Final answer:
Exit access doors or exit access doorways can be located at a certain distance based on safety codes, and wave properties, like light and sound, are considered in design choices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exit access doors or exit access doorways can be located 1/3 the diagonal distance of the overall area when specific building codes or safety regulations are present. These regulations might include the need for adequate egress in case of emergency, which is governed by various factors such as the purpose of the building, its occupancy load, and local fire safety codes. An understanding of how waves, such as light and sound, behave can help in the design of doorways to optimize for safety and functionality.
For instance, Figure 27.8 illustrates the properties of light and sound waves in relation to a doorway. Light, having a very small wavelength relative to the size of the door, passes through the doorway without much diffraction, leading to a sharp shadow on the floor. Sound waves, on the other hand, with wavelengths similar to the size of the door, spread into all parts of the room. Understanding wave effects is crucial in certain design decisions, such as doorway placement relative to area size for optimal acoustic or illumination outcomes.
Height considerations for doorways, as explored in questions about airplane design for the 757, also contribute to ergonomic and safety aspects that engineers must consider. The mean doorway height to accommodate a specific percentage of the population without the need to bend is an example of how human factors engineering influences design decisions. Such considerations must balance statistical data with practical application to specific use-cases.