California IDEX Practice Exam

In complying with CBC requirements, what combination of door widths would meet most exiting requirements for a total exit width of 8' from a store?

1. One 36" door remotely located from a pair of 34" doors

2. A pair of 32" doors remotely located from one 38" door

3. Three 36" doors remotely located

4. Three 34" doors remotely located

The correct answer is: Three 36" doors remotely located

The correct answer reflects the need for an adequate total exit width in compliance with the California Building Code (CBC) requirements, which aim to ensure safe egress during emergencies. Having three 36-inch doors provides a total exit width of 108 inches (or 9 feet), exceeding the required 8-foot width. This generous size accommodates not only the required exit width but also contributes to a safer egress by allowing more people to exit simultaneously, thus minimizing congestion during evacuations. While other combinations of door widths may provide sufficient total exit width, they do not offer the same level of efficiency and safety. For instance, the configuration of a pair of 32-inch doors would yield a total width of 64 inches, which does not meet the requirement, and even a 38-inch door paired with narrower doors could lead to bottlenecks. The cumulative exit width of three 34-inch doors comes in at 102 inches, which is close but not as robust as the three 36-inch doors. Overall, three 36-inch doors not only meet but surpass the minimum requirements, ensuring an effective and safe egress strategy for the store.