Fire safety of buildings and people
Fire safety of buildings and people tests whether the building and its management allow occupants to escape reliably. It brings together means of escape, structural protection, warning systems and human behaviour. The aim is that people can reach a place of safety without relying on a single route or on assistance that may not be available.
Means of escape
- Provide enough exits of adequate width, kept unobstructed and available at all times.
- Keep travel distances within the design limits for the occupancy and use protected routes where needed.
- Protect escape routes with fire-resisting construction and self-closing fire doors; provide smoke control, emergency lighting and exit signage.
- Base evacuation strategy on the building: simultaneous evacuation, phased evacuation, or stay-put (common in purpose-built flats, but only with suitable compartmentation and advice).
People and planning
Account for employees, visitors, contractors, lone workers and disabled people. A PEEP sets out how an individual will be warned, assisted, evacuated or protected in a refuge; an evacuation chair is only one part of that plan. Use drills to test warning, evacuation, roll call and accounting for visitors.
Worked example. An office has 80 staff, one 1.1 m staircase, a 30 m travel distance and five wheelchair users. The single staircase is a concern: it must be protected, clear and not locked. Provide refuge areas, PEEPs, trained buddies, communication and an evacuation chair where needed. Check exit width and flow, assembly point, roll call and visitor signing-in. If the route cannot be made safe, the occupancy or layout must change.
Traps. Do not lock or block fire exits; do not confuse a refuge with a final exit; do not assume a PEEP is just a chair; do not ignore visitors or contractors at roll call; do not apply stay-put without compartmentation and clear advice.