CS 25.813 Emergency exit access and ease of operation

ED Decision 2017/015/R

(See AMC 25.813)

 (a)     There must be a passageway leading from the nearest main aisle to each Type A, Type B, Type C, Type I, or Type II emergency exit and between individual passenger areas. Each passageway leading to a Type A or Type B exit must be unobstructed and at least 91 cm (36 inches) wide. Passageways between individual passenger areas and those leading to Type I, Type II, or Type C emergency exits must be unobstructed and at least 51 cm (20 inches) wide. Unless there are two or more main aisles, each Type A or B exit must be located so that there is passenger flow along the main aisle to that exit from both the forward and aft directions. If two or more main aisles are provided, there must be unobstructed cross-aisles at least 51 cm (20 inches) wide between main aisles. There must be:

(1)     A cross-aisle which leads directly to each passageway between the nearest main aisle and a Type A or B exit; and

(2)     A cross-aisle which leads to the immediate vicinity of each passageway between the nearest main aisle and a Type C, Type I, Type II, or Type III exit; except that when two Type III exits are located within three passenger rows of each other, a single cross-aisle may be used if it leads to the vicinity between the passageways from the nearest main aisle to each exit.

(b)     Adequate space to allow crew-member(s) to assist in the evacuation of passengers must be provided as follows:

(1)     Each assist space must be a rectangle on the floor, of sufficient size to enable a crew member, standing erect, to effectively assist evacuees. The assist space must not reduce the unobstructed width of the passageway below that required for the exit.

(2)     For each Type A or Type B exit, assist space must be provided at each side of the exit regardless of whether an assisting means is required by CS 25.810(a).

(3)     For each Type C, I or II exit installed in an aeroplane with seating for more than 80 passengers, an assist space must be provided at one side of the passageway regardless of whether an assisting means is required by CS 25.810(a).

(4)     For each Type C, I or II exit, an assist space must be provided at one side of the passageway if an assisting means is required by CS 25.810(a).

(5)     For any tail cone exit that qualifies for 25 additional passenger seats under the provisions of CS 25.807(g)(9)(ii), an assist space must be provided, if an assisting means is required by CS 25.810(a).

(6)     There must be a handle, or handles, at each assist space, located to enable the crew member to steady himself or herself:

(i)      While manually activating the assisting means (where applicable), and

(ii)     While assisting passengers during an evacuation.

(c)      The following must be provided for each Type III or Type IV exit – (See AMC 25.813(c))

(1)      There must be access from the nearest aisle to each exit.

(2)      In addition, for each Type III exit in an aeroplane that has a passenger-seating configuration of 20 or more and which has only seats installed immediately to the forward and aft of the access route(s)‑

(i)       Except as provided in sub-paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this paragraph, the access must be provided by an unobstructed passageway that is at least 25.4 cm (10 inches) in width for interior arrangements in which the adjacent seat rows on the exit side of the aisle contain two seats, or 33 cm (13 inches) in width for interior arrangements in which those rows contain three seats. The width of the passageway must be measured with adjacent seats adjusted to their most adverse positions. At least 25.4 cm (10 inches) of the required passageway width must be within the required projected opening width of the exit.

(ii)      In lieu of one 25.4 or 33 cm (10 or 13 inches) passageway, there may be two unobstructed passageways, that must be at least 15.2 cm (6 inches) in width and lead to an unobstructed space adjacent to each exit. Adjacent exits must not share a common passageway. The width of the passageways must be measured with adjacent seats adjusted to their most adverse positions. The unobstructed space adjacent to the exit must extend vertically from the floor to the ceiling (or to the bottom of upper side wall stowage bins), inboard from the exit for a distance not less than the width of the narrowest passenger seat installed on the aeroplane and from the forward edge of the forward passageway to the aft edge of the aft passageway. The exit opening must be totally within the fore and aft bounds of the unobstructed space.

(3)      Each Type III exit in an aeroplane that has a passenger seating configuration of 20 or more and which has an access route bounded by any item(s) other than only seats (e.g. bulkhead/wall, class divider, curtain) to its forward and/or aft side, must be provided with an unobstructed passageway that is at least 50.8 cm (20 inches) in width. The width of the passageway must be measured with any adjacent seats, or other movable features, adjusted to their most adverse positions.

(4)      In addition to the access -

(i)      For aeroplanes that have a passenger seating configuration of 20 or more, the projected opening of the exit provided may not be obstructed and there must be no interference in opening the exit by seats, berths, or other protrusions (including adjacent seats adjusted to their most adverse positions) for a distance from that exit not less than the width of the narrowest passenger seat installed on the aeroplane or 40 cm (15.75 inches), whichever is the least.

(ii)     For aeroplanes that have a passenger seating configuration of 19 or less, there may be minor obstructions in this region, if there are compensating factors to maintain the effectiveness of the exit.

(5)      For each Type III and Type IV exit there must be placards that –

(i)       are readable by each person seated adjacent to and facing a passageway to the exit, one in their normal field of view; and one adjacent to or on the exit;

(ii)      accurately state or illustrate the proper method of opening the exit, including the correct use of controls, handles, handholds etc.;

(iii)     if the exit is a removable hatch, state the weight of the hatch and indicate an appropriate location to place the hatch after removal.

(6)      For aeroplanes with a passenger seating configuration of 41 or more, each Type III exit must be designed such that when operated to the fully open position, the hatch/door is automatically disposed so that it can neither reduce the size of the exit opening, the passageway(s) leading to the exit, nor the unobstructed space specified in sub-paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this paragraph, to below the required minimum dimensions. In the fully open position it must also not obstruct egress from the exit via the escape route specified in CS 25.810(c).

(7)      The design of each seat, bulkhead/partition or other feature, bounding the passageway leading to each Type III or Type IV exit must be such that -

(i)       evacuees are hindered from climbing over in the course of evacuating.

(ii)      any baggage stowage provisions (such as under seat stowage) would prevent baggage items entering the passageway under the inertia forces of CS 25.561(b)(3) unless placards are installed to indicate that no baggage shall be stowed under the seats bounding the passageway.

(iii)     no protrusions (such as coat hooks) could impede evacuation.

(8)      The design and arrangement of all seats bordering and facing a passageway to each Type III or Type IV exit, both with and without the bottom cushion in place, must be free from any gap, which might entrap a foot or other part of a person standing or kneeling on a seat or moving on or along the seat row.

(9)      The latch design of deployable features (such as tables, video monitors, telephones, leg/foot rest) mounted on seats or bulkheads/partitions bordering and facing a passageway to a Type III or Type IV exit, must be such that inadvertent release by evacuating passengers will not occur. The latch design of deployable features must also be such that cabin crew can easily check that the items are fully latched in the stowed position. Placards indicating that each such item must be stowed for taxi, take-off and landing must be installed in the normal field of view of, and be readable by each person seated in each seat bordering and facing a passageway to a Type III or Type IV exit.

(d)     If it is necessary to pass through a passageway between passenger compartments to reach any required emergency exit from any seat in the passenger cabin, the passageway must be unobstructed. However, curtains may be used if they allow free entry through the passageway.

(e)     No door may be installed between any passenger seat that is occupiable for take-off and landing and any passenger emergency exit, such that the door crosses any egress path (including aisles, cross-aisles and passageways). (See AMC 25.813(e))

(f)      If it is necessary to pass through a doorway separating any crew member seat (except those seats on the flight deck), occupiable for take-off and landing, from any emergency exit, the door must have a means to latch it in the open position. The latching means must be able to withstand the loads imposed upon it when the door is subjected to the ultimate inertia forces, relative to the surrounding structure, listed in CS 25.561(b).

[Amdt 25/9]

[Amdt 25/12]

[Amdt 25/18]

[Amdt 25/19]