Egress Procedures

Use of Corridors and Equipment Rooms for Storage

Attached to Policy FIN-INS-16

Scope

This policy applies to all University-owned buildings and to areas occupied by the University in non–owned buildings.

Standards

1. Building users shall not place or store materials and equipment in corridors and stairways that impede emergency evacuation, contribute to or cause hazards, or impede the ingress of emergency personnel or access to building equipment. Building users shall not place flammable materials within twenty-five feet of any source of combustion, including moving machinery, in any equipment room. Building users shall not place any materials in equipment rooms that will impede access to equipment in that room.
2. The generally accepted minimum unobstructed corridor width of 44 inches (IFC 1005.1) shall apply to most University buildings; however, in buildings containing large lecture halls, classrooms, recreational and assembly areas or large buildings with increased occupant loads, an evaluation by INLOCC will be conducted to determine the minimum required clear exit width.
3. A minimum 36 inch (IFC 1017.5) clearance width shall be maintained in service aisle ways. Many buildings contain corridors which are wider than the minimum required clear exit width. In certain situations it may be possible to utilize space in corridors for other purposes in addition to occupant movement.
4. Maintaining clear corridors and paths of egress travel is fundamental to life safety. Egress corridors are intended by the code to be separate and distinct from occupied work areas to protect the occupants’ path to the exterior and to keep known hazards typically found in work spaces and their consequent dangers from endangering larger numbers of occupants evacuating the area. Therefore, storage in and use of corridors, hallways or stairways and equipment rooms must be in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Regulations Subpart E “Means of Egress,” The Indiana Fire Code IFC 315.3.2 “Means of Egress” and The Indiana Fire Code 1030.2 “Reliability” and The Indiana Fire Code IFC 315.3 “Storage in buildings”. Failure to meet these standards results in unacceptable hazards for persons during emergency egress and to emergency personnel during emergency ingress.

Reference

1030.2 Reliability. Required exit accesses, exits and exit discharges shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency when the building area served by the means of egress is occupied. An exit or exit passageway shall not be used for any purpose that interferes with a means of egress.

315.3.2 Means of egress. Combustible materials shall not be stored in exits or enclosures for stairways and ramps.

315.3 Storage in buildings. Storage of materials in buildings shall be orderly and stacks shall be stable. Storage of combustible materials shall be separated from heaters or heating devices by distance or shielding so that ignition cannot occur.

 Procedures

1. Suspected violations and requests to store material in the affected areas can be reported to:

2. The information will be forwarded to the proper personnel for further response. (VIOLATION and APPROVED tags.)
3. Permission to store materials will be in accordance with the Table of Common Items Permitted and Prohibited in Building Corridors.
4. INLOCC is responsible for:
   1. Serving as a technical resource for this program and overseeing the development and implementation of the program.
   2. Inspecting all owned and non–owned occupied spaces to verify compliance with fire codes.
   3. Providing final approval for any exemptions to this policy. (See APPROVED tag.)
   4. Reviewing impact of construction activity on existing building corridors to ensure compliance with the policy.
   5. Ensuring project planning included both the identification of locations for placement and storage of materials and displaced room furnishings to ensure the intent of this policy is met.
   6. Ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations (e.g., fire codes).
   7. Coordinating removal of non–hazardous materials as stated in the Sanctions section of this policy.
5. The Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for:
   1. Serving as a technical resource for this program and overseeing the development and implementation of the program.
   2. Inspecting laboratory space to verify compliance with laboratory safety procedures vis–à–vis storage.
   3. Ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations regarding worker safety (e.g., OSHA).
   4. Coordinating removal of hazardous materials as stated in the Sanctions section of this policy.
6. Facilities Renovations (Project Manager) is responsible for:
   1. Ensuring contractors maintain equipment and supplies in accordance with the policy if any storage affects adjacent occupied areas.
7. Departments are responsible for:
   1. Ensuring awareness of the policy and communicate policy content to appropriate individuals within their jurisdiction.
   2. Seeking approval from INLOCC before placement of any items in building corridors.
   3. Working with Project Managers and Campus Facility Services to identify alternate locations for placement of materials and displaced room furnishings during construction activity to ensure compliance with this policy.
   4. Ensuring all unused equipment is removed from Corridors in a timely manner.
   5. Ensuring corrective actions are implemented to comply with the policy.
8. Employees and students are responsible for:
   1. Being knowledgeable of the policy and use appropriate areas and locations for the placement and storage of materials and supplies.
   2. Notifying their supervisor, department administrator, INLOCC or EHS of non–compliance issues.
   3. Ensuring corrective actions are implemented to comply with the policy.
9. The following are conditions that allow for equipment and materials storage in corridors:
   1. INLOCC approval must be granted prior to the placement of any item(s) in building corridors, as specified in accordance with this policy.
   2. Furniture approved during design or approved by INLOCC which does not contain highly combustible materials such as polyurethane foam, padding and stuffing, is permitted in corridors.
   3. Trash and recycling containers shall be permitted to be placed in corridors.
10. The following are conditions that must be met before INLOCC will consider approval of equipment and materials storage in corridors:
    1. Equipment and materials shall not be placed within 8 feet of exit doors and stairwell doors.
    2. Fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, fire hose connections, fire blanket cabinets, safety showers, AED (Automated External Defibrillator) stations, utility panels and access panels shall be visible, unobstructed and accessible.
    3. Corridor placement of books/paper, plastic, cardboard, glassware etc. shall be in enclosed storage cabinets including file drawers. This shall not prevent the posting of information on bulletin boards in corridors.
    4. When feasible, acceptable materials and equipment placed in corridors shall be located along one side of the corridor.
    5. All equipment and temporarily placed materials in corridors shall be clearly labeled with the owner’s name, contact information, and date placed in corridor.
    6. Materials may not be placed closer than 18 inches to the bottom of sprinkler heads.
    7. Equipment (e.g., vending machines) placed in corridors requiring electrical power shall have a dedicated electrical receptacle nearby. Electrical extension cords are not permitted to be used.
    8. If a building will remain in use during renovation and construction activities, the temporary staging of materials related to construction / renovation activities is permitted in corridors as long as the minimum required exit width is provided for building occupants and workers. Under no conditions may items be placed or staged in stairways. After approval by INLOCC, all materials placed in the corridor during the construction project must be removed from the corridor as soon as possible. No materials may remain in the corridor after thirty days following project substantial completion even if the 44 inch minimum width can be provided.
11. The following equipment and items are prohibited from corridor storage at all times:
    1. Flammable and combustible liquids
    2. Hazardous chemicals
    3. Biological hazards
    4. Radioactive materials
    5. Compressed gas cylinders
    6. Cryogenic liquids
    7. Equipment operating under either positive or negative pressure, high temperature or high voltage
    8. Equipment with exposed machine parts (e.g., unguarded belts, pulleys or gears)
    9. Any items not secured which move easily or could fall over and cause an obstruction
    10. Furniture or other items that contain highly combustible materials such as polyurethane foam
    11. Any item or combination of items in a quantity or configuration that presents a fire or life safety hazard to the public, physically impaired persons or emergency response personnel
    12. Any item that has both (1) a protrusion into the corridors walking surface of 4 inches or more and (2) the protrusion is at a height of 27 to 80 inches above the floor
    13. Corridor space shall not be utilized to create additional workstations
    14. Food preparation appliances including microwave ovens, coffee makers and toasters unless the location (e.g., designated alcove, break area) is permitted by code standards and approved by INLOCC
12. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Accessible Areas

    The minimum clear floor or ground space required to accommodate a single, stationary wheelchair and occupant is 30 in by 48 in (760 mm by 1220mm). This clear floor space allows a forward or a parallel approach by a person using a wheelchair. A minimum clear floor space of 30 in by 48 in shall be provided at AEDs, fire alarm pull stations and other operable emergency equipment.

In the event of an emergency, stairwells serve as the primary vertical exit path for occupants evacuating the area and emergency personnel arriving to the area. It is critical that stairwells remain clear and unobstructed at all times. No equipment, furniture, or materials is permitted in stairways regardless of combustibility or location within the stairwell, unless a code approved (by INLOCC) enclosure is provided.

Definitions

Building Corridor/ Hallway: Any passageway connecting individual rooms and spaces that lead to an exit door, stairwell, or other place of refuge used by personnel evacuating the area and emergency personnel arriving to the area.

Biological Hazards: Organisms, microorganisms, or substances derived from the above that pose a primary threat to the health of humans.

Equipment: Anything which occupies a permanent footprint on the floor and requires electrical power to operate (e.g., copy machine, vending machine).

Hazardous Chemical: Any chemical which is classified as a physical hazard or a health hazard, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified.

Indiana University Property: Buildings, grounds, and land that are owned by Indiana University or controlled by Indiana University via leases or other formal contractual arrangements to house ongoing IU operations.

Material: Item such as file cabinet, furnishing, trash/recycling container, construction material.

Service Aisle Way: An aisle way designed and dedicated for the placement of equipment and supplies to support building operations. Service aisle ways are physically separated from public corridors and not designed for public use or egress routes.

Simple Asphyxiant: A substance or mixture that displaces oxygen in the ambient atmosphere, and can thus cause oxygen deprivation in those who are exposed, leading to unconsciousness and death.

Stairway: One or more flights of stairs, either exterior or interior, that serves as the primary vertical means of egress for personnel evacuating the area and emergency personnel arriving to the area.

Temporary: Thirty days maximum duration.

Sanctions

1. Items stored in violation of this policy will be tagged. If the owner can be identified, the owner will be notified. Otherwise, the building manager or head of department will be notified.
2. Items will be removed at the discretion of the inspectors (INLOCC or EHSM): immediately if circumstances so dictate, but in no more than 30 days. There is no guarantee that removed items will be stored for recovery by the owner.
3. Repeated violations will be reported to the dean or vice president supervising the area.
4. The owner of removed equipment will be charged the cost of removal.

Additional Contacts

History

This policy was established in 2015.

Last reviewed: 11-9-2015 and combined into omnibus policy FIN-INS-16.