Construction Law

General Means of Egress in the Florida Building Code Part 1 featured image

General Means of Egress in the Florida Building Code Part 1

Every building needs an entrance and an exit. Building occupants must be able to leave the premises on their own volition at any time. In the event of an emergency, such as a fire or an armed transgressor, the ability to safely egress is vital to the wellbeing of every person inside the building, which is part of the reason why the Florida Building Code dedicates the entirety of its tenth chapter to means of egress.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines egress as:

  1. “a place or means of going out : EXIT”
  2. “the action or right of going or coming out”

In this two-part series, the Jacksonville construction attorneys at Cotney Construction Law will discuss the general means of egress detailed in the Florida Building Code. Is your contracting firm compliant with all of the building codes in the State of Florida? Failure to follow these important rules and regulations could lead to steep fines or even litigation. Consult a Jacksonville construction attorney for all of your construction-related legal needs.

Buildings Require a Means of Egress System

Chapter 10 of the Florida Building Code notes that all buildings and portions of buildings must integrate an approved means of egress system. Provisions outlined in this chapter govern the design, construction, and arrangement of the components needed to facilitate the proper means of egress. It is unlawful to reduce the number of exits or the dimensions of these exits to a level lower than what is expressed in the Florida Building Code. In other words, the building you construct must have a certain amount of exits, sized appropriately to account for a specific capacity of occupants.

Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans

Means of egress must also comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code. Any building or occupancy recognized by the Florida Fire Prevention Code requires a fire safety and evacuation plan in compliance with the provisions detailed in the Code.

In part two, our Jacksonville construction attorneys will discuss some the specific rules outlined in Chapter 10 of the Florida Building Code. Remember, to ensure that your contracting firm is in compliance with all relevant building codes for your area, consult an experienced construction attorney from Cotney Construction Law.

If you would like to speak with a Jacksonville construction attorney, please contact us today.

 

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.