Health and Safety for Beginners Forums

Could anyone let me know if the British Standards for a normal walkway width is the same as a Fire exit route width and if different what is the difference.
Taking into account numbers of potentially up to 80 people.

Thanks

Why do you think there should be a BS?

Have you tried looking at Building Regulations? http://www.communities.gov.uk/publicati ... xplanatory" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

a lot will depend where this walkway is and what other corridors are coming of it and where alternatives fire exits are. you state 80 people is this is how mnay that will use this walkway that you are referring to or how many in the building. like a lot of things you need to look at a RA or at least you should have a fire risk assessment and that would look at escape route widths and any unusual restrictions around walkways.

Does this walkway already exists or something that is due to be built. if it already exists then you are somewhat limited in what you can do as realistically can you knock it down and start again. look at how many will use this walkway, what is the travel distance, are there alternative routes etc etc.

red

EDAV wrote:... if the British Standards for a normal walkway width is the same as a Fire exit route width

Thanks

I am intrigued as to what you consider a 'normal' walkway as opposed to a 'Fire Exit Route'..?
Why do you consider the two to be different?
What is it about this walkway that you are deeming it not to be a Fire Route?

Please explain yourself in greater detail so that forum members can get a better picture of what you are referring to. Thanks

I just wondered if there was a British Standard/ guidance for a fire exit route.
Regarding what i meant in relation to a 'normal' walkway - this is a walkway between machinery an not neccesary a fire exit route
The example i am talking about is between two machines there is a connecting walkway which is used infrequently used by a maximum of 80 people and at each side of the machines there is a fire exit route.

The reason why I asked the original question was would a normal walkway have recommendations as to width even though it is not always a fire exit route?

It would be down to a risk assessment if you could evacuate the the number of people in the building along the fire escape route. guidance might be to use fire exit door widths.

have a look through this document it's free to download or £12 to buy

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publicati ... afetyrisk3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How many employees are in the building and how many final exits do you have?

Red

edit:- a width of at least 750mm can accommodate 80 people high risk , 100 medium risk and 120 lower risk. the minimum width of an escape route should not be less than 750mm. Unless it is for use by less than 5 people in that part of the premises.

On page 70 of the above document

Thanks Reddwarf excellent answer