Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error
Gap between back to back office chairs?
Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Previous Topic Next Topic
Admin  
#1 Posted : 29 April 2005 10:54:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin
Posted By Bev
We have an office here which is rather crowded, with approx 20 people in it. I know the space requirements per person, but in order to sort this out, the layout currently has desks along every available part of three walls, with a bank of desks in the middle. If everyone is in there, seated at their workspaces, their chairs touch the back of the chair of the worker behind them.

I'm worried what would happen in a fire, as to people at the rear of the office getting out. Does anyone know if there are minimum width requirements in offices, all I can find is door widths and corridors.

Many thanks in advance.
Back to top
Admin  
#2 Posted : 29 April 2005 11:04:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin
Posted By Roger the Dodger
Fire lanes/fire doors should be a minimum of 750mm wide.

However, I use 1m as a minimum distance between the backs of chairs and for fire lanes etc.

If you had wheelchair bound people, the minimum width of fire lanes is 1.2m.

See http://www.rbfrs.co.uk/fsb_employersguide.htm

Or search for your local fire service web site for guidance.

West Yorks Fire Service have a good section regarding technical guidance for fire safety.
Back to top
Admin  
#3 Posted : 29 April 2005 11:50:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin
Posted By Ron Young
From what you say, you appear to be in breach of the building regs
Back to top
Admin  
#4 Posted : 29 April 2005 12:44:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin
Posted By Bev
I'm trying to find out precisely what regs we may be breaching, so that I can get things sorted. I'm trying to avoid a "half solve" of the problem as well!
Back to top
Admin  
#5 Posted : 29 April 2005 13:01:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin
Posted By Roger the Dodger
Its not regulations, but accpeted guidance from the fire service/Home Office fire safety guidance.
Back to top
Admin  
#6 Posted : 29 April 2005 13:19:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin
Posted By Tom Clark
Apart from the fire implications, each employee needs 11 cubic metres of space around them. See info in the site below:
Page 14

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg173.pdf

Hope it helps.
Back to top
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2025, Yet Another Forum.NET