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

Layout and Travel DistancesLayoutFires which occur in living rooms and kitchens can develop rapidly andproduce large volumes of smoke and hot gases which could invade all parts ofthe accommodation before occupants become aware of the danger,particularly when they are asleep. It is required, therefore, that wherepracticable: bedrooms are not entered through a living room or kitchen,and bedroom doors should be nearer to an exit from the accommodationthan kitchen or living room doors.Doors to rooms, other than to bathrooms and WCs which open into an innerentrance hall which leads to the exit from the accommodation should be firedoors (with smoke seals).If the walls and doors to the entrance hall are suitably fire-resisting the hallcould be deemed a protected lobby.The assessment of the means of escape should be considered in two stages.Houses with more than one stairwayIn a house where more than one stairway is provided, each should beseparated from the remainder of the building by fire-resisting constructionand by fire doors and persons should not have to pass through one stairwayenclosure to reach the other.Travel DistanceStage 1: Travel within a unit of accommodationStage 2: Travel from a unit of accommodation to a final exitStage 1 : Travel within a unit of accommodationThe actual travel distance from any point within the accommodation to reach aplace of safety will need to be considered. The travel distances given beloware considered to be the maximum distances generally acceptable but theyare not hard and fast limits as a number of factors can affect these (e.g. theinternal layout of the existing accommodation may prove difficult if notimpossible to alter to reach these standards).London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in Multiple OccupationVersion 2: 06/06