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Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
Where the heck does it state that there must be a second route to egress a building in the event of fire/explosion etc? I have just been visiting our new Hi tech offices in London and they do not have an alternative route if the fire etc was from floors below and coming up the stairs to meet them.
Lifts descend to ground floor and remain open, but there is no other way out of the building other than the main stairs down. I really need the appropriate legislation that is statute or ACOP stating that a commercial building MUST have that second option.
Many thanks in anticipation.
CFT
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Posted By shaun mckeever
Charley
It all depends on the size and nature of the building. Some buildings can have a single staircase. Guidance can be found in Approved Document B, BS 5588 or the new guidance documents to accompany the new fire regs. Generally if a floor is more than 11m above ground then genrally you will need an alternative means of escape. You may consider an engineered solution e.g. sprinkler protection or upgraded fire alarm system but you will have to demonstrate that your engineered solution is at least as good as the guidance documents.
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Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
Thanks Shaun, yes it's second floor! Fine with the RRFSO but needed to qoute either a BS or other.No sprinklers, no other means in or out other than stairs.
Thanks again
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Posted By Ashley Wood
Charley,
Shaun is spot on. Is the only stairway protected i.e fire doors onto it and is the route out at the entrance also protected?
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Posted By Crim
Question re the lifts. Are they designated for use in evacuation? If so they could be your second exit?
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Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
No fire doors on each landing, so had already insisted they are fitted immediately at minimum one hour rating.Current management company representing the landlord has ensured the lifts descent to ground floor and doors remain open. So not an option, had quietly considered that particular one. Can't explore roof, but am hoping to find an external staircase or an arrangement with surrounding properties to evacuate that way in the event of fire etc; ensuring of course that any dedicated route affords full protection from falls.I can then make certain all this information is logged and shared between all parties. Until I can clear this issue off the FRA remains at an unacceptable level, and one fears that an inspection by the Fire authority would issue a section 22 HSWA to have the proposed works completed.
Many thanks for your on-going assistance.
CFT
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Posted By shaun mckeever
Charley
Whooah boy.
If I have understood you right you are only concerned with a building with two floors above ground. If that is correct then a single staircase is probably acceptable. The next thing to consider is the travel distance to the staircase on each floor. How long is the furthest travel distance from a workplace i.e. a desk (not store room or coffee break area)?
Do you have afd? if so what type of system is it?
Don't place any ignition sources or fuels in the stairwell. If this is your only protected route then it must remain a sterile area. So long as you have a sterile area and either a lobby approach to the stairs or afd in the stairwell then a single stair is ok.
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Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
Ok, you make some sense; yes on AFDS, but should the blaze commence two floors below and get to the staircase, (assume ground floor have the FD wedged open for a moment) and the flames are in the stairs area, where then do the workforce go? Roof to await rescue?
Shaun, where does it state this is acceptable? With due respect to your comment.
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Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
Shaun
Thank you. 167 pages to read so here we go.
CFT
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