GENERAL
E1.1 This Part sets out the required standards for Regulation 13.
E1.2 The application of each standard is determined by the standard itself.
E1.3 For the purposes of this Part a flat or maisonette entered only from the open air at ground level and with no storey at a height of more than 4.5m shall be regarded as a building of purpose sub-group 1C; where a maisonette entered only from the open air at ground level has a storey at a height of more than 4.5m it shall be regarded as a building of purpose sub-group 1B.
PROVISION OF EXITS AND ESCAPE ROUTES
E2.1 The number of exits and escape routes required in a building is as follows:
a. there must be at least one exit from any room, storey, space, gallery, catwalk or openwork floor of a building, or from a dwelling, except -
there are no requirements for the provision of an escape route within a dwelling;
b. the number of escape routes is determined by the number of exits in accordance with E2.3, E2.4, and E2.6.
MEANS OF ESCAPE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
E2.2* Suitable means of escape for disabled people in the event of fire must be provided in every building or part of a building from any floor which is accessible to disabled people.
MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS IN RELATION TO occupancy capacity
E2.3 The minimum number of exits from a room, storey, space, gallery, catwalk or openwork floor in relation to occupancy capacity must be in accordance with the table to this standard; and
a. the minimum number of exits from a room or space, not being a whole storey, shall be determined in relation to the occupancy capacity of the room or space; and
b. the minimum number of exits from a storey shall be determined in relation to theoccupancy capacity of the storey.
Table to E2.3: Minimum number of exits in relation to occupancy capacity
|
Occupancy capacity of room, storey or space etc |
Minimum number of exits |
|
Not more than 60 |
1 |
|
61-600 |
2 |
|
More than 600 |
3 |
MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXITS IN RELATION TO HEIGHT OR DEPTH OF A STOREY
E2.4 Every upper storey or basement storey must have at least 2 exits, except -
a. an upper storey containing dwellings only, which is not subject to a requirement for an alternative exit in E8; or
b. an upper storey in a building of purpose sub-group 1B which is not subject to a requirement for an alternative exit in E8, or a building of purpose sub-group 1C; or
c. an upper storey having an entrance directly from the level of the adjoining ground; or
d. an upper storey in a building of purpose sub-group 2A other than a hospital (for hospitals see E8.19) at a height of not more than 11m where the building has an occupancy capacity, excluding employees, of not more than 10; or
e. an upper storey in any other building other than a hospital, at a height of not more than 11m; or
f. an upper storey at any height containing only plant (including lift machinery) other than a place of special fire risk; or
g. a basement storey at a depth of not more than 4.5m which is not intended for use by members of the public other than for access to any sanitary accommodation, and storage contained in the basement.
REQUIREMENTS OF AN ESCAPE ROUTE
E2.5 An escape route or part of an escape route must consist of -
a. a floor or a roof; or
b. an escape stair or a ramp; or
c. an access deck or an access balcony; or
d. a fixed ladder serving areas requiring limited access in any building; or
e. any area in an agricultural building, as permitted by Part S.
MAXIMUM travel distance RELATED TO AVAILABLE DIRECTIONS OF TRAVEL
E2.6 The maximum travel distances for a building or part of a building of purpose group 2 to 7 related to available directions of travel, measured in accordance with E2.7, is given in the table to this standard, and the maximum travel distances for a building of purpose sub-group 1A is given in the table to E8.6.
Table to E2.6: Maximum travel distance related to available directions of travel
|
Purpose group or purpose sub-group |
Situation |
Available directions of travel from any part of a building |
|
|
one (m) |
more than one(m) |
||
|
2A (institutional) |
a. generally (including hospitals) |
15 |
32 |
|
b. residential care buildings (eg nursing homes, and residential schools for disabled children) |
9 |
18 |
|
|
2B (other residential, including shared residential accommodation) |
15 |
32 |
|
|
3 (offices) |
18 |
45 |
|
|
4 (shops and commercial) |
a. generally |
15 |
32 |
|
b. from any part of the mall in an enclosed shopping centre (except those with a mall on three or more storeys) |
9 |
45 |
|
|
5 (assembly) |
a. generally |
15 |
32 |
|
b. buildings primarily for disabled people or mentally handicapped people, and swimming pools in air supported structures |
9 |
18 |
|
|
6 (industrial) |
18 |
45 |
|
|
7A (high hazard storage) |
a. generally |
15 |
32 |
|
b. bonded warehouses containing spirituous liquor |
18 |
45 |
|
|
7B (low hazard storage) |
a. generally |
18 |
45 |
|
b. silage and grain stores on farms if the material is handled primarily by mechanical plant |
30 |
45 |
|
|
7C (open-sided car parks) |
18 |
45 |
|
|
Any |
a. from a room, auditorium or space with provision for fixed seating |
15 |
32 |
|
b. from a rooftop plant room [Note 1] |
60 |
100 |
|
Note:
1. Maximum distance to be travelled within a rooftop plant room is given by E7.3, and where the plant room is a place of special fire risk, by E7.4.
MEASUREMENT OF travel distance
E2.7 Travel distance is the distance measured along the actual route of escape from any point within a storey to the nearest protected door or to a door in a compartment wall as described in E2.8 (see D3.6), except -
a. in the case of a flat or maisonette the travel distance is measured in accordance with E8.6.
b. in the case of an enclosed shopping centre the travel distance from a multi-level storey of a shop may be measured to the mall.
E2.8 Where a storey is divided into compartments, the travel distance may be measured from any point to a door in a compartment wall (in which there must be no fire shutter) provided that each compartment, other than a compartment in a hospital which complies with E8.19, has at least one other escape route which is not through another compartment; and
a. in a part of a hospital used for bed-patient care the floor area of the adjoining compartment is at least the sum, in m2, of the occupancy capacities of both compartments multiplied by an occupancy load factor of 2;
b. in any other case, either -
i. the floor area of the adjoining compartment is at least the sum, in m2, of the occupancy capacities of both compartments multiplied by an occupancy load factor of 0.3, or
ii. the escape route width available from the adjoining compartment is adequate for the sum of the occupancy capacities of both compartments.
E2.9 Where a floor is divided by fixed seating or other fixed obstructions the travel distance must be measured by way of the shortest route along open seatways, gangways or circulation areas.
E2.10 Where a measurement of travel distance includes an unenclosed escape stair within the building, as permitted by E4.6a. and b., the travel distance must be measured along the pitch line from the centre of the nosing of the topmost tread to the lower landing, including the length of any intermediate landings, measured throughout along the centre line of travel.
E2.11 Where more than one exit is required the directions of travel from any point within the storey or space must -
a. diverge at an angle of at least 45°; or
b. diverge at an angle of less than 45° but be protected from each other by a wall or partition -
i. having at least 30 minutes fire resistance; and
ii. with any opening which is protected by a fire door having at least 30 minutes fire resistance; or
c. be combined for a distance not exceeding that allowed for single direction of travel (see Table to E2.6) and then diverge to 2 exits at an angle of at least 45° plus 21/20 for every metre in the single direction of travel, except -
where more than one exit is required from a room, storey or space each exit must be separated from the other as if the distance allowed for single direction of travel did not extend outwith the room, storey or space.