Posted By John Ng Living in an ageing society, with more of the disabled joining the work force and the working population continues to grow older, the issue of access for people with disabilities in buildings is being widely promoted in recent times. However, we must also address the question of emergency egress inside the building. Once the disabled have made it in, how to get them out quickly during building emergencies when lifts evacuation unavailable. A safe and secure environment, in which clients, visitors and staff may work without fear of harm or injury, is a requirement under occupational health and safety legislation in many countries. This also means that the work place should have adequate, safe egress that allows occupants and visitors, including any disabled person to escape within two to three minutes of detecting a fire in normal circumstances. In short, all buildings are obligated to give mobility-impaired individuals the same opportunity that able-bodied people have during an emergency evacuation. People with disabilities who work or live in a high-rise building at an elevation that is beyond the reach of fire-fighting or rescue apparatus, their best hope for an emergency escape might not be found in the crowded or smoke-filled stairwell, yet, they have to rely on assisted evacuation to get them out of the building in total evacuation. While it is unfair to say that these buildings are ‘unsafe’ when it comes to the evacuation of people with disabilities, these people would definitely benefit from more tactful building design to provide alternative means of getting the disadvantaged to the ground floor more quickly and safely. Only through the development of applicable codes and standards will the possibility for the industries to develop and adopt new solutions to provide the disabled people the same ability that able-bodied people have for vertical exits, making future tall buildings egressible to everyone. Since the American Public Health Association encourages National Fire Protection Association, in its development of codes and standards, generally to utilize a "Universal Design" or inclusive design philosophy, which maximizes safety and usability for the largest range of people, including elderly persons or those of any age with disabilities; * Should Code on Barrier-Free Accessibility be extended to Egressibility ? - requires future buildings be designed to provide for accessibility and egressibility to everyone? - especially tall buildings and public buildings * Should owners or developers of high rise buildings be responsible to provide safe means of escape routes for everyone to get out of building? * Should Health and Safety Law requires employers be obligated to provide evacuation facilities for the disabled staffs working in high rise buildings? While there are solutions to make building egressible for everyone, however, unless the Code say so, otherwise it would be very difficult to change the current mindset of local building owners and management in meeting minimum formal requirements for means of escape. Would anyone wish to comment on this view?

Posted By John Ng Thanks Stuart Because of the legilstaion requirement to provide 'places of safety' within buildings allowing those who have difficulties in using stairs to stay in temporary refuge areas until the fire has been eliminated or rescue arrives, hence, nearly every high-rise building has not been designed to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to get out quick in a full extreme emergency evacuation. Yet, the ability to empty the total building population in the shortest possible time is critical under life threatening emergency situations. Can anyone tell me why we have not been able to have an International Standard for the concept of equal egress right? Although fire and life safety requirements vary by culture, one thing is common to all --people must be able to get out of the building to escape the effects of a fire. Apart from the audio and visual alarm system giving the warning system ........to evacuate immediately...... How to get the disadvantaged out of the building quickly? Given that lifts are unsafe to use in emergency, stair travel is taxing and potentially dangerous for the aged and the disabled, the concept of equal egress right would seem to be such a logical thing to have world wide! Is it or is it not?