Designing for Safety and Wellbeing

Fire Strategy

Fire Escape Staircase

Design for Vertical Escape

1200mm

The fire escape stairwell is designed to fit the respective regulations from Document B. The landing/lobby space has a radius of 1200mm that gives wheelchair users enough space to manouver. The door is also 1000mm wide which is big enough to exit the building safely in the case of a fire.

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

An electrically operated fire alarm system shall be provided and operated using a fire detection system.

Complying with Category L4 of BS -5839 , smoke detectorsspecifically optical point detectors that rely on optical smoke sensors should be provided. While Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) should be installed along escape routes and staircases. According to L3, They should also be installed in every room . corridor and compartment that opens up to the escape routes.

Taking account the number of stories and the maximum expected occupants, only one escape route is necessary. The refuge space is also important and meets the requirement of being a minimum of 900x1400mm and is accessible by wheelchair users. The doors should also be as wide as the exit doors, hence they are 1000mm wide as is required by Document B.

Design for Horizontal Escape

The fire escape stair is accessible within 18m in any direction, making it eligable to have a single fire escape stair. The building would not occupy more than 60 people at a time, hence only needing 1 escape route.