Compliance News: Minimum Clear Width for Doors

By Robert Trotter, CBO, CFM


Egress doors in existing healthcare occupancies should comply with the 2000 edition of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® section 19.2.3.5 which states, “The minimum clear width for doors in the means of egress from hospitals; nursing homes; limited care facilities; psychiatric hospital sleeping rooms; and diagnostic and treatment areas, such as x-ray, surgery, or physical therapy, shall be not less than 32 in. wide.” There is an exception for existing 34-inch doors, and existing 28-inch corridor doors in facilities where the fire plans do not require evacuation by bed, gurney, or wheelchair. Excluding any of the four exceptions, egress doors in new healthcare occupancies must meet the requirements prescribed in 18.2.3.5. The minimum clear width for doors in the means of egress from sleeping rooms, diagnostic and treatment areas, such as x-ray, surgery, or physical therapy, and nursery rooms in hospitals and nursing homes is 41.5 inches and 32 inches in psychiatric hospitals and limited care facilities.