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Definition of Means of Escape
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
"Means of escape" means structural means whereby, in the event of a fire, a safe route or routes is or are provided for people to travel from any point in a building to a place of safety
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinition of Place of Safety
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
"Place of safety" means a place, outside the building, in which people are in no danger from fire within the building.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeRegulation 33: Means of Escape
33NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A building shall be so designed and constructed that in the event of a fire there is— (a) where appropriate, adequate means of automatic detection; (b) adequate means of giving warning; and (c) adequa
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeFacilities and access for the Fire and Rescue Service
37NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A building shall be designed and constructed with such reasonable facilities as are necessary to assist the Fire and Rescue Service in ensuring the safety of people in and about the building in the ev
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeMeans of escape - Performance requirements
0.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 33 in Part E will be met if there is sufficient means for giving early warning of fire for persons in a building and – (a) if there
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeIntroduction to means of escape provisions
0.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The guidance in Section 2 is concerned with ensuring that occupants are given warning of, and have a means of escape from, a fire. It only refers to structural fire precautions where these are necessa
fire-safetymeans-of-escapedwellingSmoke control in escape routes
0.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The primary danger in the early stages of a fire is not flame but smoke and other products of combustion which can directly affect the occupants of the building and obscure the escape routes. Measures
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeBasic principles for design of means of escape
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The basic principles for the design of means of escape are – (a) there should be alternative means of escape from most locations so that people can turn their back on a fire and travel away from it to
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeProtected stairways as places of relative safety
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A protected stairway is considered to be a place of relative safety within which people can proceed at their own pace to a place of safety. Smoke and flames must be excluded from protected stairways b
fire-safetymeans-of-escapestairsUnacceptable means of escape
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The following are not acceptable for means of escape – (i) a lift (except a suitably designed and installed evacuation lift); (ii) a passenger conveyor or escalator; (iii) a portable or throw-out ladd
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeMeans of escape for shopping complexes
0.3NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Although the guidance in Section 2 may be readily applied to individual shops, shopping complexes present a different set of escape problems. The design of shop units within a shopping complex should
fire-safetymeans-of-escapecommercialMeans of escape for health care premises
0.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Health care premises including hospitals and residential health care buildings are quite diverse and can be used by a variety of patients, often requiring different types of care to suit their specifi
fire-safetymeans-of-escapepublic-buildingFire safety guidance for health care buildings
0.5NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has produced a set of guidance documents on fire precautions in health care buildings under the general title of the Northern Ireland Fireco
public-buildingfire-safetymeans-of-escapeMeans of escape in assembly buildings
0.5NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
There are particular problems that arise when fixed seating impinges on people's ability to escape in the event of a fire. This may occur at sports grounds, theatres, lecture halls and conference cent
public-buildingfire-safetymeans-of-escapeMeans of escape in houses in multiple occupation
0.6NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A suitable approach for the design of means of escape in a house in multiple occupation is given in the relevant provisions of Section 5 of DOE Circular 12/92: Houses in multiple occupation. The licen
dwellingfire-safetymeans-of-escapeMeans of escape in hotels and boarding houses
0.7NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A suitable approach for the design of means of escape in a Hotel or Boarding House is given in the relevant provisions of Chapters 13 and 14 of the Guide to fire precautions in premises used as hotels
commercialfire-safetymeans-of-escapeFire safety guidance for schools
0.8NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Although the guidance in this Technical Booklet applies to schools, additional life safety guidance in respect of means of escape may be found in BB 100: Design for fire safety in schools.
public-buildingfire-safetymeans-of-escapePerformance criteria for Fire and Rescue Service access and facilities
0.15NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 37 in Part E will be met – (a) if there is sufficient means of external access to enable fire appliances to be brought near to a bu
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeVenting of basements for fire safety
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Venting of basements – the enclosed nature of a basement prevents the dispersal of heat and smoke, which tend to rise up the access that the Fire and Rescue Service may be using to approach the fire.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeIntroduction to Automatic Fire Suppression Provisions
0.16D, 0.16ENI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Automatic fire suppression systems help control the intensity and size of a fire, suppress it and in some cases may even extinguish it. They are designed primarily for life safety purposes and can pro
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeRelationship between Sections
0.17NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The guidance set out in this Technical Booklet under Sections 2 to 68 deals with different aspects of fire safety. Whilst the guidance appropriate to each of these aspects is set out separately, many
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinitions for Fire Safety
1.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
In this Technical Booklet the following definitions apply – Above ground level – has the meaning assigned to it by regulation 32 in Part E of the Building Regulations. Access room – a room that form
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinitions – Space and Escape Terms (Part 2)
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Concealed space or cavity – a space enclosed by elements of a building (including a suspended ceiling) or contained within an element, but not a room, cupboard, circulation space, protected shaft or s
fire-safetymeans-of-escapedwellingDefinition: Emergency Egress Window
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Emergency egress window – an openable window in a dwelling that may be used for emergency egress in order to avoid entrapment should the escape route or routes be blocked by fire or smoke.
dwellingfire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinition: Escape Lighting
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Escape lighting – that part of the emergency lighting which is provided to ensure that the escape route is illuminated at all material times.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinition: Escape Route
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Escape route – route forming that part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinition: Evacuation Lift
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Evacuation lift – a lift that may be used for the evacuation of people in the event of a fire.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefinition: Final Exit
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Final exit – the termination of an escape route from a building giving direct access to a street, passageway, walkway or open space, and sited to ensure the rapid dispersal of people from the vicinity
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeFirefighting lobby
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Firefighting lobby – a protected lobby for providing access from a firefighting stairway to the accommodation area and to any associated firefighting lift.
fire-safetyhrbhigh-risemeans-of-escapeFirefighting stairway
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Firefighting stairway – a protected stairway communicating with the accommodation area only through a firefighting lobby.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapestairshrbhigh-riseInner room
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Inner room – a room from which escape is possible only by passing through another room (access room).
means-of-escapefire-safetyPlace of safety
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Place of safety – has the meaning assigned to it by regulation 32 in Part E of the Building Regulations.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapePressurization
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Pressurization – a method of protecting escape routes against the ingress of smoke by maintaining the air within them at pressures higher than those in adjacent parts of the building.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeProtected corridor or lobby
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Protected corridor or lobby – a corridor or lobby which is adequately protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeProtected entrance hall or landing
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Protected entrance hall or landing – a circulation area consisting of a hall or space within a dwelling, enclosed with fire-resisting construction (other than any part which is an external wall or bui
fire-safetydwellingmeans-of-escapeProtected stairway
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Protected stairway – a stairway discharging through a final exit to a place of safety (including any exit passageway between the foot of the stair and the final exit) that is adequately enclosed with
fire-safetystairsmeans-of-escapeRefuge
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Refuge – an area that is adequately protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction and which is served directly by a safe route to a storey exit, thus constituting a tem
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeStorey exit
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Storey exit – a final exit, or a doorway giving direct access into a protected stairway, firefighting lobby, or external escape route. (In some circumstances a door in a compartment wall may be consid
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDefined term: Travel distance
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Travel distance – the actual distance to be travelled by a person from any point within the floor area to the nearest storey exit, having regard to the layout of walls, partitions and fittings.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeProperty Protection
1.6NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Building Regulations are intended to ensure that an adequate standard of life safety is provided in case of fire. The protection of property, including the building itself, may require additional meas
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeSection 2 Means of escape - overview and structure
2.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The provisions in this Section have been formulated using assumptions regarding the likely source and growth of a fire and are based on recognised criteria for means of escape. These assumptions and c
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeDwellinghouses - Introduction and height threshold
2.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The provisions for means of escape in typical one and two storey dwellinghouses (i.e. those with no storey more than 4.5 m above ground level) are limited to the common provisions given in paragraphs
dwellingmeans-of-escapefire-safetyAutomatic fire detection and warning
2.3NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The provisions for automatic fire detection and warning are given in paragraphs 2.23 to 2.33. The installation of smoke and heat alarms or automatic fire detection and alarm systems can significantly
dwellingfire-safetymeans-of-escapeEmergency egress windows - requirement and location
2.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Every storey (including a basement storey) in a dwellinghouse which does not have alternative escape routes leading to their own exits should have an emergency egress window for escape or rescue purpo
dwellingmeans-of-escapefire-safetyprotection-from-fallingEmergency egress windows – positioning requirements
2.4(b)-(d)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
where it is a dormer or roof window – be positioned as shown on Diagram 2.1; be located remote from the escape route; and comply with paragraph 2.9.
dwellingmeans-of-escapeprotection-from-fallingBasement storey escape provisions
2.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where a basement storey contains a habitable room and does not have alternative escape routes it should be served by a protected stairway that extends to a final exit.
dwellingmeans-of-escapeEmergency egress windows for upper storeys
2.5NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Every habitable room, on an upper storey not more than 4.5 m above ground level that does not have alternative escape routes, should have an emergency egress window complying with paragraph 2.9 for es
dwellingmeans-of-escapeHabitable room access to hallway and entrance
2.6NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A habitable room should open directly onto a hallway (including a corridor or landing leading to the hallway) which leads to the entrance without passing through any room (except a porch), other than
dwellingmeans-of-escapeDiagram 2.1 – Emergency egress window dimensions and positioning
Diagram 2.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Emergency egress windows from roof space conversions of 2 storey dwellinghouses. (a) Dormer window – bottom of opening 800–1100 mm above floor level at eaves. (b) Roof window (rooflight) – bottom of o
dwellingmeans-of-escapeprotection-from-fallingAccess rooms to inner rooms - habitable rooms and kitchens
2.7NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A habitable room may be an access room to any inner room. A kitchen should not be an access room to an inner room other than – (a) to a utility room or conservatory which has an emergency egress windo
dwellingmeans-of-escape