What is the law on fire exits?

Fire exit doors must, by their very nature, be incorporated into the external walls of a building and, although the RRFSO states that they “must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them”, i.e. when exiting a building in a fire situation.

Is it illegal to block a fire escape route?

Final fire exit doors should never be blocked from the inside or outside. Equally, the internal escape routes must not be blocked.

What level of protection does a fire escape staircase give in a fire situation?

A staircase that is enclosed throughout its height by a fire resisting structure and doors can sometimes be considered a place of comparative safety. In these cases, the staircase can be known as a ‘protected route’.

Which exit should you use in the case of fire?

There is no specific rule for this, but the number of exits must allow all building occupants to escape quickly in case of a fire. Therefore, large or unusually shaped buildings (e.g. warehouses, hospitals), buildings with a lot of occupants and multi-storey buildings will normally require more than two exit routes.

What is the first thing you should do if you discover a fire?

Large fire

Pull the fire alarm and call for help.
Alert people in the area to begin evacuation.
Close doors to confine the fire.
Go to your designated assembly area, away and upwind from the building.
Have people who know about the nature and location of the fire assist emergency personnel when they arrive.

What is the minimum width for a fire escape route?

Minimum width for an escape route should ideally be 1050mm but in any case not less than 750mm and where wheelchair users are likely to use it not less than 900mm. The premises fire risk level will be obtained from your fire risk assessment (use medium risk if you are not sure of your premises risk level).

What are the 3 parts of an exit route?

An “exit route” is a continuous and unobstructed path of exit from any point within a workplace to a place of safety. An exit route consists of three parts: Exit access, Exit, and Exit discharge.

Where should fire escape access be installed?

Upper floor windows: On upper floors up to 4.5 meters from ground level, all habitable rooms (not kitchens or bathrooms) must be fitted with fire escape windows, unless the room has direct access to a protected stairway.

How do you calculate exit capacity?

To determine the egress capacity of a door, or how many people a door will accommodate, divide the clear opening width of the door by 0.2 inches per occupant or 0.15 inches per occupant (see above to choose which factor to use).

What should be the fire escape route in a single storey house?

Fire Escape Route from a Single Storey House: All the habitable rooms except the kitchen should have the following things: 01. All the rooms shall have an opening inside the hall, which will lead to the final exit, as shown in the figure. 02. There shall be a provision of an emergency window or door.

What are the rules for a fire escape from a staircase?

Fire Escape Route from a house with an upper floor at maximum 4.5M from the ground floor: When a single staircase serves the house, all the habitable rooms except the kitchen should have: 01. Direct access to the protected stairway. 02. There shall be a provision of an emergency window or door. 03.

Do you need a fire escape ladder in a multi story home?

“Fire escape ladders may be necessary to provide two ways to exit every room in a multi-story home should a fire block the main stairs,” Jensen says. “Because of this, fire ladders must be accessible and easy to use.”

Which is the best way to escape a building?

‘The route along which people can escape from any point in a building to a final exit .’

What to do with extra space in hallway?

By combining a tall cupboard with two deep drawers and a small surface for popping keys and post, the owners have ensured every bit of space is put to work. Talk to a joiner to find a bespoke solution for your own home. If you have the opportunity to carve a recessed niche into a wall, this is a great way to get a little extra room in a hallway.

Is it important to follow the escape route in a fire?

When inspecting any building, it is important always to follow the escape route to its ultimate place of safety. Plus, the final exits on these escape routes (i.e. fire exits) must have sufficient capacity to ensure the swift and safe evacuation of people from the building in an emergency situation.

What’s the best way to store storage in a hallway?

A modular system is a great hallway storage idea because you can personalise it completely to your space and needs. String shelving is made up of different modular components that you can build up and evolve as much as you want, choosing from shelves, cabinets, drawers and more.