In a new building, the minimum door opening in a means of egress is ______ inches of clear, unobstructed width.

In a new building, the minimum door opening in a means of egress is ______ inches of clear, unobstructed width.

• A. 24 inches
• B. 28 inches
• C. 32 inches
• D. 48 inches

Answer: (C)

The important idea is that egress doors must provide enough unobstructed width for people to pass through safely in an emergency. This is why the requirement specifies a minimum clear opening width, measured when the door is open to 90 degrees, so the passage is truly unobstructed. The minimum required is 32 inches of clear width. This accounts for a typical occupant flow, including people using mobility devices, and excludes the door leaf and hardware from the measurement. Narrower openings would hinder quick, safe egress, while wider openings exceed the minimum and may be required in some cases, but 32 inches is the minimum standard.

The important idea is that egress doors must provide enough unobstructed width for people to pass through safely in an emergency. This is why the requirement specifies a minimum clear opening width, measured when the door is open to 90 degrees, so the passage is truly unobstructed.

The minimum required is 32 inches of clear width. This accounts for a typical occupant flow, including people using mobility devices, and excludes the door leaf and hardware from the measurement. Narrower openings would hinder quick, safe egress, while wider openings exceed the minimum and may be required in some cases, but 32 inches is the minimum standard.