Emergency Evacuation Planning & Design Flashcards

In NFPA 101, the 'common path of travel' is the portion of exit access over which occupants must travel before reaching a point where:

Answer: They can choose between two separate exits

Common path of travel ends at the first point where occupants have a choice between at least two separate and distinct paths leading to exits.

For a healthcare occupancy, NFPA 101 requires the use of which evacuation strategy over full building evacuation?

Answer: Defend-in-place using smoke compartments

Healthcare occupancies are designed for defend-in-place strategy, where non-ambulatory patients are moved horizontally into adjacent smoke compartments rather than fully evacuating the building.

According to IBC Section 1006.3, a single exit is permitted for a sprinklered business occupancy floor with an occupant load not exceeding:

Answer: 49 persons

IBC allows a single exit from a sprinklered business occupancy floor if the occupant load does not exceed 49 persons and travel distance limits are met.

What is the primary purpose of a photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) exit path marking system?

Answer: To guide evacuees in smoke-filled or power-outage conditions at low level

Photoluminescent markings provide low-level egress path guidance when visibility is reduced by smoke or when lighting fails during an emergency.

Under NFPA 72, a voice evacuation system in a high-rise must be capable of reproducing pre-recorded and live voice messages at a minimum sound pressure level above ambient noise of:

Answer: 15 dBA

NFPA 72 requires voice intelligibility systems to produce a minimum of 15 dBA above the average ambient sound level, with a minimum of 65 dBA in occupiable spaces.

Which of the following correctly describes the 'exit discharge' in a means of egress system?

Answer: The portion from the termination of an exit to a public way

Exit discharge is the portion of the means of egress system between the termination of an exit and a public way, such as the exterior path from a building exit door to the street.

According to SFPE engineering guides, the Pre-Movement Time (also called pre-evacuation time) in total egress time calculations primarily accounts for:

Answer: The time between alarm notification and when occupants begin moving toward exits

Pre-movement time captures the delay between when occupants receive an alarm signal and when they actually begin moving toward exits, including recognition, decision-making, and preparatory actions.