Element C3

Element C3.5

Means of Escape

Legal Factors

RRFSO Article 14

Responsible person must ensure routes to emergency exits and exits themselves are kept clear at all times

Exits must directly lead to place of safety

Safe quick evacuation

Appropriate arrangements depending on premises, equipment, processes, people

Emergency doors must open in direction of escape

No sliding or revolving doors for exits

Not locked or fastened

Indicated by signs

Emergency lighting where appropriate

Element C3

Definitions

Means of escape

Route(s) provided to ensure safe egress from

premises or other locations to a place of total safety

Routes

Good means of escape must be part of the structure

of the building

Egress

Person escaping must be able to turn back on fire

and exit to safe place

Element C3

Definitions

Place of total safety

Ideally in open air

High buildings – devise halfway place of safety

Place of comparative safety

Element C3

Strategic Factors Affecting Means of

Escape

Occupancy

Population

Number of occupants

Physical conditions

Expected reactions

Asleep or awake

Type / Use of building

Nature of contents

Furnishings

Goods stored or used

processes

Element C3

Strategic Factors Affecting Means of

Escape

Construction

Primary

Main fabric of building

Class A complete non-combustible

Class B traditional

Non-combustible walls, combustible roof

Class C combustible

Secondary

Internal partitioning, wall and ceiling linings

Element C3

Strategic Factors Affecting Means of

Escape

Time of evacuation

Class A 3 mins

Class B 2 ½ mins

Class C 2 mins

Also…

Exits

Travel distance

Management

Element C3

General Requirements

Management

Ensure means of escape maintained in efficient state,

good working order, good repair

Good system of fire safety checks and inspections

Thorough system of planned maintenance and testing

All aspects of premises which have impact on means of

escape

Alternative means of escape from most situations

Element C3

General Requirements

Travel distances

Actual distance to be travelled by a person from any

point within the floor area to the nearest storey exit or

final exit, having regard to the layout of walls,

partitions and fixings.

Distances to

Final exits

Doors to a protected lobby

Down stairs which are protected routes

Doors in a compartment wall

Element C3

General Requirements

Stairs

Enclosed in fire resistant shaft

Fire resistant doors

Exit from base of stairs = fire protected stairwell

Travel distance measured to storey exit as above

Additional requirements (certain buildings) Fire fighting shaft

Fire fighting lift, stairs, lobbies

Allows rescue service to quickly access fire floor

Element C3

General Requirements

Stairs

Possible to have unprotected stairway

Not counted as means of escape

If counted – travel distance measured up to and

down stairs

Element C3

General Requirements

Passageways

Arranged so as to allow free passageway for means

of escape

Marked with paint if necessary

Element C3

General Requirements

Doors

Fire resisting and / or fire exit

Resisting

Prevent spread of fire

Ensure means of escape

Open in direction of travel

3 hinges

Positive self closing device

Cold smoke seals

Colour raw plug inserted into one edge

Element C3

General Requirements

Lighting

Emergency

If no natural light / work out of normal hours – escape lighting required

Clearly indicates escape routes

Allow safe movement towards exits

To locate fire fighting equipment / alarm call points

Adequate in event of electric supply failure

Near each exit door

Intersection of corridors

Changes in floor level

Outside each final exit door

Near fire fighting equipment

Illuminate exit and safety signs

Element C3

General Requirements

Lighting

Testing

Daily

Check no faults – rectify and record

Monthly

Simulate power failure to check system

Check battery system or generator energizes for min of 1 hour

Annually

Additional tests after 3 years

Element C3

General Requirements

Exits

Means of escape should utilise normal existing

arrangements for egress

Width = 750mm or 900mm for wheelchair

1 metre for escape route

Increased depending on number of people

Consider from every point in every room

Clear path from each workstation

Consider spacing between desks etc

Element C3

General Requirements

Directional signs

Consider people without knowledge – visitors etc

Visible from furthest point of room

Not obscured by any obstacle from any angle

Above doorways or immediately next to doorway

Not on door itself

Element C3