Definition:

‘Structural means whereby (in the event of a fire) a safe route or routes is or are provided for persons to travel from any point in a building to a place of safety’.

'Approved Document B (Fire Safety) 2006 Edition’

The Building Regulations cover Fire Safety in buildings and dwellinghouses through Part B of the Regulations, and to help compliance there is guidance called Approved Document B (2006 edition). (AD B)

Recent changes to the guidance that affect disabled people include the following:

It is essential that all occupants and visitors to a building are able to leave quickly in times of fire, from all floors. Escape routes should be free from any feature that might impede movement such as unsuitable door handles, changes within floor level, etc. Disabled persons should be able to reach the safety of a protected escape route or exit door independently.

A refuge with an appropriate communication device where a wheelchair user can wait in relative safety before being assisted to a final exit should be provided.

Escape routes from a single-storey building should be clearly signed and have no steps or thresholds at any change of level. However, in multi-storey buildings there are number of ways to provide means of escape, such as evacuation lifts, evacuation chairs to carry disabled people downstairs and safe refuge areas.

Evacuation chairs (or ‘Evac’ Chairs) are designed to allow the transfer of a disabled person from a wheelchair or of a person with limited mobility onto the chair and for them to be taken down the stairs, with the assistance of one or two trained people. It is easy to control and has a system (fail safe) to stop it running downstairs. It is limited in that it can only be used to evacuate one person and not all disabled people may be able to use one. The operator is not allowed to return to the building, so one is required for each person who is unable to walk down the stairs. Careful training is required in the suitability and operation of ‘evac’ chairs.

The AD also mentions the use of fire fighting lifts for evacuation of disabled people, as an acceptable means of escape. This is a significant development on previous guidance.