Section 7.5.1/Arrangement of Means of Egress
NFPA 101 Section 7.5 covers exit separation distance, common path of travel limits, and dead-end corridor limits.
Exits must be arranged so that they are remotely located from each other. When two exits are required, they must be separated by a distance not less than one-half the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area served. When three or more exits are required, at least two must meet the one-half diagonal separation and the others must be arranged to minimize the possibility that more than one exit will be blocked by a single fire event. Common path of travel (the distance an occupant must travel before two separate paths to different exits become available) is limited based on occupancy type, typically 75 feet in sprinklered buildings. Dead-end corridors are similarly limited.
Why this section exists
If all exits are grouped on one side of a building, a fire between the occupants and the exits blocks all escape routes simultaneously. The separation requirement ensures that no matter where a fire originates, at least one exit is accessible from the opposite direction. The common path of travel limit prevents situations where an occupant must travel a long distance toward a fire before a second path becomes available. Dead-end limits prevent occupants from becoming trapped in corridors with no alternative exit.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers measure the diagonal of the floor plate and verify exit separation distance meets the one-half diagonal requirement. They measure common path of travel from the most remote point in each room to the point where two separate paths diverge. They measure dead-end corridors from the most remote point to the corridor intersection. They verify these distances against the occupancy- specific limits in the applicable chapter.