London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in ... - Harrow Council

Secondary Means of EscapeINTRODUCTIONAny secondary means of escape must lead to a final exit at street level. Itmust be a protected route and afford safe, unobstructed travel throughout itsentire route.Secondary means of escape can either be afforded using an externalstaircase or using an adjoining building.SECONDARY ESCAPE ROUTE VIA EXTERNAL STAIRCASEThe following requirements are to be met:Access from top floor landing (and other floors if desired).Access from common parts, not via rooms, bathrooms or WCs(unless impracticable when special arrangements for access maybe considered in consultation with the Fire Officer).Staircase to terminate at ground floor level.Staircase to terminate in an area from which there is unobstructedaccess to the pubic street without re-entering the building.Staircase design to meet the design criteria in the paragraph below“DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR STAIRCASES ANDWALKWAYS”A fire-resisting self-closing fire door and screen across the internalstaircase is to be provided at the third floor and at alternative levelsabove in such a manner that complete separation is providedbetween the upward and downwards flights of stairs at those levels.(Note: The entire route – staircase and roof level walkway – to be adequatelylit to the same standard as the protected route generally (see “STAIRCASELIGHTING” section).Protection of External Secondary Means of EscapeExternal secondary means of escape staircases and walkways must beprotected from the effects of any fire. Windows, doors and other openingswhich could affect the escape route must therefore be protected.In practice, openings in the following locations must be made fire-resisting:Doors opening on to the secondary escape or within a zonemeasured 1.8m horizontally from the escape route must be of 30minute fire resisting construction (figure 1) – except the accessdoor at the top of the stair which need not be fire-resisting. Wheredoors open from areas of higher fire risk, they must be of 60 minutefire-resisting construction.Windows opening on to the secondary escape or within a zonemeasured 1.8m horizontally from the escape route to be of 30London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in Multiple OccupationVersion 2: 06/06