Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
216
➤
some sliding doors may be suitable for escape pur-
poses provided that they do not put people using 
them at additional risk, slide easily and are marked 
with the direction of opening
➤
doors which only revolve and do not have hinged 
segments are not suitable as escape doors.
13.11.3 Escape 
routes
Escape routes should meet the following criteria:
➤
where two or more escape routes are needed they 
should lead in different directions to places of safety
➤
escape routes need to be short and to lead people 
directly to a place of safety, such as the open air or 
an area of the workplace where there is no immedi-
ate danger
➤
it should be possible for people to reach the open air 
without returning to the area of the fi re. They should 
then be able to move well away from the building
➤
escape routes should be wide enough for the vol-
ume of people using them. A 750 
mm door will 
allow up to 40 people to escape in one minute, so 
most doors and corridors will be wide enough. If 
the routes are likely to be used by people in wheel-
chairs, the minimum width will need to be 800 mm.
While the workplace is in use, it must be possible to open 
all doors easily and immediately from the inside, without 
using a doors must readily be escape. Make sure that on 
the fl oor. Fire doors should be self-closing (fi re doors to 
cupboards or lockers can be simply latched or locked).
Make sure that there are no obstructions on escape 
routes, especially on corridors and stairways where 
people who are escaping could dislodge stored items 
or be caused to trip. Any fi re hazards must be removed 
from exit routes as a fi re on an exit route could have 
very serious consequences.
Escape routes need regular checks to make sure 
that they are not obstructed and that exit doors are 
not locked. Self-closing fi re-resisting doors should be 
checked to ensure doors close fully, including those 
fi tted with automatic release mechanisms.
The maximum advisable travel distances from any 
area in a workplace to a fi re exit door leading out to a 
relative place of safety should be in accordance with the 
Table 13.1.