Mecklenburg County
Commercial Building Interpretation
Accessible Means of Egress at the Level of Exit
Discharge in Sprinklered Building
Code: 2002 Accessibility Code
Date: January 2002 (COCO New Letter)
Section: 6.3.1/6.3.3. (1)
Question:
Does loading dock need to meet grade level discharge if it is a required exit?
Answer:
The 6.3.3 provision, which allows the Area of Rescue Assistance (ARA) to be
omitted in a sprinklered building, is not applicable on the level of exit discharge.
If the exit from the loading dock area is not accessible (e.g., a ramp is not
provided), then an ARA may be accepted locally as alternate method to a ramp,
Per Section 206 of Volume I-A. The automatic sprinkler in the building cannot be
used to waive the alternate method. In addition, since ¾ hour opening
requirements are difficult to apply to any dock door s with 10 feet each side of the
ARA, it may be more appropriate to locate the ARA in a 1 hour enclosed
Vestibule just inside the rear exit doors. (5.3.4).
Disclaimer: There may be other ways to comply with the Code. If so, you are
not required to use this method to comply with the Code. You may want to
investigate other options, or consult with a design professional identifying an
equally code compliant solution.
End Notes
North Carolina State Building Code
Commercial Code 2002 Edition
Publication Date: September 2001
Copyright 2001 by International Code Council
Published in cooperation with:
Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI)