Common Mistakes with OSHA 1910.36(g): Exit Route Height and Width Pitfalls in Fire and Emergency Services

In fire stations and emergency response facilities, where every second counts, OSHA 1910.36(g) sets non-negotiable standards for exit route dimensions. Yet, I've audited dozens of sites where teams trip over the basics—literally. These errors can turn a routine evacuation drill into a compliance nightmare.

Ceiling Height Oversights: 1910.36(g)(1)

OSHA mandates ceilings at least 7 feet 6 inches high, with no projections dipping below 6 feet 8 inches from the floor. Sounds straightforward, right?

But here's where fire and EMS pros falter: overlooking building modifications. Sprinkler heads, ductwork, or even low-mounted emergency lights in apparatus bays often protrude too far. I once inspected a busy urban firehouse where renovated HVAC piping hung at 6'5"—a head-knocker for helmeted firefighters rushing gear. The fix? Simple riser adjustments, but it exposed how retrofits erode compliance without re-measurement.

• Forget sloped ceilings: In multi-story response centers, measure the lowest point along the entire route.
• Ignore temporary setups: Holiday decorations or training props can't encroach.

Pro tip: Use a laser measurer from floor to lowest projection—it's faster than a tape and catches diagonal hazards.

Narrow Exit Access Traps: 1910.36(g)(2)

Exit access must hit 28 inches wide minimum. If it's your only path to an exit or discharge, that exit and discharge widths must match or exceed it.

Common blunder in emergency services? Hallways narrowed by storage lockers or SCBA racks. Picture a dispatch center where a single 26-inch door funnels staff to the exterior—non-compliant and risky during high-stress alerts. Teams assume "it's always worked," but OSHA citations spike here during unannounced inspections.

Another pitfall: Assuming doors count at full swing. Measure clear width with doors open 90 degrees, accounting for hardware overlap.

Occupant Load Miscalculations: 1910.36(g)(3)

Exit routes must handle the maximum permitted occupant load per floor. Calculate via NFPA 1 or local fire codes—typically 100 gross sq ft per person for offices, tighter for assembly areas in training rooms.

Fire departments mess this up by undercounting shift overlaps or visitor surges. I've seen engine company bays sized for 10 but serving 20 during drills, with exits too narrow for safe flow. The math: Occupant load × 0.2 inches per person minimum (or 0.15 for stairs) dictates width. Shortchange it, and you're flirting with bottlenecks in real emergencies.

Balance is key—overbuilding wastes space, but skimping invites tragedy. Reference OSHA's compliance directive CPL 02-00-051 for occupant load details.

Projection Hazards Everyone Ignores: 1910.36(g)(4)

No objects can shrink the route below minimum widths. Signs, handrails, or protruding gear lockers are frequent culprits.

In EMS facilities, wall-mounted defibrillators or radio consoles jut into paths, reducing effective width to 24 inches. One audit revealed a firehouse corridor where fire extinguishers on brackets shaved off inches—easy fix with recessed mounts, but it halted operations until corrected. Always measure usable clear width, not nominal.

Avoiding These in Your Facility

Conduct quarterly route audits with a checklist tied to 1910.36(g). Train staff to spot issues—I've found line firefighters catch more than engineers sometimes. For depth, cross-reference NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, which aligns closely with OSHA.

Real-world results vary by building age and use, but consistent checks slash violation risks by 70%, per BLS injury data trends. Stay vigilant; compliant exits save lives, not just fines.