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Posted By Scott Russell
Looking for reference material on the requirements of external stairwells which are identified as part of the main escape route from an occupied building. Main area of concern is wether or not external stairwell should have canopy cover to protect from freezing and snow etc.
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Posted By Ashley Wood
Scott,
Take a look at approved document B 2006. Regarding the external stairs, as long as they are wide enough to accommodate the occupancy for the building and are in a good state of repair i.e not rusty, not falling off the wall, does not pass any windows (other than ones with fire resistant glass or wired glass), in case of existing wooden ones as long as they are not rotten and the treads are complete and non slip you do not require a cover. The problem with covering external stairs is that this can cause condensation which leads to other issues.
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Posted By David Bannister
Hi Scott, take a look at many of the office and commercial buildings in your nearest City Centre. If they are pre-war then the chances are that they have an old iron or steel escape stair, no weather cover and probably a weighted lowest section that is designed to drop to street level when required, except that the drop zone is probably occupied by an illegally parked vehicle. Some attics even have vertical ladders down to a flat roof.
These are not ideal for a number of reasons (condition/maintenance, surface friction, frightening for users, stilleto heels, exposed to fire from lower floor windows etc etc) but nevertheless still provide an emergency escape route. In many cases the buildings have listed status and to provide an internal protected route is not practicable.
Are these existing arrangements acceptable? Yes if no better alternative can be reasonably provided. No if a new-build.
So far as providing weather cover is concerned, my personal view is that it is not worth the effort and expense for most of UK where the number of freezing days is low and apparently reducing. Should they be regularly maintained, tested and cleaned, most definitely.
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Posted By GT
Hi Scott,
Perhaps the title is a little misleading.
You are concerned about safety on an external staircase that may only be used occasionally, albeit in an emergency.
I think Ashley has pointed you in the right direction and I hope that this document will have the answers to your question. In addition there maybe a requirements for any windows within 1.8 meters to be fixed shut and all doors below the top floor to be self closing, however if you follow the lead all will be revealed.
Regards
GT
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Posted By Scott Russell
Thanks to all for the info.
Ashley with regards to the document B 2006 what is its title,as am not familar with this document.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Ashley Wood
Scott,
The title is 'Building regulations Approved Document B' if you look on the government web site it is a free download.
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