PDFWAC 51-11C-40247

Section C402.5.9—Vestibules.

C402.5.9 Vestibules. All building entrances shall be protected with an enclosed vestibule, with all doors opening into and out of the vestibule equipped with self-closing devices. Vestibules shall be designed so that in passing through the vestibule it is not necessary for the interior and exterior doors to open at the same time. The installation of one or more revolving doors in the building entrance shall not eliminate the requirement that a vestibule be provided on any doors adjacent to revolving doors. For the purposes of this section, "building entrances" shall include exit-only doors in buildings where separate doors for entering and exiting are provided.
Interior and exterior doors shall have a minimum distance between them of not less than 7 feet. The exterior envelope of conditioned vestibules shall comply with the requirements for a conditioned space. Either the interior or exterior envelope of unconditioned vestibules shall comply with the requirements for a conditioned space. The building lobby is not considered a vestibule.
EXCEPTION:
Vestibules are not required for the following:
 
1. Doors not intended to be used as building entrances.
 
2. Unfinished ground-level space greater than 3,000 square feet (298 m2) if a note is included on the permit documents at each exterior entrance to the space stating "Vestibule required at time of tenant build-out if entrance serves a space greater than 3,000 square feet in area."
 
3. Doors opening directly from a sleeping unit or dwelling unit.
 
4. Doors between an enclosed space smaller than 3,000 square feet (298 m2) in area and the exterior of the building or the building entrance lobby, where those doors do not comprise one of the primary building entrance paths to the remainder of the building. The space must be enclosed and separated without transfer air paths from the primary building entrance paths. If there are doors between the space and the primary entrance path, then the doors shall be equipped with self-closing devices so the space acts as a vestibule for the primary building entrance.
 
5. Revolving doors.
 
6. Doors used primarily to facilitate vehicular movement or material handling and adjacent personnel doors.
 
7. In buildings less than 3 stories above grade or in spaces that do not directly connect with the building elevator lobby, doors that have an air curtain with a velocity of not less than 6.56 feet per second (2 m/s) at the floor that have been tested in accordance with ANSI/AMCA 220 and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Manual or automatic controls shall be provided that will operate the air curtain with the opening and closing of the door. Air curtains and their controls shall comply with Section C408.2.3.
 
8. Building entrances in buildings that are less than four stories above grade and less than 10,000 ft2 in area.
 
9. Elevator doors in parking garages provided that the elevators have an enclosed lobby at each level of the garage.
 
10. Entrances to semi-heated spaces.
 
11. Doors that are used only to access outdoor seating areas that are separated from adjacent walking areas by a fence or other barrier.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.025, 19.27A.160 and chapters 19.27A and 19.27 RCW. WSR 22-14-091, 23-12-101, and 23-20-021, § 51-11C-40247, filed 7/1/22, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.025, 19.27A.160 and chapter 19.27 RCW. WSR 19-24-040, § 51-11C-40247, filed 11/26/19, effective 7/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.160, and 19.27.074. WSR 16-03-072, § 51-11C-40247, filed 1/19/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.025 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-056, § 51-11C-40247, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13.]