Escape routes, protection stairways

The two key features in planning a means of escape are, firstly, the travel distance which is the distance a person must travel from any point within a floor area to the nearest exit to a protected stairway, escape route or to a place of safety. In general 18 m is considered to be the maximum travel distance if there is only one exit and 45 m if there is more than one. Secondly, except in special circumstances, at least two escape routes in substantially opposite directions should be provided for every storey or level of a building. The width of the exit and the escape route is governed by the number of people who may be present on the storey or level but the minimum permitted width is 826 mm. Where a corridor forms part of the travel distance it should be enclosed to restrict the spread of smoke. If the corridor is a dead end then it must have at least half-hour fire resistance walls and ceilings so that people can safely pass by a room if it is on fire. If the corridor connects alternative exits it should be fitted with smoke stop doors mid-way between the exits. 

Stage 2 escape from the compartment of origin via the circulation route to a final exit / entry to a protected stairway / to an adjoining compartment offering refuge... 

Access to storey exits >- Separation of circulation routes from stairways >- Storey/floors divided into different uses >- Storey divided into different occupancies >- The height of escape routes >- Separation of high risk areas >- Protection of dead-ends >- The subdivision of long corridors. 

Refuges - a protected stainway is an internai stairway intended for use as an escape route (it may aiso be in everyday use). The protection takes the form of an enoiosure of fire resistant waiiing and doors. 

The Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association requires fire doors between corridors and stairways for all institutional and educational occupancies. The purpose of these doors is to prevent the spread of fire or smoke from lower floors to upper floors, and to protect the escape route fi om a building as long as possible in the event of a fire. 

The portion of an exit route that is generally separated from other areas to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge from the effects of an incident. An example of an exit is a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated enclosed stairway that leads from the fifth floor of an office building to the outside of the building. Exits include exterior exit doors, exit passageways, horizontal exits, and separated exit stairs or ramps. See also Fire Escape. 

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