268 Chapter 11
Escalators and moving walkways, like elevators, are not usually allowed as a means of egress and
should not be taken into account as such in egress calculations, although there may be some excep-
tions, in which case they must be provided with standby power and must comply with emergency oper-
ation and signaling-device requirements.
Requirements for residential exiting (individual dwelling units and single-family houses) are not as
strict as for commercial occupancies. Codes typically have a subclassification specifically for dwelling
units. The International Residential Code (IRC) is specifically designed for one- and two-family houses.
The designer must verify which code is applicable to a particular project.
The IRC requires at least one regulated exterior door per residence with minimum dimensions of 30
inches x 80 inches. Bedrooms located on upper floors typically require an emergency means of egress
for these areas—which can usually be an operable window as long as it is not more than 44 inches from
Figure 11.6 Code requirements for stairs and handrails (source: Interior Design Reference Manual by D.K.
Ballast).