Number of Exits and Exit Access Doorways
Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part II, Section 1006
in effectSection 1006. Number of Exits and Exit Access Doorways
1006.1 to 1006.2 {As in IBC}
1006.3 {As in IBC}
1006.3.1 {As in IBC}
1006.3.2 {As in IBC}
1006.3.3 {As in IBC}
1006.3.4 Single exits.
A single exit or access to a single exit shall be permitted from any story or occupied roof where one of the following conditions exists:
1. to 5. {As in IBC}
6. A building may have a single exit or access to a single exit provided that all of the following conditions are met:
6.1. The building, if it is of Type I, Type II, or Type IV construction, has no more than 6 stories of Group R-2 Occupancy and no more than 6 stories above grade plane.
6.2. The building, if it is of Type III-A construction, has no more than 5 stories of Group R-2 occupancy and no more than 5 stories above grade plane established by ground or podium.
6.3. The building, if it is of Type V construction, has no more than 4 stories of Group R-2 occupancy and no more than 4 stories above grade plane.
6.4. The building does not contain a boarding house.
6.5. There are no more than 4 dwelling units per floor.
6.6. The building is of not less than 1 hour fire-resistive construction.
6.7. The building is equipped with a sprinkler system throughout, in accordance with § 903.3.1.1 of the Baltimore City Building Code and § 903.3.1.1 of the Baltimore City Fire Code. Additionally, sprinkler protection shall extend to the following spaces, with no exception for draftstopping:
a. combustible attic spaces;
b. combustible concealed roof spaces;
c. combustible floor or ceiling assemblies; and
d. any other area that is hidden or made of combustible materials.
6.8 There are no more than 2 single exit stairway conditions in the same building.
6.9 Stairways may be an exterior exit stairway or an interior exit stairway. Interior exit stairways shall:
a. Be enclosed in a 2-hour fire protection rated wall with 1.5-hour fire protection rated doors;
b. Be pressurized in accordance with § 909.20 of this Code; and
c. Have doors that swing into the interior exit stairway regardless of the served occupant load, provided that doors from the interior exit stairway to the building exterior swing towards the exterior.
6.10 A corridor with 2-hour fire protection rated walls separates the entry and exit door of each dwelling unit from the door to an interior exit stairway, and no dwelling unit doors open directly into the interior exit stairway.
6.11 The distance between the exit stairway and the entry and exit door of any dwelling unit is no more than 20 feet.
6.12 Travel distance, measured in accordance with § 1017 of this Code, does not exceed 125 feet.
6.13 Elevators are pressurized in accordance with § 909.21 of this Code, or open into elevator lobbies in compliance with § 713.14 of this Code.
6.14 The stairway either:
a. Extends to the roof surface through a stairway bulkhead in accordance with § 1511.7.2 of this Code, if the roof has a slope not steeper than 20 degrees (0.35 rad); or
b. Is constructed against the street wall, with 1 window facing the street at each landing, and access to the roof is provided via a scuttle with a stationary, noncombustible access ladder.
6.15 Other occupancies are permitted in the same building provided they comply with all the requirements of this Code. Other occupancies shall not communicate with the Group R occupancy portion of the building or with the single-exit stairway.
Exceptions
Parking garages and occupied roofs accessory to the Group R occupancy are permitted to communicate with the exit stairway.
1006.3.4.1 {As in IBC}
(Ord. 25-061 Section 1.)
Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes/II/1006Fetched: 10/25/2026