Exit Code Definitions

Last updated April 1, 2025
By Ian Story

This article discusses the means of egress components as defined in the IBC, and interpretations regarding the transition points between them.

Code Definitions

COURT: An open, uncovered space, unobstructed to the sky, bounded on three or more sides by exterior building walls or other enclosing devices.

EGRESS COURT: A court or yard which provides access to a public way for one or more exits.

EXIT: That portion of a means of egress system between the exit access and the exit discharge or public way. Exit components include exterior exit doors at the level of exit discharge, interior exit stairways and ramps, exit passageways, exterior exit stairways and ramps, and horizontal exits.

EXIT DISCHARGE: That portion of a means of egress system between the termination of an exit and a public way.

EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF: The story at the point at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge begins.

STORY: That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above (see “Basement,” “Building height,” “Grade plane,” and “Mezzanine”). A story is measured as the vertical distance from the top of two successive tiers of beams or finished floor surfaces and, for the topmost story, from the top of the floor finish to the top of the ceiling joists or, where there is not a ceiling, to the top of the roof rafters.

YARD: An open space, other than a court, unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except where specifically provided by this code, on the lot on which a building is situated.

Exit vs. Exit Discharge

Where does an exit end and an exit discharge begin?

Theory: the architect decides where each of these areas occurs and just needs to make sure that each portion meets all the relevant code criteria.

Code criteria for an exit discharge:

• IBC 1028.1 General: The exit discharge shall comply with Sections 1028 and 1029 and the applicable requirements of Sections 1003 through 1015.
• IBC 1028.2 Exit discharge: Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide a direct path of egress travel to grade. The exit discharge shall not reenter a building.
• 1028.4 Exit discharge components: Exit discharge components shall be sufficiently open to the exterior so as to minimize the accumulation of smoke and toxic gases.
• 1028.5 Access to a public way: The exit discharge shall provide a direct and unobstructed access to a public way.
• 1029.1 General: Egress courts serving as an exit discharge component in the means of egress system shall comply with the requirements in this section.

Based on the code language and combing through lots of opinions on thebuildingcodeforum.com, I believe that as soon as you exit the exterior door, you are now in the exit discharge as long as you are outside the building and the area is sufficiently open to minimize the accumulation of smoke and toxic gases, even if the landing outside the door is above grade.

Some sources:

• Code interpretation that includes porch in exit discharge
• Building Code Forum: Exit Discharge on Deck
• Building Code Forum: 2 exits required…..what about the exit discharge?

Potential complicating factor: IBC 1027.6 addresses exterior exit stairways that serve individual dwelling units (see Exception #4).