Egress and Accessibility — The Most Fundamental Order in Architecture

In architecture, the building code is not just a regulation — it is the language that protects life and defines human experience.
Among all its layers, egress and accessibility form the foundation of spatial safety and dignity.

🔹 1. Accessible Entrances

• Under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), all main entrances must provide a minimum clear width of 32 inches (813 mm).
• Thresholds cannot exceed ½ inch (13 mm), and automatic or push-type hardware is encouraged.
• This standard is not only for people with disabilities — it represents the starting point of equitable design: a space that welcomes everyone.

🔹 2. Means of Egress

• According to IBC §1006–1008 and IRC §R311, every occupied space must have at least two independent exit paths.
• Corridor width: minimum 44 inches (1118 mm)
• Exit door width: minimum 32 inches (813 mm)
• Maximum travel distance: typically 150 ft (45 m), extended to 250 ft (76 m) when a sprinkler system is installed.

🔹 3. From the Architect’s Perspective

“Codes are the language of safety, but also the language of spatial rhythm.”

When we interpret egress not just as a regulatory checklist but as
a sequence of human movement through space, we begin to design
architecture that transcends compliance and becomes choreography.

References

• IBC 2021 — Chapter 10 Means of Egress
• ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010)
• NFPA 101 Life Safety Code