Section 1006.2/Minimum Number of Exits
IBC 1006.2 establishes the minimum number of exits required from each story and from individual spaces, based on occupant load thresholds.
Each story must be served by the minimum number of exits per Table 1006.3.4: one exit for occupant loads of 1 to 500 (with limitations), two exits for 1 to 500 without limitations, three exits for 501 to 1000, and four exits for more than 1000 occupants. Individual spaces with occupant loads exceeding the Table 1006.2.1 threshold for the occupancy type must have at least two exit access doorways.
Why this section exists
Multiple exits ensure that building occupants have alternate escape routes if one exit is blocked by fire, smoke, or structural failure. The occupant load thresholds reflect the risk: higher occupant loads require more exits because more people competing for fewer exits increases evacuation time and the likelihood of crowding at exit points.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers calculate the occupant load for each story and each individual space, then verify that the floor plan shows the required number of exits. They also check exit separation distance: where two exits are required, they must be separated by at least one-half the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area served (one-third if sprinklered).
Common violations
Related IBC requirements
Section 1004.1 establishes the occupant load that drives exit count.Section 1005.1 determines the minimum width of each exit. Section 1017 covers corridor requirements. Section 1007 covers exit configuration and separation distance requirements.