Are exit discharge points required to be remotely located when two exits in a new health care occupancy are remotely located?

In the context of health care occupancies, the design and arrangement of exits are governed by specific codes and standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). When two exits are provided in a new health care occupancy and are already located at a sufficient distance from one another, it is not a requirement for the exit discharge points to be remotely located.

The rationale behind this is that the primary concern is ensuring safe egress from the building. If the two exits are separated adequately—typically by a minimum distance that is defined in the appropriate NFPA codes—this is considered sufficient to mitigate hazards during an emergency situation. The focus is on providing a clear and safe path for evacuation, rather than the location of the discharge points relative to each other.

Thus, if both exits are appropriately spaced apart, they can discharge to the same area without violating safety standards. This flexibility helps in building design, ensuring that egress routes can accommodate the layout and functional aspects of health care facilities without compromising safety.