Egress Travel Distance, Common Path, and Dead-End Check (IBC Chapter 10)
The three distances a plans examiner checks against the floor plan.
Example
You enter
- Measured travel distance (ft) 240
- Travel limit, Table 1017.2 (ft) 300
- Measured common path (ft) 68
- Common-path limit (ft) 100
- Longest dead-end corridor (ft) 18
- Dead-end limit, §1020.5 (ft) 50
You get
- Overall Yes
- Pass travel Yes
- Travel distance PASS (60 ft margin)
Details, formula, and sources
The exit-access travel distance to the nearest exit (Table 1017.2), the common path of egress travel before two independent paths are available (1006.2.1), and the longest dead-end corridor (1020.5). Each has its own editable limit that depends on the occupancy and whether the building is sprinklered; a single fail (e.g. travel over the limit) fails the floor, and a sprinkler system often clears it at once. A design aid, not a code-official determination.
pass_travel = travel_ft <= travel_limit_ft; pass_common = common_path_ft <= common_path_limit_ft; pass_deadend = dead_end_ft <= dead_end_limit_ft; pass = all three; margin = limit - measured for each.
IBC 2021 §1017 / Table 1017.2 (maximum exit-access travel distance), §1006.2.1 / Table 1006.2.1 (common path of egress travel), and §1020.5 (dead-end corridor), by name.
The three egress-distance limits are stated in the published IBC §1017 / §1006.2.1 / §1020.5; the comparison is public arithmetic.
Estimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
Field names used by the API: travel_ft, travel_limit_ft, common_path_ft, common_path_limit_ft, dead_end_ft, dead_end_limit_ft, pass, pass_travel, margin_travel
- Three checks travel distance, common path, and dead-end are checked independently; the overall pass is their conjunctionIBC 2021 Chapter 10
- Limit source each limit depends on the occupancy and the §903.3.1.1 sprinkler status; a sprinkler system often clears the floor at onceIBC 2021 Table 1017.2
- Measured path travel distance is measured along the natural path around obstructions, not a straight lineIBC 2021 §1017