Hi All. Just looking for a bit of advice regarding steps on escape routes.

The premises is a small shop, on the ground floor only. Maximum number of people on site at a given time (staff and customers) is approximately 10.  

There are 2 designated fire exits - the main entrance which leads directly into the shop and a rear fire exit which you access through the storage area (the number of exits is adequate given the travel distances and number of people). 

To get to the rear fire exit you have to walk up 4 steps. Currently there aren't any employees with mobility impairments who require a wheelchair, but members of the public with mobility impairments do access the shop. 

The consumer unit is located next to the main entrance, although this is protected by means of sufficient fire resistant material.

Detection is installed throughout the shop, and is audible in all areas.  

My question is, should we be providing a means of escape up the stairs to the rear fire exit for people in wheelchairs (evac chair going up)?

Thanks in advance

Edited by user 24 August 2017 13:43:02(UTC)  | Reason: Spelling correction

This is quite a difficult one isnt it.  If it was an employee or a regular 'service user' you would have a PEEP in place to identify what help they need and who would provide it (buddy system/evac chair etc) but as the customers change throughout the day you wouldnt be able to do that.

Perhaps just having an awareness that there could be mobility impaired people using the 2nd fire exit and documenting that it has been considered and staff having training on how to assist someone would be ok (i am very new to HS&F stuff so forgive my ignorance if this si stupid! Just typing as i think!).

You cannot stop mobility impaired people from using the shop on the basis that there may be a fire so it comes down to what is reasonably practicable i guess.  can you eliminate the stairs?  put a ramp in?  Training as mentioned above? Evac chairs made available?

Hi Ian.

Combustible items such as books, clothes, boxes etc. are displayed in the shop (retail area), and the same items stored in the back (storage area). To access the rear fire exit you have to walk through the storage room (the rear exit is in the storage room).

The fire risk level is deemed as medium.

The travel distance to the main entrance from the back of the retail area is 7m. The travel distance from the furthest point in the shop to the main entrance is 17m. Although going off the travel distances the rear exit is not required, but if the rear exit is decommisioned we'll have an inner room scenario (getting from the kitchen to the front entrance requires going through the storage room).

Evac times - as there are currently no employees with limited mobility issues we're talking less than 1 minute to evacuate (as the shop has only been operational for 1 week they haven't carried out a drill)

Thanks

Given your travel distance i would risk assess out the secondary exit route for members of public eg: remove the signage from the shop floor ( well withing distance for single exit) keeping the exit from beyond that door for staff who may be working back of house, that way completey removing the step situation for members of public (although i agree could be managed in situ) where possible i look to avaoid taking memeber of public through the back of house / storage areas.