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#1 Posted : 04 April 2006 11:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By stevehaigh I recently visited one of our new build premises only to find two fire exits leading directly into a courtyard. The reason I received from the site supervisor was that this was on the architects escape route i.e Peoplle cross the courtyard to get to another part of the escape route. Surely this is not best practice ---any comments
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#2 Posted : 04 April 2006 12:12:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jerry Lucey Hi steve, One of the things to bear in mind with fire escapes is distance to the final exit which should be less than 18m if one route is available and not greater than 45m if two or more routes are available. I would say in your instance signage would be very important as it sounds as though the escape route is fragmented and personnel should be aware of how to re-join the designated route at the other end of the courtyard.
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#3 Posted : 06 April 2006 16:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Fred Pratley Presumably the local planning office was involved at some stage and would have considered this? Perhaps asking the question of them will resolve your concerns?
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#4 Posted : 09 April 2006 12:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By Frank Hallett Hi Steve As a basic design principle it fails the test of the current Fire legislation unless there are robust additional protective measures provided. Frank Hallett
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#5 Posted : 09 April 2006 13:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By stevehaigh We have extinguishers, 30 min fire doors, intuminescent strips,compartnentation in the ceiling spaces, smoke and heat detection plus a sprinkler system.
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#6 Posted : 09 April 2006 13:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Merv Newman Met one of these situations not long ago. As usual when booking into a new hotel I checked the fire exits. Door led to an outside staircase down into a central courtyard. Well signposted door directly opposite. Led into the ladies loo. Discuss Merv
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#7 Posted : 09 April 2006 17:41:00(UTC)
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Posted By Frank Hallett Hi Merv & Steve The original UK fire safety requirement for escape routes not to converge or [apparently] end in courtyards was the result of a French hotel fire in which a considerable number of people preished because they were not sufficiently protected from the fire once they entered the enclosed courtyard! Steve, may I suggest that you go back to the designers and require them to clearly identify how the users of the enclosed courtyard are effectively protected against exposure to the products of fire during an evacuation? If you still have reservations [no, I don't want a room]; feel able to contact me for further advice - it may be chargeable though. Frank Hallett
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