The exit discharge is the final leg — from the end of an exit to the public way — and IBC 1028 governs it. Exits must discharge directly to the exterior at grade or to an exit discharge that leads to a public way. A common allowance lets up to 50 percent of exits discharge through a lobby on the level of exit discharge, subject to conditions (the path must be clearly visible and the area protected). Egress courts that channel discharge have their own width and construction rules.
The common mistake is discharging occupants into an enclosed courtyard or area that doesn't actually connect to a public way, or exceeding the 50-percent-through-lobby allowance. Reviewers trace each exit past the door to confirm it reaches a public way, and check any lobby discharge against the 50-percent rule and its conditions — a beautifully designed egress system still fails if the last leg dead-ends.
This guide describes the model code for general understanding and is not a substitute for the adopted code and amendments enforced by your local authority having jurisdiction. Verify all figures against your jurisdiction's codes of record.