Every Exit, Measured Against the Code

A means-of-egress analysis asks whether occupants could leave a building safely and lawfully under the code that applied: whether exit access, the exits themselves, and exit discharge met the required capacity, arrangement, and continuity. Paul Gaston evaluates these as-built conditions for plaintiff and defense counsel in Chicago and Cook County, tying each finding to the governing code.

The means of egress is a system, not a single door. It runs from any occupied point, through exit access and the exit, to a public way, and the code sets requirements for occupant load, egress width, travel distance, common path, number and separation of exits, door operation, and hardware along the entire route.

Drawing on decades installing and maintaining stairs, handrails, doors, and egress-path elements in occupied facilities including O'Hare International Airport, Paul evaluates whether the built path met those requirements, and documents where it did not, for either side of a dispute.

Egress disputes often hinge on measurable facts: the calculated occupant load for the space, the clear width provided at doors and along corridors, travel distance and common-path limits, the number and separation of required exits, and whether egress doors operated and were arranged as the code requires. Paul measures and documents these conditions, compares them to the applicable provisions, and identifies whether obstructions, locking, or later renovations affected the path.

What Retaining Counsel Receives

Egress findings are most persuasive when they rest on measurements and code citations rather than impressions. Paul provides documented, reproducible analysis that supports a claim or a defense through report, deposition, and trial.

Occupant-load and egress-capacity analysis tied to the code
Independent findings developed identically for plaintiff and defense
Measured field conditions with photographs and diagrams
Code citations for width, travel distance, exits, and discharge
Evaluation of door operation, hardware, and path continuity
Written reports, rebuttal, deposition, and trial testimony
Clear scope limits, with referral where life-safety engineering is required

Supporting Legal Outcomes With Evidence

Whether a case involves a blocked exit, an overcrowded space, deficient egress width, or a renovation that compromised the path, Paul Gaston evaluates the built conditions against the code that governed them and reports the facts for plaintiff and defense alike. To discuss an egress matter in Chicago or Cook County, request his CV and availability or begin a conflict check through the contact options on this page.

How a Means-of-Egress Analysis Is Performed

Establish the governing code and occupancy, then calculate or verify the occupant load for the space.
Trace the full egress path from occupied points through exit access, exits, and exit discharge.
Measure clear widths, travel distances, common path, and exit separation against the code.
Evaluate door operation, hardware, landings, stairs, and handrails along the route.
Document obstructions, locking, or renovation changes, and compare all conditions to the applicable provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a means-of-egress analysis?

It covers the entire egress system: exit access, the exits, and exit discharge, evaluated for occupant load, egress width, travel distance, common path, number and separation of exits, and door operation and hardware. Paul measures the as-built path and compares it to the code that applied.

How are exit access, exits, and exit discharge different?

Exit access is the path from an occupied point to an exit; the exit is the protected portion, such as an enclosed stair or exterior door; and exit discharge runs from the exit to the public way. The code sets distinct requirements for each segment, and Paul evaluates all three.

How is occupant load calculated, and why does it matter?

Occupant load is derived from the floor area and the use of the space using the factors in the code, and it drives required egress width and the number of exits. An understated occupant load can mask an egress deficiency, so Paul verifies it rather than accepting it.

Can locked or blocked exits be evaluated after the fact?

Yes. Photographs, maintenance and inspection records, witness accounts, and the physical hardware often reveal whether an exit was locked, obstructed, or altered at the relevant time. Paul documents the current conditions and reconciles them with the record evidence.

Do you evaluate egress lighting and signage?

Paul evaluates the presence, placement, and continuity of exit signage and marking as built conditions along the egress path. Where a dispute turns on illumination levels or emergency-power system design, that engineering analysis is referred to the appropriate licensed professional.

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