A fire escape provides a method of escape in the event of a fire or other emergencies that makes the stairways inside a building inaccessible. Fire escapes are most often found on multiple-storey residential buildings, such as flat or apartment buildings. As building codes became more common in countries, fire safety became an important concern for new construction. Building owners were increasingly required to provide adequate escape routes, and at the time, fire escapes seemed the best option available. Following are some of the important building bye-laws for fire escapes.
Important Building Bye-laws for Fire escapes
- Every high rise building shall have at least two staircases and fire escape stairways shall be directly connected with public or common areas on all floors and shall lead directly to the ground.
- The route to fire escape shall be free of obstruction at all times except a door way leading to the fire escape which shall have the required fire resistance.
- At least one side of the stairway shall be an external wall either with large openings or with break open glass to facilitate rescue operations during an emergency.
- Every high rise apartment building having more than 16 dwelling units shall be provided with at least one lift capable of carrying a stretcher.
- Handrails shall be of a height of not less than 100 cm.
- Buildings shall be planned, designed and constructed to ensure adequate fire safety to the property and inhabitants and this shall be carried out, in accordance with Part IV Fire Protection of the National Building Code of India (Part IV of NBC India deals with the requirements necessary to minimize danger to life and property from fire and adopts an integrated approach.).
- Main entrances to the premises shall be of adequate width to allow easy access to the fire engine and in no case it shall measure less than 5 meters.
- A spiral fire escape stairway shall be not less than 150 cm in diameter and shall be so designed as to give adequate headroom.
- No building shall be altered so as to reduce the number, and size of exits to less than that required.
- Fire escapes shall be constructed of non-combustible materials. Lifts and escalators shall not be considered as exits.
- For buildings with ground floor + four floors and above (or height of 15 mtrs. and above), clearance of the Director of Fire Services shall be obtained regarding the Fire Protection Provision in building.
- Every building meant for human occupancy shall be provided with exits sufficient to permit safe escape of occupants in case of fire or other emergency.
- Fire fighting equipment where provided along exits shall be suitably located clearly and yet there should beck indication about its location from either side of the exit way.
- An exit may be doorway, corridor, and passageways to an internal staircase or external staircase, ramps or to a veranda and/or terraces, which have access to the street or to roof of a building.
- Revolving doors shall not be used as required exits except in residential, business and mercantile occupancies, but shall not constitute more than half the total required door width.
- Fire escape staircases are more important in multi-storey buildings. These are made mostly of steel or fire retardant materials. To match the architectural style and interior ambiance, staircase can be built using materials that compliment the color scheme. Any building having more than four floors including basement or sunken floors, shall have at least two staircases. A main staircase would be the primary one, to be centrally located and used by the residents.
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