Fire Exits?

[smash]

Hey Lads,

Does anyone know what the law is regarding fire exits in a building?

I.E. How many designated fire exits does a building need to have, and also, how far away from multiple exits are you are allowed to be?

We have an edit suite in at the end of a hallway with an exit door at both ends, and we want to keep one end of hall way locked.

Anyone know where the info is on this?

Simon "Smash" Ashby.

[Manning]

You'd be looking for Section 165 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.

The owner of the building is required to lodge a Fire Safety Statement with the council once every twelve months. That would identify the fire exits (among many other things). Ask the owner (or the Council) for a copy.

If the door in question has been so designated, then you cannot lock it from the inside (you can lock it from the outside, obviously).

[gigpiglet]

there are lots of different things to consider here - and as mentioned its building specific.
BUT there is a pretty general rule (unless very strange circumstances) that you need at least TWO different exits from a building
think of the fire being in front of you, turn around and exit at the other end.
pretty common sense
like the emergency exit windows on buses being on the oppposite side to the doors (in case it rolls and sits on its side)

if you are into it like i am... the general rule for evacuation is that you need to clear 100% of the people, through 50% of the exits, in 90 seconds.
so if you only have one exit at the end of the hall... 50% of that = you dont pass.

make sense?

[Chinagraf]

There's a thing called redlam panic bolts that you can lock exits with and also breakglass locks.. It all depends on the BSA for your state. Best people to talk to are Metro Fire Department or an esssential services consultant, but the Fire Brigade probably won't cost anything.

[gigpiglet]

yep. a "break glass" with the key to your deadlock in it should pass code.
like at mine.
but as mentioned all depends on the local rules and regs so have it checked out.

also really think about this stuff... rules and regs aside, dont build something that might kill you just to make it easier or convenient.

[The Tasmanian]

I think you are also supposed to have exit signs above each doorway to comply.

[peat]

You need to find out what your building is classified as under the ABCB

http://www.abcb.gov.au/about-the-nation ... -australia

[Ausrock]

I think you are also supposed to have exit signs above each doorway to comply.

Not sure of the regulations regarding the necessity of "EXIT" signs/lights, BUT.........when investigating altering the locks on our factory's front office entrance a while back, I was asked whether there were "EXIT" signs above the door, there is one there and one above the internal factory to office door. It turns out the regulations are that where such signs are placed, the door cannot be fully lockable on the sign side............ie:doors can be fully locked to stop people getting in from one direction BUT they must be not be lockable in any manner which will stop people getting out in an emergency.

[The Tasmanian]

Yes there are certainly grey areas with all of this.
If you get in proper advice, they will make you have lights on the exit signs, and make everything comply 100% to save their ass in future, so it is wise to avoid any "experts" coming in - and giving you - or your landlord (not a good idea) an expensive bill to pay
It seems that if you do the basics with the proper safe exit locks and exit signs they leave you alone..If they turn up for an inspection they are forgiving seeing you are doing the right things.
Its also a wise thing to do for insurance purposes - those guys will try to get out of anything they can pay.