Posted By Bill Collins Do doors on fire escape routes have to open in the direction of escape? The current Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 state that 'emergency doors shall open in the direction of escape'; The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that… (d) 'emergency doors must open in the direction of escape'; (pretty straight forward so far.....) But, Approved Document B states that… The door of any doorway or exit should, if reasonably practicable, be hung in the direction of escape and should always do so if the number of persons that might be expected to use the door at the time of the fire is more than 60 So, is it the case that... (a)it's desirable that doors on routes that double up as escape routes in the event of an emergency, open in the direction of escape if likely to accomodate less than 60 people, whilst doors that are on routes used solely as a means of escape must open in the direction of escape no matter what, or (b)all doors on routes that are used as escape routes in the event of an emergency, regardless of whether they are also used as internal walkways or the likely volume of people to be accomodated, MUST open in the direction of escape? Any help would be most gratefully received! Thanks Bill

Posted By Bill Collins Not really but the way I read Approved Document B, it doesn't appear necessary anyway considering there are only 15 employees in the whole place. But when you read the regs (either one).. it does. Sems a bit of a contradiction to me and I just wanted to be clear in my own mind so that I don't advise a course of action that is, in the first instance unnecessary or, in the second, illegal.

Posted By gham In a nut shell a) If there is a very good reason for them not opening in that direction, although are final EMERGENCY exits not supposed to open outwards anyway b) if there are more than 60 people likley to use the route I think you answered your won question Bill

Posted By Paul Oliver Lets have a look at likely causes of emergency (fire: source of ignition,combustible material etc.) and eliminate or manage them firstly, then you can have the confidence to advise wether internal doors require modifiying or not. You always find that the lovely little cubby hole under the stairs brsitling with paper and rubbish, outward opening doors are no use if you can't get to them in the first place.

Posted By Jeffrey Watt Bill I suppose you need to go out quick when the Jesus Nut goes on the CH47 your repairing. Must be quite interesting work there? Kind regards Jeff