential is ingress/egress doors to enter or exit the dwelling. I like to think in simple terms…

[rhock (Richard Hock)]

Sweet. This makes me totally understand the whole concept! I appreciate your time!

[rhock (Richard Hock)]

Hey everyone! Thank you all for your input!

If you would like to keep this conversation going, please feel free. Otherwise, I have had my question answered and this makes sense to me now.

Thanks again.

[jmckee (James McKee)]

[kleonard (Kevin Leonard, CPI/CMI)]

@rhock

Ok. I’m pretty sure my home does not have a SINGLE egress door. First, I have looked through Colorado law (not finding a whole lot) & from what I can tell, these are pretty basic requirements. The door must not have anything internally like a keyed deadbolt; should be easily openable from the inside with no special tool, knowledge, or effort; is side hinged; & 3 feet wide by 6 feet 8 inches high. The internal door to my garage is the correct height, not correct width, & opens into the home. The door at the rear of the home is the correct height, not correct width, & opens into the home. The front door is the correct height, correct width, but again, opens into the home. What am I missing about these types of doors? All of my doors you pull into the home to open. I’m thinking about a lot of homes I have been in, and this doesn’t seem to be something that is being considered? Also, can a sliding glass door be considered an egress door? I cant find anything specifically if the egress door HAS to be in a certain location, just that there needs to be one. Please HELP!

The doors you describe here are what I see all the time in a standard home. I have seen some doors that weren’t standard sized in older homes, but as long as I can walk through it, well, it’s good.,.,., Yes, a sliding glass door is an egress door, think of an egress window in a basement bedroom being a “legal” egress.

Having a deadbolt without a knob on the inside can create a hazard for anyone trying to get out in a fire. I always tell my clients to either change them out, keep the key in them, or don’t use them.

I occasionally find an exterior door that’s not insulated/solid core, or that’s not fire rated installed between the gargage and the house, these I will write up.

[rkenney (Robert (Bob) Kenney, CMI® MD Lic.# 31044)]

@kleonard

that’s not fire rated installed between the gargage and the house

These (garage door) should also have a self-closure device. R311.1 does not allow egress through a garage, so that door will not qualify. Must open directly to the exterior, landings on either side of egress doors must have the same minimum width (of the door) and extend at least 36 inches in the direction of travel.

[dhorton2 (Daniel Horton, CMI®)]

Ha! Did anyone NOT play the tune in their head immediately when watching that??

[dhorton2 (Daniel Horton, CMI®)]

@dwigger

Maybe it is only south Florida.

Yes. I am west central (tampa), and see both types on new construction

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

@dhorton2

Did anyone NOT play the tune in their head

Depends…

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