Proper Fire Evacuation Routes

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

Always keep in mind all possible exits and openings when devising an evacuation route.

It's the holiday season, which means we're making more frequent visits to stores and shopping malls. The resulting influx of customers visiting commercial businesses emphasizes
the need for businesses to review the specifications of proper fire evacuation routes in order to keep
customers safe in the event of a fire.
The proper, general evacuation route should be continuous and remain unobstructed at all times.
Evacuation routes contain three different components. The first, exit access, is a path that leads to an
exit. The second is the exit itself, through which people can pass in order to escape. The final component
is the exit discharge, which is the section of the evacuation route that leads directly outside. Every
business should have at least two evacuation routes, but more may be required if the business contains
too many people to safely exit through two exits. Evacuation routes must be permanent parts of the
workplace or business area and should lead directly outside. Finally, exit doors must always be unlocked
from the inside and open in the direction of travel.
Evacuation routes specifically pertaining to fire must follow the same guidelines but should also be
protected from fire. Therefore, the exits, such as staircases, of fire evacuation routes must be protected
by fire-resistant materials. The material must have a one-hour fire-resistance rating if the exit connects
three or fewer floors within the building. However, if the number of floors exceeds three, the material
must have a two-hour fire-resistance rating. The fire evacuation route must have an approved fire door.
The route should also be free of flammable or explosive materials, such as curtains or paper
decorations, as, if they were to catch fire, they would pose a threat to the safety of the fire evacuation
route as well as customers.