Means of Egress - Illuminated Area of Refuge Location Lighting

Think about a real world scenario. There is a fire in the building. Its on an upper floor. The corridor is filling with smoke because the person whos unit caught fire left their door open during their escape. Mark, who is visiting a friend is in a wheel chair. In their panic to leave, Mark left his cell phone on the table and the door locked behind him. Jenny, his friend who he is staying with left her keys and is too weak to help Mark down the stairs. They see a door and run to it. The signage says, "Area Of Refuge" and is right next to an illuminated EXIT sign. They open the door and close it behind them and the smoke is being kept at bay. They're safe, but only for now. How do they tell someone they are trapped? Everyone has evacuated and there is no way to get help unless she leaves Mark there alone to run down and help. Mark pleads with her to stay and not leave him alone.

The scenario I just described is why there are requirements for a 2 Way Communications system in the building code (IBC 1009.6.5, 1009.8, 403.5.3.1, 3008.6, 1010 and 1009.3). Because in an emergency, some technologies just don't cut it. Cellular communications can easily be cut out in a 3 story building. Trust me, I test them. So these CRITICAL LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS are finally being looked at as a new code requirement in the State of California (CBC 1009.12) that now requires NFPA 72 be used in review and their acceptance. But, there is a problem and it needs to be "brought to light"

IBC 1009.9 states:

1009.9 Signage

Signage indicating special accessibility provisions shall be provided as shown:

Each door providing access to an area of refuge from an adjacent floor area shall be identified by a sign stating, "AREA OF REFUGE."

If I have a corridor and am in a full sprinklered building, the corridor is now known as an "Area of Refuge". There are no separate alcoves or lobbies needed. But, whence I separate that corridor by a horizontal exit, I CREATE A SEPERATE AREA OF REFUGE. Don't believe me, here is the language of IBC 1026 of a Horizontal Exit:

1026.4 Refuge Area

The refuge area of a horizontal exit shall be a space occupied by the same tenant or a public area and each such refuge area shall be adequate to accommodate the original occupant load of the refuge area plus the occupant load anticipated from the adjoining compartment. The anticipated occupant load from the adjoining compartment shall be based on the capacity of the horizontal exit doors entering the refuge area or the total occupant load of the adjoining compartment, whichever is less.

IBC 1009.9 then goes on to say Where exit sign illumination is required by Section 1013.3, the signs shall be illuminated. What signs?

My question to future code writers, Fire Protection Specialists and others in the industry are as follows:

1. Where do these lights get primary power?
2. If 120VAC, from E-Power? 24VDC from the 2 Way Communications System?
3. Do they require secondary power?
4. Are these circuits, if on E-Power, calculated into the load of the Generator?
5. Are these lights required to be supervised?
6. Have you been requiring them AT EVERY HORIZONTAL EXIT DOOR?????

Asking for a friend.

Joseph