What is the required width factor for egress stairs per person?

The required width factor for egress stairs is essential because it determines how much stair width is necessary to accommodate the number of people evacuating a space in an emergency. The building codes typically specify that for every person anticipated to use the stairs, a certain width must be allocated to ensure that all individuals can exit safely and efficiently.

In this context, the width factor of 0.3 inches per person aligns with the widely accepted standards in many building codes. This means that for each occupant expected, 0.3 inches of width should be provided on the stair. This guideline helps to prevent bottlenecks during an evacuation and ensures that stairways can handle the flow of people quickly and safely.

Larger width factors, such as 0.4 or 0.5 inches per person, would be excessive and not uniformly required across various codes or situations, while a factor of 0.2 inches would not provide sufficient width for safe egress. Understanding these requirements is crucial in fire safety planning, as they are designed to protect occupants during emergencies by facilitating a rapid and orderly exit from the building.