Fire Regulations - 3 storeys but two separate staircases

FX · 21 Oct 2019

Trying to get my head around the requirements when you have two sets of stairs in a single dwelling (one family only).

Situation:
Loft room leading down single set of stairs to a first floor landing.
The options are then to either continue down this set of stairs into a lounge which has direct access to the outside via double doors;
OR
from the first floor landing go the opposite way along the landing and down a separate staircase and exit via a different external door in hallway.

Thoughts?

paulrockliffe · 21 Oct 2019

Your first route isn't as protected corridor, your second would be if there's a fire door top or bottom of the first staircase.

Leofric · 21 Oct 2019

paulrockliffe said:
Your first route isn't as protected corridor, your second would be if there's a fire door top or bottom of the first staircase.

Also fire resisting wall construction and fire doors to rooms off the protected route and smoke detectors at each floor level of course.

^woody^ · 22 Oct 2019

The escape route needs to go directly to an external door, and not via another room. The whole route needs to be protected.

Or fit a fire alarm and sprinklers

FX · 22 Oct 2019

Thanks for your thoughts. Still slightly confused.

Para 2.4 of B1 states:

2.4 Dwelling houses with one internal stair should comply with paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6.
In dwelling houses with more than one stair, the stairs should provide effective alternative means of escape. The stairs should be physically separated by either of the following:
a. Fire resisting construction (minimum REI 30).
b. More than one room.

??

IT Minion · 29 Oct 2019

Are you saying there are two different escape routes from the first floor landing? I'm not an expert on this by any stretch but I think the intention is that if you have two means of escape you dont need as much protection on either. In which case that paragraph is saying that the two routes need to be different enough that they won't both be blocked by the same issue.

As paul, leo and woody say the first route isn't protected but the second could be. I suspect that's going to be simpler and safer than trying to have both as mediocre escape routes.

^woody^ · 29 Oct 2019

FX said:
Thanks for your thoughts. Still slightly confused.

Para 2.4 of B1 states:

2.4 Dwelling houses with one internal stair should comply with paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6.
In dwelling houses with more than one stair, the stairs should provide effective alternative means of escape. The stairs should be physically separated by either of the following:
a. Fire resisting construction (minimum REI 30).
b. More than one room.

??

Is the second storey more than 4.5m above ground level?

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Fire Regulations - 3 storeys but two separate staircases

FX

paulrockliffe

Leofric

^woody^

FX

IT Minion

^woody^

DIYnot Local

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