Exit discharge into a yard with street access

June 29, 1977
Mr. A. Quayle
Blackwell Burner Co.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Quayle:
This is in response to your correspondence of June 8, 1977, regarding the discharge from exits in your plant. Your specific question relates to the adequacy of a 15 foot wide discharge from exits. The exits discharge includes the yard behind the plant, which has free access to a public street.
It appears that the applicable standard is 29 CFR [1910.36(c)(1)], which states ["Each exit discharge must lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside." 29 CFR 1910.36(c)(2) states: "The street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space to which an exit discharge leads must be large enough to accommodate the building occupants likely to use the exit route."]
The aforementioned standard appears to be self-explanatory. If you have further questions, it may be more expedient to contact our [Austin Texas Area Office] at the following address and phone number:

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA
[903 San Jacinto Boulevard Suite 319
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 916-5783]

Thank your for your continued interest in safety and health.
Sincerely,
John K. Barto,
Chief
Division of Occupational Safety Programming
[Corrected 2/4/2004]