Residents' Evacuation Capability in Buildings

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safe-in-place in care housing compared with former buildings standards.
A very important change from the former fire provisions is the introduction of a new
building category, that is 'alternative housing' defined as special housing forms for the
elderly and housing provided with special service for disabled people. There is one
qualification; the number of residents, except staff, should be eight at most in the same
flat and the flat must be in one level.
There is no demand expressed for horizontal escape routes in care housing. However,
some demands may result in such a solution. The general requirement for safety egress
in the built environment means either evacuation to the open air or to a temporary safe
place within the building. This requirement applies care housing as well. A temporary
safe place could be an area which is both separated by fire-resisting construction and
provided with a safe route to a storey exit. Such an area is often called a refuge in
international technical literature.
There shall be protected lobbies in the storeys served by firefighting lifts. That is one
form of refuge. Another form not mentioned in BBR-94 is an extended landing in a fire
resistant stairway, intended as waiting place for residents until they are assisted down
the stairs. That concerns chiefly wheel chair users.The access of a refuge makes an
evacuation in two stages possible, meaning horizontal movements only. This
arrangement will improve safety in care housing a great deal compared to the safety
level given by previous fire provisions.
One stairway must not be the only escape route in care housing according to BBR-94.
A window does not account for an alternative escape route. On the other hand a
firefighting lift can be used as an alternative escape route. The conception of
firefighting lift is hereby introduced in Sweden. The travel distance from any place in
the building to an escape route must not be longer than it can be vacated before critical
conditions appear. However the distance in metre is not as important as alternative
escape routes.
There is requirement of guiding marks in buildings where poeple are expected to know
little about the place. The results of the inquiry indicate that this is often the case in
some care housing. Fluorescent paint is allowed to replace emergency lighting.
Availability for rescuing from inside and outside is not mentioned in BBR-94.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study indicate that the basic demands concerning fire control and
Residents Evacuation Capability in Buildings…., Gun Hallberg, Domotic Lab. KTH, Stockholm 1993