Posted By Phillipe
If you have a lift from a basement or upper floor that does not meet BS:5588 and as a result is not fire rated, means of escape from a basement/upper level for disabled persons becomes somewhat limited to that of either trained staff to lift personnel or trained staff to use a evac chair in order to lift.

Refuges are not deemed suitable by the Fire Service as it poses a risk to their employees in the event of them entering a building to perform a rescue.

I was just wondering how others who find themselves in this situation approach it.

Posted By DJ
Phillipe,

The method you suggest is unlikely to comply with the requirements of the DDA (although it might be sufficient for health and safety/fire purposes).

Please feel free to contact me if you (or other members) wish to discuss it further.

DJ

Posted By Matt Bown
Hi

My understanding of 5588 is that it isnt a requirement, merely guidance. If however it is used, then all aspects should be met...cant select bits you want etc...

Many public facing businesses use refuges and this is ok, however the business must then have a proven management system in place to ensure that persons in these refuges can be evacuated to a final safe place and not exposed to any danger. In short if you use refuges, you must either use evac chairs or have a "rescue" team plus a system that identifies any persons left in the building if you are unable to get these persons out for the fire service.

Whilst the onus IS on the business, every fire service ive worked with will enter into a local agreement about rescue from fire fighting staircases, unless by doing so it causes a greater risk.

New fire reform order makes duties very clear however.
Have you taken input from local authority?

Cheers, Matt