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Posted By Brian John Abbs
Can anyone provide me with a definitive answer to what the width of office walkways should be?
As our office is being moved around I notice that a number of walkway widths have been reduced drastically to allow room for more desks.
Is there a difference between major walkways/fire routes, and walkways, aisles between desks?
Should I be looking in the Fire Precautions Act, Building regulations or the DDA?
Any help to get a definitive answer would remove the furrow from my brow and be gratefully received.
I'd like to get our office compliant ASAP.
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Good evening Brian, My suggestion is you look at the Building Regulations Approved Document Part B section B1 table 5 which gives the minimum widths for fire escape routes - 50 persons 750mm, 100 persons 850mm, 220 persons 150mm and for every 5 persons above 220 an additional 5mm per person. Part B is downloadable from the department for communities (the old ODPM). If your new office layout means you cannot maintain the Building Regs requirement you are in trouble. This is further discussed in the Guidance published by the old ODPM and continued in its new title of the communities thingy this is also downloadable from the internet.
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Sorry Brian a misprint in my responce for 220 persons the minimum width is 1050mm
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Posted By David Bramall
Brian
As far as I am aware, the bulding regs don't come into it. I believe that the minimum corridor width is 1.05 metres regardless of the number of employees. There are of course differences in door widths leadinf out of an office, depot, store etc. depending on the number of employees but I would always stick with the 1.05 metres corridor width.
Regards
DrB
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Posted By gham
An escape route is not a walkway, some walk ways are escape routes but not all escape routes are walkways ..... if that makes sence
The scottish building standards state s2.7, 4.2.3 corridors should be wide enough to allow for wheel chair access and users to turn 180 degs. at least 1200mm wide, but this depends on the width of the door that opens into it, the lenght of the corridor and any obstructions along the route e.g. shelving, radiators etc.
Bulding Regs section M is as follows
Doorway 750 or wider
Corridor/passageway 900 (when approach head-on)
Doorway 750
Corridor/passageway 1200 (when approach not head-on)
Doorway 775
Corridor/passageway 1050 (when approach not head-on)
Doorway 800
Corridor/passageway 900 (when approach not head-on)
Hope this helps
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
The building regulations are relevant as they set down the minimum widths required in order to obtain planning permission for new builds, at least they represent a guide.
Part M is also relevant but I am not fully up to spead with them so a check would be wise.
I assume the term walkway was reference to escape routes. Brian you will need to research this in each document as a precaution. It is also worth looking at BS5586 as well.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Brian John Abbs
Thanks everyone for the information.
Although I still don't have a definitive answer, I have enough information to prove that the space allowed is inadequate. That should be enough to force a rethink.
I doff my cap in recognition.
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