Means of escape from fire

1 Means of Escape ± The Background 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Means of escape and the building life cycle 2 1.3 Means of escape and the new building 3 1.4 Means of escape and the building in use 4 1.5 Criticism of the current systems of control 7 1.6 Means of escape ± the way forward 9 1.7 References 11 2 New and Altered Buildings ± the Statutory Requirements 12 2.1 Introduction 12 2.2 The Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations 2000 12 2.3 Exempted buildings and work 16 2.4 The application of Building Regulations to projects 19 2.5 Building Regulations ± control by the local authority 22 2.6 Building Regulations ± supervision otherwise than by local authorities 27 2.7 The Building Act and means of escape ± additional provisions 31 2.8 Local Acts of Parliament 33 2.9 The London Building Acts 38 2.10 Houses in multiple occupation 41 2.11 References 41 3 Buildings in Use ± the Statutory Requirements 42 3.1 Introduction 42 v 3.2 Buildings in use ± certification, licensing and registration of premises 43 3.3 Fire certification ± the Fire Precautions Act 1971 (as amended) 43 3.4 Certification ± other statutory controls 50 3.5 Licensing controls 51 3.6 Registration 58 3.7 The Building Act and means of escape in existing buildings ± additional provisions 62 3.8 The London Building Acts 63 3.9 Houses in multiple occupation 64 3.10 References 64 4 Means of Escape ± General Principles 66 4.1 Introduction 66 4.2 Building use and means of warning and escape 67 4.3 Management of the building and the means of escape 70 4.4 Means of giving warning 71 4.5 General requirements for means of escape 73 4.6 References 76 5 Means of Escape ± Principles in Practice 77 5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 A strategy for design 77 5.3 General construction provisions 104 5.4 References 116 6 Dwellinghouses, flats and maisonettes 118 6.1 Introduction 118 Dwellinghouses 118 6.2 Fire alarm and detection systems in dwellinghouses 119 6.3 Means of escape in dwellinghouses 125 Flats and maisonettes 135 6.4 Fire alarm and detection systems in flats and maisonettes 135 6.5 Means of escape in flats and maisonettes 136 6.6 References 151 7 Application to Buildings other than Dwellings 153 7.1 Introduction 153 7.2 Houses in multiple occupation 153 7.3 Hostels, student halls of residence and buildings with similar uses 155 vi Contents 7.4 Hotels and boarding houses 156 7.5 Residential health care premises 157 7.6 Small premises 168 7.7 Offices and other buildings with exits in a central core 170 7.8 Schools and other educational buildings 172 7.9 Assembly and recreation buildings 173 7.10 Shopping complexes 178 7.11 Means of escape and atria 183 7.12 Disabled people 185 7.13 References 189 8 Modification of the Basic Principles of Means of Escape 191 8.1 Introduction 191 8.2 The evacuation process 192 8.3 Is escape really the right move? 192 8.4 Strategies 193 8.5 Basic data on movement in escape routes 193 8.6 Balancing exit capacity and travel distance 193 8.7 Improving the occupants' response to fire warning 197 8.8 Providing an earlier warning of fire 199 8.9 Mechanical aids to movement 201 8.10 The benefits of fire suppression systems 203 8.11 Dealing with smoke 206 8.12 References 210 9 New Approaches 1: BS 9999 : Part 1 Means of Escape 212 9.1 Introduction 212 9.2 A time and risk-based approach 213 9.3 Minimum fire protection measures 215 9.4 Travel distance and time 216 9.5 Stairway sizing 219 9.6 Other topics 220 9.7 Conclusion 220 9.8 References 220 10 New Approaches 2: Fire Safety Engineering 221 10.1 Introduction 221 10.2 A new approach to fire safety 224 10.3 Basic objectives 225 10.4 What is fire safety engineering? 225 10.5 Fire safety engineers 230 Contents vii 10.6 `Time line' analysis of the escape process 236 10.7 Footnote: architects and fire safety specialists 245 11 Management of Fire Safety 246 11.1 Introduction 246 11.2 Managing fire safety 246 11.3 Fire safety design and its effect on later management 253 11.4 Fire risk assessment 254 11.5 Conducting a fire risk assessment 258 11.6 Conclusion 269 Appendix A Means of Escape Case Study 270 Appendix B Fire Risk Assessment Case Study 281