Travel Distance Is One of the Most Frequently Tested Numbers on PA
Travel distance is the measured path of egress travel from the most remote point in a room or floor area to the entrance of the nearest exit. It is measured along the actual walking path - not in a straight line - including any turns around obstructions, furniture, and interior walls. The IBC imposes maximum travel distance limits that vary by occupancy group and by whether the building is sprinklered. These limits appear constantly on the ARE PA exam, both as direct knowledge questions and as part of larger code analysis scenarios.
IBC Table 1017.2: Maximum Travel Distance
| Occupancy | Without Sprinklers | With Sprinklers |
|---|---|---|
| A, B, E, M, R | 200 ft | 250 ft |
| F-1, S-1 | 200 ft | 250 ft |
| F-2, S-2, U | 300 ft | 400 ft |
| H-1 | Not Permitted | 75 ft |
| H-2 | 75 ft | 100 ft |
| H-3 | 75 ft | 150 ft |
| H-4 | 75 ft | 175 ft |
| H-5 | 75 ft | 200 ft |
| I-1 | Not Listed | 250 ft |
| I-2 | Not Listed | 200 ft |
| I-3 | Not Listed | 200 ft |
| I-4 | 150 ft | 200 ft |
How Travel Distance Is Measured
Travel distance is measured along the floor surface from the most remote point of a room to the entrance of the nearest exit. The measurement follows the actual walking path - not a straight-line ("as the crow flies") distance. This includes going around walls, through doorways, and along corridors. For assembly occupancies with fixed seating, the measurement begins at the most remote seat. The measurement ends at the entrance to the exit - for stairways, at the door to the enclosed stairway, not at the exit discharge.
Dead-End Corridors
A dead-end corridor is a corridor that terminates without a second exit. IBC Section 1020.4 limits dead-end corridor lengths: 20 feet maximum for most occupancies (unsprinklered); 50 feet maximum in sprinklered buildings. Dead-end corridors extend the effective travel distance to the exit and are a common design pitfall. When checking travel distance in a floor plan, also check for dead-end corridor violations.
Common Exam Traps
- Travel distance is to the exit entrance - not to the public way.
- The path is measured along the actual walking path, not in a straight line.
- Sprinklers increase the travel distance limit - always check whether the building is sprinklered.
- High-hazard occupancies (H) have significantly shorter limits - 75–200 feet even sprinklered.
- Common path of travel (before paths diverge to two exits) is limited separately - typically 75/100 ft.
Key Exam Points
- Most common occupancies (A, B, E, M, R): 200 ft unsprinklered, 250 ft sprinklered.
- Low-hazard storage (F-2, S-2): 300/400 ft.
- High-hazard (H-1): no unsprinklered distance; 75 ft sprinklered.
- Dead-end corridor: 20 ft max unsprinklered; 50 ft sprinklered.
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