Issue:
DCA08-DEC-193. The petitioner
Richard Mihalich, Plans Examiner and Inspector, City
of
Specifically to this site, a tanning salon, the petitioner asks whether the code requires artificial lighting in the tanning salon rooms and restrooms at all times, while these rooms are occupied.
Background:
1205.1 General.
Every space intended for human occupancy shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings in accordance with Section 1205.2 or shall be provided with artificial light in accordance with Section 1205.3 . Exterior glazed openings shall open directly onto a public way or onto a yard or court in accordance with Section 1206 .
The minimum net glazed area shall not be less than 8 percent of the floor area of the room served.
For the purpose of natural lighting, any room is permitted to be considered as a portion of an adjoining room where one-half of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room or 25 square feet (2.32 m 2 ), whichever is greater.
Exception: Openings required for natural light shall be permitted to open into a thermally isolated sunroom addition or patio cover where the common wall provides a glazed area of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room or 20 square feet (1.86 m 2 ), whichever is greater.
Exterior openings required by Section 1205.2 for natural light shall open directly onto a public way, yard or court, as set forth in Section 1206 .
Exceptions:
1. Required exterior openings are permitted to open into a roofed porch where the porch:
1.1. Abuts a public way, yard or court.
1.2. Has a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).
1.3. Has a longer side at least 65 percent open and unobstructed.
2. Skylights are not required to open directly onto a public way, yard or court.
1205.3 Artificial
light.
Artificial light shall be provided that is adequate to provide an average illumination of 10 footcandles (107 lux) over the area of the room at a height of 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor level.
1002
Definitions.
MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge. (emphasis added)
EXIT ACCESS. That portion of a means of egress system that leads from any occupied portion of a building or structure to an exit. (emphasis added)
1006.1 Means of
egress illumination.
1006.1.1
Illumination of means of egress shall be provided in accordance with this section for every building and structure. For the purposes of this requirement, exit access shall include only designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators and passageways leading to an exit. For the purposes of this requirement, exit discharge shall include only designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, walkways and exit passageways leading to a public way. (emphasis added)
Exceptions:
1. When approved by the building official, illumination of means of egress shall not be required in industrial and storage occupancies that are occupied only during daylight hours, with skylights or windows arranged to provide the required level of illumination on all portions of the means of egress during these hours.
2. Assembly occupancy private party tents of 1,200 square feet (111 m2) or less shall not be required to provide illumination of means of egress.
3. Open structures shall not be required to provide illumination of means of egress.
4. Towers occupied by not more than three persons shall not be required to provide illumination of means of egress.
Question 1: Does the code require artificial lighting in these areas when they are occupied?
Answer: Yes: Section 1205 of the code does not offer exceptions relative to general lighting. Additionally, section 1006.1.1 requires lighting of a means of egress. It offers some exceptions, but they are not applicable for this space. A means of Egress consists of three separate parts, the first being the Exit Access. The definition of Exit Access states that it includes any occupied portion of a building.