​By Forrest Williams
School Inspections Supervisor

If applying egress provisions to a courtyard never crossed your mind, whether in a school, business, or apartment building, don't feel too bad. This is something that's often been overlooked by code officials and building designers alike, and this may be partly because the model building and fire codes traditionally haven't offered much in the way of guidance.

A courtyard exit access door leading back through the building, equipped with panic hardware, exit signage, and emergency lighting.

It's not uncommon for a building to have a courtyard – a non-roofed area enclosed by the walls of the building. And although many consider courtyards an outdoor space, occupants within an enclosed courtyard are still within the building as far as egress is concerned. This is because occupants must travel back through the building in order to reach the end-point of any means of egress system, which typically is a public road or alleyway. So, as with any other room or space, an enclosed courtyard must be provided with conforming exit-access doorways and other egress features, including:

• One or more exit access doorways (based on occupant load)
• Exit access doors must be operable from the egress (courtyard) side with a single operation and without the use of tools, special knowledge or effort
• Doors must swing in the direction of egress travel (based on occupant load)
• Exit signs (where two or more exit access doors are required)
• Emergency lighting (where two or more exit access doors are required)
• Panic hardware (based on use and occupant load)

Of all the egress provisions, it's the requirement for doors to always be unlocked and operable from the courtyard ​side that causes the most consternation for building owners. The primary concern is one of security; the potential for someone to scale an exterior wall and climb down into the courtyard where they would then have uninhibited access to the building. Because of this, many choose to keep these doors locked and not allow use of the courtyard.

The SFMD School Inspection Team deals with courtyard issues quite often, and it's a shame to see viable outdoor space not being used to its full potential. But finally the model codes are attempting to address this long-standing issue, and now there's hope for those empty, neglected and overgrown courtyards.

The 2021 editions of the International Fire Code (IFC) and International Building Code (IBC) contain new language to allow courtyard exit access doors to be locked when not in use where specific safeguards are provided. Here are the highlights:

• A weather-proof telephone or approved two-way communications system must be provided adjacent to at least one of the exit access doors from the courtyard in the event an occupant becomes trapped.
• The door locking hardware must be key-operated and clearly indicate whether locked or unlocked.
• A window or vision panel must be provided at each exit access door to determine whether occupants are using the courtyard.
• A sign stating “THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED WHEN THE OUTDOOR AREA IS OCCUPIED" must be posted at each exit access doorway.
• An occupant load sign must be posted, and the occupant load cannot exceed 300 regardless of the size of the courtyard.