< PreviousTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C1.06 All floors should be even with a firm, slip-resistant finish. Trip hazards should be avoided. C1.07 Openings in floors, such as escalators, should not prejudice escape routes. No escape route should pass within 4.5m of any opening unless: a)the direction of travel is away from the opening; or b)there is an alternative route which does not pass within 4.5m of the opening. See Figure D above and for further information on atria consider BS 9999 : B.4.2 and B.4.3 and Annexes. C1.08 Pipes containing gas or fuel oil should not pass through protected corridors unless they are free from joints within the corridor and of robust construction or adequately protected against mechanical damage. C1.09The use of mirrors should be avoided where confusing images such as reflections of escape route signs could occur. Any mirrors should be of safety glass. C1.10 Corridors connecting exits more than 12m apart should be divided by fire doors. There should be appropriate fire-separation to assist the protection provided by the fire doors. This does not mean that it is necessary to provide doors at 12m intervals. See Figure E. C1.11 Corridors over 12m long should have handrails on both walls. Handrails should be 1000mm above the finished floor level. There should be no equipment or furniture sited within a corridor which might impede escape. Corridors exceeding 30m in length may need to be provided with refuges to allow people with impaired mobility to wait for assistance if an emergency evacuation occurs. See Recommendations C3.35 to C3.40. C1.12Escape routes from auditoria with fixed seating should preferably be away from the stage except for the initial travel along a seatway. Either line A-B or A-C should be of 30 minutes fire-resisting construction. Door Y or door X as appropriate should likewise be fire-resistant with 30 minutes integrity from either side. Depending on their use, the rooms may also need to be fire-separated.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C1.13 Where a box is entered directly from the auditorium it is acceptable for the escape route to be via the auditorium, subject to compliance with the Recommendations on maximum travel distance. Where a box is entered from outside the auditorium at least one escape route should be independent of the auditorium. C1.14 Escape routes from a separated stage should not be via the auditorium. Note: This does not preclude the provision of pass doors in the proscenium wall. C1.15Corridors serving dressing rooms and other ancillary accommodation should be enclosed by fire-resisting construction and lead to alternative exits, one of which should be a storey exit. C1.16 Escape routes from dressing rooms and other ancillary accommodation should be separate from escape routes from public areas. Note: It may be reasonable in small premises for means of escape to be shared public, staff and performers. Table 4. Recommended minimum dimensions for lobbies New premises for public useExisting buildings only Single doors, single or double swing Width: Wd + 300mm but at least 1200mm Length: Pd +1570mm but at least 2400mm 1200mm wide by 1800mm Single doors staff use only with no wheelchair access 600mm clear between one fully open door and the other door fully closed. Width of door to comply with Table 6 500mm clear between one fully open door and the other door fully closed. Width of door to comply with Table 6 Double doors, single or double swing Width: At least 1800mm Length: Pd + 1570mm but at least 2400mm 1200mm wide by 1800mm Wd = width of door(s) Pd = projection of door(s) into lobby See also Figures F and K. Lobbies C1.17 Lobbies may be provided for heat insulation, sound or light reduction and/or for fire protection. Lobbies should: a)be designed so that users are not likely to be trapped or impeded by the doors; b)meet the Recommendations of C1.50 to C1.53 and Table 4; c)have double swing doors where regular two-way traffic is intended; d)with single swing doors have them open in the direction of escape. Thus only one set of single swing doors should open into the lobby: see Figure F; e)have floor surfaces which are even with a firm, smooth and slip resistant finish and which do not impede movement of wheelchairs or have joints in materials that could cause trip hazards. Entrance lobbies should have floors and floor surfaces which assist in removal of rainwater. Any mats in mat wells should be level and maintained level with the surrounding floor surface; f)have any glazing arranged so as not to cause distracting reflections within the lobby; g)not be used for storage.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TTTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C1.18 Where lobbies are provided for fire protection they should also: a)be of fire-resisting construction; b)have self-closing fire doors; c)be unventilated: i)where provided between an entertainment area and a common foyer (see Recommendation C1.22); ii)where protecting the entry to a stair where the minimum number of stairs is provided (that is without discounting each stair in turn) (see Recommendation C3.18); iii)unless the lobby is provided in order to meet the recommendations of AD B Fire Safety: Buildings other than dwelling houses or as part of a fire engineered system (see Recommendation E3.04); iv) unless the lobby leads directly to open air from a separated stage (see Recommendation E3.45); d)be ventilated direct to outside air, unless protected from the ingress of smoke by a mechanical smoke control system, if the lobby serves: v) a refuse store, vi) a fire-separated film projection or rewinding, vii) an enclosed car park with no open sides, or viii) a place of special fire hazard. Foyers Foyers will be familiar to the public and their use is likely in an emergency. It is therefore desirable that the foyer be acceptable as providing a satisfactory means of escape. Foyers often include additional accommodation such as box offices or bars, which can create hazards if not carefully controlled. If a foyer serving more than one floor or balcony is to be regarded as providing an escape route additional precautions will be needed. Where a foyer serves several auditoria, as is common with cinema multiplex, more stringent precautions will be required. C1.19 A foyer is an acceptable means of escape, provided Recommendations C1.20 to C1.24 are met. C1.20All other escape route(s) from the entertainment area should be independent of the foyer. C1.21 Where the escape route(s) from one or more floors or balconies within a single entertainment area discharge into a foyer, the foyer should be enclosed in fire-resisting construction offering a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistance. C1.22 Where the escape route(s) from one or more floors or balconies from more than one entertainment area discharge into a common foyer, the foyer should be enclosed in fire-resisting construction offering a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistance and additionally each exit into the foyer should be protected by an unventilated lobby of fire-resisting construction providing a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistance. C1.23 Any additional accommodation such as box offices, bars or cloakrooms should be sited so as not to obstruct the flow of people in an evacuation and be constructed so as not to present a significant fire hazard. Cooking facilities should not be provided within foyers. This does not preclude the re-heating of food for example using microwave ovens. C1.24 Any furnishings, fabrics and decorative features in foyers should: a)be non-combustible; or b)present Class 0 material or surface; or c)be of inherently or durably-treated flame-retarded material.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Travel distances C1.25Table 5 gives details of the maximum recommended travel distance to the nearest storey exit from any point within the premises. C1.26For two escape routes to be considered as providing travel in more than one direction they should be separated: a)by an angle of at least 45º (see Figure G); or b)by fire-resisting construction; or c)in the case of an open plan area, by a distance more than half the maximum plan dimension (see Figure H). C1.27 If travel is initially in one direction before a choice of routes is possible, then the two routes should be considered as providing travel in only one direction unless they are separated: a)by an angle of at least 45° plus an additional 2.5° for each metre of travel in one direction (see Figure I); or b)by fire-resisting construction. Table 5. Recommended maximum travel distance to the nearest storey exit Location Possible direction of escape One direction only More than one direction (as described in C1.26) Public areas Seating in rows15 metres32 metres (2) Open floor areas (1) 18 metres45 metres (3) All non-public areasDressing rooms9 metres18 metres (4) Plant rooms other than places with special fire hazards 9 metres35 metres (4) Places of higher hazards (5) 12 metres25 metres (6) Places of special fire hazards (5) 9 metres 18 metres (4) All other accommodation 18 metres 45 metres (3) Notes: 1 If the internal layout of the area is either not known or not permanent, a straight line distance not exceeding two thirds of the recommended maximum travel distance should be substituted. 2 May include up to 15m in one direction only provided C1.27 is met. 3 May include up to 18m in one direction only provided C1.27 is met. 4 May include up to 9m in one direction only provided C1.27 is met. 5 See Section A3 for definitions. 6 May include up to 12m in one direction only provided C1.27 is metTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Travel A-B is in a single direction and should not exceed 15m Angle CBD should not be less than 45º plus additional 2.5º for each metre of travel A-B. Travel A-C should not exceed 32mTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Width of escape routes Exits and escape routes need to be wide enough to allow people to move quickly to escape from the premises. Corridors and passageways should allow for the manoeuvre of wheelchairs and permit other people to pass. Narrow corridors may be acceptable in areas to which wheelchairs do not have access or within existing buildings. In calculating the width of an escape route the projection of door furniture and handrails may be ignored so long as this is not excessive, as these projections do not limit the free passage of people because they are below the widest part of the body. Any narrowing of an escape route, even if caused by a temporary obstruction, would slow down the speed of evacuation and be dangerous. Escape routes should therefore either be of uniform width or widen in the direction of escape. C1.28 The recommended minimum clear width of any means of escape is shown in Table 6. C1.29 The width of an escape route is the distance measured at 1500mm above floor level between the finished wall surfaces or any fixed obstructions. Handrails may be ignored so long as these do not project more than 100mm into the escape route, likewise skirtings that do not project more than 30mm. Note: Handrails may project more than 100mm but the amount of the projection in excess of 100mm should be treated as a reduction in the clear width of the escape route . C1.30Each means of escape from the premises, including any lobbies and ramps, should be of uniform width or widen in the direction of escape. Any means of escape should be at least as wide as the width of any exit leading into it. Where several exits lead into a single means of escape, the capacity of the means of escape should equal or exceed the aggregate capacity of the exits opening into it or equal or exceed the total accommodation limit for the rooms served by the exits. Any doorframe may be ignored provided the clear width of the doorway meets Table 6. Note: This does not preclude a wider circulation space from leading to a narrower circulation space provided the narrower area is at least as wide as is necessary for escape. Number, width and siting of exits C1.31 The recommended minimum clear width of any exit is shown in Table 6. C1.32 All exits from stages, other than pass doors, should be at least 1200mm wide irrespective of the size of the stage. C1.33 The width of a doorway is the clear width measured between the leaves of the doors when fully open at right angles to the frame (or, if a single door, the leaf when fully open and the doorstop or frame.) Any intrusion of door furniture into the opening may only be ignored if the door opens more than 90° to the frame. See Figure J. C1.34 If a floor is subdivided into large parts, separate exits should be provided from each area. However, where a small part of the premises is separated from the rest of the premises only by a partition with openings that allow adequate access between the two parts, these need not be treated as separate enclosures provided travel distances meet the recommendations of Table 5. C1.35 Table 7 gives details of the recommended maximum capacity and the minimum number of exits from any room or enclosure, based on the numbers of people who may be accommodated. If the minimum number of exits cannot be provided then the maximum number of people to be accommodated should be reduced. C1.36 Each exit from any part of the premises should lead directly to a final exit or to a final exit through means of escape protected by fire-resisting construction - see Table 1 in Section A3. C1.37Each exit from a floor should be remote from the other exits from that floor. Note: Exits from different floors may lead into common means of escape provided: a)access to the stair or corridor is via a protected lobby; and b)there is a sufficient number and capacity of independent exits from each level.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Table 6. Recommended minimum clear widths of exit doors and means of escape Location exit doors means of escape Generally 1050mm 1200mm Within existing buildings 800mm 1000mm Inaccessible to wheelchair users and no more than 60 public present 800mm850mm Limited numbers of staff only 750mm 750mm Notes: 1 In this Table ‘inaccessible to wheelchair users’ means any area approached by a stair and not provided with a lift. 2 The width of the means of escape will normally exceed the width of the exit doors by the width of the doorframe. 3 Exits from stages should be at least 1200mm wide. 4 Where external entrance doors are not to be used as exit doors they should be at least 1000mm wide for new buildings and at least 775mm for existing premises. For the recommended minimum number and maximum capacity of exits and escape routes see Table 7. C1.38 At least half of the exits from each floor should be remote from any stage, screen or performance area. C1.39Any stage basement, which may be used in conjunction with a stage presentation, should have at least two exits, one of which should not lead through the stage area.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Capacity of exits C1.40 The recommended maximum capacity of means of escape is shown in Table 7. C1.41 The aggregate capacity of the means of escape should equal or exceed the accommodation limit. The number and width of exits may be combined to provide the necessary capacity, provided the limitations on travel distances are not exceeded. C1.42The total capacity of the means of escape or several exits is calculated by adding together the maximum numbers of people who can safely use each exit to escape - and not by adding together the widths of the various exits. For example, the capacity of three exits each 800mm wide is (3 x 60 people) = 180 and not the capacity of a single exit 2400mm wide. C1.43 Because a fire may render any one escape route unusable, the remaining exits should have sufficient capacity for the total number of people to be accommodated on the floor, which is after discounting one exit. Table 7 takes account of this and no further discounting is necessary provided: a)all means of escape are separated from the rest of the premises by fire-resisting construction; and b)no accommodation except sanitary accommodation is provided within the means of escape, other than a foyer; and c)Table 7 is used to determine the number and capacity of the means of escape necessary. Note: After discounting an exit it is accepted that the travel distance to the nearest available exit may exceed the recommended maximum. C1.44 If there is any accommodation, excluding sanitary accommodation, within any means of escape other than a foyer, the widest means of escape remaining should have sufficient capacity for the total number of people to be accommodated on the floor. Special considerations apply to foyers – see Recommendations C1.19 to C1.24. C1.45Larger numbers of exits than those given in Table 7 may be provided so long as the aggregate capacity of the exits less any one exit (the largest where widths vary) is sufficient and all the exits are in materially different directions – see Recommendations C1.26 and C1.27. C1.46 The capacity of exits for any capacity exceeding 220 people can be calculated by using the following formula: (E – 1) x w = N 5 where E = Number of exits w = the width of the smallest exit in millimetres N = the maximum number of people. Example 1. 650 capacity can be by 3 exits each 1625mm wide (3-1) x 1625 = 650 people 5 OR by 4 exits each 1100mm wide (4-1) x 1100 = 660 people 5 Example 2. 1000 capacity can be by 4 exits each 1750mm wide (4-1) x 1750 = 1050 people 5 OR by 5 exits each 1250mm wide (5-1) x 1250 = 1000 people 5TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C1 Horizontal escape © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Table 7. Recommended minimum number and maximum capacity of exits and means of escape Maximum number of people 1 to use exit or means of escape Small room travel distance not to exceed 15m if the room has fixed seating in rows or 18m if an open area. One exit not less than mm wide Ground floor premises only with an adequate frontage with direct access to a street or large open space and no special hazard. One exit not less than mm wide All other premises At least two exits each not less than mm wide All other premises At least three exits each not less than mm wide All other premises At least four exits each not less than mm wide 60800 800800 4 751000850 4 1001100900 4 110950 4 1251000 4 1501050850 4 2001050900 4 220 2 1100950 4 25012501000 4 30015001050 400200010501025 4 500250012501050 600 300015001050 650 3 16251085 75018751250 100025001670 thereafter allow 2.5mm per person 2 allow 1.67mm per person 2 NB Each exit and means of escape has to be in a materially different direction – see C1.26 and C1.27 Notes 1 Numbers of staff can usually be disregarded in areas primarily occupied by the public. 2 Capacities in excess of 220 may be calculated on the basis of 5mm per person per exit. Thus when 2 or 3 exits are available the basis is 2.5mm or 1.67mm per person. 3 Other arrangements are possible with capacities in excess of 600 provided the aggregate capacity of the exits less any one exit is sufficient and each exit is in a materially different direction – see Recommendations C1.26 & C1.27. 4 Widths less than 1050mm generally apply only to existing buildings. Exits from stages should be at least 1200mm wide – see Recommendation C1.32. Table 6 gives the minimum recommended widths of exit doors and means of escape.Next >