Posted By Mark Eastbourne Afternoon all. I have just been asked by a fellow member of staff as to whether he can place photocopiers in the landings of a 5 floor tower block at the college to make them all equally accessible to all members of staff on each floor. I believe that this is because we are reducing the number of photocopiers on site so are therefore making them more central, hence placing them on the landing of the central stair case. The Tower Block has an escape route at either side and the main stair route is down the centre. It is on this main escape route that the photocopiers are envisaged to go. I have looked at Section 14 of the RRFSO, it states that escape routes must remain clear. However, the photopcopiers themselves would NOT be causing a blockage, the landings are quite large and I could probably stack 5 or 6 side by side before they interfered with the escape. My argument is, that despite there being plenty of room to allow staff to evacuate safely, effectively, what they are planning is to place an electrical source with fuel (paper) in the main escape route and although the likelihood of ignition is low, the risk is still there. If they decided to place the photocopier in a corridor I would categorically say no as it would create a physical blockage and therefore breach section 14, however, in the area where they intend to place the photocopier, it will not cause a blockage but have introduced a potential hazard of a potential ignition source in a fire escape route. Have also just found out that paper recycling bins have been placed in this main landing area on all floors in an effort to be green! Again, the likelihood of them catching fire is low, despite it being a college - but still, my opinion would be to keep the whole area clear of all potential ignition sources and fuels. Can I ask you what you would do? Am I being too picky? My gut feeling is to keep the whole landing clear. Thank you in advance for your comments, Mark

Posted By garyh I would not allow it. You have 2 sides of the fire triangle in close proximity in a photocopier ie fuel and source of ignition. Hence, it should not be in an escape route. IMHO.

Posted By Alan Hoskins I don't think you are being 'picky' at all Mark! I had a large copier moved from a foyer area because of an open stairway leading to the first floor. Also, you usually don't JUST get the copier - but also reams of paper and bins of waste paper... Alan

Posted By Messy Shaw As always, it is difficult to picture the situation to any accuracy, but I am picturing a building with three staircases, the central one being the main stairs and the one being considered for the copier. Ideally, the copier should be in a room, or maybe in a corridor. I think we'd all agree that the last place to put it would be a staircase. However, but if the 2 alternative staircases are enclosed and in good condition and there is no way a fire in the main staircase could reach either of the 2 alternatives (within an hour - ie at least 2 x 30 mins doors between each staircase), it might not be such a problem. Any occupancy figures would assume 1 staircase is not available so there should be sufficient space on the remaining 2 stairs to cope. Addition control measures such as smoke detection (if not already in place), regular maintenance of the copier, control over the amount of paper stored, control over the amount of people queuing to use the copier, regular emptying of waste and maybe an additional MCP and/or CO2 near the copier, and more frequent fire drills during which the central stairs are assumed to be blocked would reduce the risk to (perhaps) tolerable levels. I am not saying it will be possible, merely that it might be, so I wouldn't right-off that possibility without seeing the building. Surely the art of risk assessing is managing the risk by considering all possible alternative solutions, rather than simply saying no if the situation looks a little difficult.

Posted By Stuff4blokes Just read the entire thread and was desperately hoping someone would come up with the "adequate alternative escape route + adequate management advice" Thankyou Messy Shaw for your usual quality contribution.

Posted By martinw As an aside Mark thought about the possibility acts of vandalism against the photocopiers, as presumably there will be no staff in those areas at all times?