It is important that there be sufficient and adequate fire exits so that people can safely and swiftly leave the building without being put in any danger should there be an outbreak of fire.

The combined use of ordinary and special fire exits allows for quicker mass departure, while it also gives another option if the route to the usual exit is blocked by fire, etc. It is usually strategically located, with an outward opening door that has a crash bar and outward leading signs on it. Knowing where to find the emergency exits in a building that you frequent can save your life.

Number And Size Of Exits

The number of people who could potentially use the exit, together with several other factors, will decide the amount of fire exits used in any situation. The time taken to leave the building should be about 2 minutes 30 seconds, with consideration to the time it takes for people to react to a fire alarm. One exit is satisfactory for buildings where no more than 60 people work, as long as that the building is on the ground floor level only.

Fire exits should be spread around the building so ensuring that people can reach a safe exit route. All doors that are used in an emergency need to open in the direction that people are moving in to evacuate the building. Inward opening, rotating and sliding doors are unacceptable for use as emergency exits, as they might need to be fixed open using a latch or chain if the door is needed as an exit route.

Fire Hazard

A fire hazard is any condition in which there is a greater than usual risk of harm to people or property caused by fire. A clogged-up cooling vent or burdened electrical system can easily start a fire; an inadequately protected fuel store or areas with elevated oxygen concentrations can cause it to spread rapidly; and materials that emit toxic fumes when heated or blocked fire exits pose a threat to people in the building: all these situations constitute fire hazards.

High-rise buildings are a special type of hazard, since they are too tall for adequate fire control from ground-based aerial ladders or elevating platforms or towers. A high-rise building is any tall structure above eight floors, since fire fighting equipment usually have an effective height of 30 metres or less.

Keep Clear

Fire exit routes must be kept clear at all times. The outsides of fire exits need to be kept clear and marked with a suitable keep clear sign. Whenever the building is in use, the exits should be well lit by normal mains lighting.

Fire Doors

Fire protection measures can include the installation of fire doors, a common sight in larger buildings. These doors are usually designed to close by means of a spring door closer. It is very important that fire doors are not fixed or propped open because of the vital role that they have in combating fire.

Exits For People With Disabilities

Current disability discrimination legislation requires the provision of suitable fire exits for disabled people. It might be necessary to make available “refuge points” for disabled or elderly persons to wait for assistance in some larger buildings.

Assembly Point

A fire assembly point is a place of safety where people meet if there is a fire.

Fire Prevention Strategies

The best time to think about fire exits and general safety is before a fire starts. Dangerous situations can be documented and corrected before they cause grave injuries, once your workplace follows a course of scheduled inspections. Learn the location of fire escape routes and how to set off the fire alarm. You should also remember staircase exits, since elevators may not function during a fire, or may expose passengers to gas, heat or smoke.