I had one similar instance in a small town in Avella, PA. It was a bank building with a 5' wide set of front doors - one swung in and one swung out originally and we wanted to keep it that way. Luckily in our case, we added a true 3' wide door for ADA access on the side that also doubled as a general egress location. We were able to meet the requirement that way. Doesn't sound like you have that option.
If the building is sprinklered, perhaps you can appeal it on that count. Or even add a few heads in critical rooms (mechanical and storage rooms) off the domestic water system. Sometimes that counts towards allowing unusual conditions here.
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Christina Schessler AIA
McKinley & Associates, Inc.
Wheeling WV
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