Protection of escape stairways

An escape stairway requires protection in order that it may provide an area of relative safety during a fire evacuation. The provisions for protecting an internal escape stairway are given in paragraphs 2.69 to 2.73 and further provisions apply when an escape stairway penetrates a compartment floor (see paragraph 4.23) or is a firefighting stairway (see paragraphs 6.3 to 6.6). An accommodation stairway may form part of an internal route to a storey exit or final exit provided that the travel distance complies with paragraph 2.42 and the number of people involved is low.