HomeKnowledgeIBC Section 1025 — Doors and Gates in Means of Egress
📋 Codeconstruction

IBC Section 1025 — Doors and Gates in Means of Egress

Updated Apr 3, 2026
Establishes door sizing, swing direction, and accessibility in egress paths.

Section 1025 specifies that all exit doors must be clear width 32 inches minimum (36 inches preferred). Doors must swing in direction of egress travel (out of building). Double doors at exits must have doors that swing independently or one leaf remains open. Doors must be easily operable with single-hand operation without requiring keys or tools. Door closers must allow doors to open with maximum 15 pounds push force. Hardware must permit rapid opening under emergency conditions.

TAGS
ibcdoorsegress
DETAILS
section
1025
category
Means of Egress
code body
IBC
code year
2021
RELATED KNOWLEDGE
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.1 — Group A Occupancies (Sprinkler Requirements)
Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with Group A occupancy where fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet, or overall building area exceeds 12,000 square feet, or occupant load of the fire area exceeds 300.
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.7 — Group M Occupancies (Retail Sprinkler Requirements)
Automatic sprinkler system required in Group M (mercantile) occupancies where fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet or building is more than three stories above grade.
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.11.3 — Buildings 55 Feet or More in Height
Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
📋 Code
IBC 1015.1 — Exit and Exit Access Doorways Required
Two exits or exit access doorways required from any space where occupant load exceeds the table values. Spaces with occupant load exceeding 500 require a minimum of 3 exits. Spaces exceeding 1,000 require 4 exits.
📋 Code
IBC 1017.2 — Exit Access Travel Distance
Maximum travel distance from any point in a building to an exit shall not exceed 200 feet unsprinklered or 250 feet sprinklered for most occupancies. Specific occupancies have modified limits.
📋 Code
IBC Table 601 — Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements
Specifies minimum fire-resistance ratings for structural elements based on construction type (Type I through V). Type IA requires 3-hour rated structural frame, 2-hour floors, and 1.5-hour roof.
← Back to Knowledge Garden