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Glass/glazed units - Internal escape route

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millpond
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Glass/glazed units - Internal escape route

Post by millpond »

HI All,

Looking for advice on the issue of "Do glazed units or glass on an Internal Fire escape route require to be Fire Resistant". I am particularly refering to corridors that have wall on one side, where walls and doors meet 30 minute FR and glazing on the other side, either in UPVC or wooden frames. As an exmple a typical school corridor

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Re: Glass/glazed units - Internal escape route

Post by witsd »

I'm afraid that I'm struggling to visualise the situation... any chance of a quick sketch?
We often think that when we have completed our study of one we know all about two, because 'two' is 'one and one.' We forget that we still have to make a study of 'and.'
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Re: Glass/glazed units - Internal escape route

Post by Messy »

millpond wrote:HI All,

Looking for advice on the issue of "Do glazed units or glass on an Internal Fire escape route require to be Fire Resistant". I am particularly refering to corridors that have wall on one side, where walls and doors meet 30 minute FR and glazing on the other side, either in UPVC or wooden frames. As an exmple a typical school corridor

Millpond
There's a simple answer: Yes and No!!

If a means of escape - that is, a route measured from any point in a room to a place of ultimate safety (outside), or a place of relative safety (a protected* staircase, lobby or protected corridor) - is within travel distances as taken from relevant guides (ADB, BS9999, perhaps a Govt fire safety guide or in the case of a School - BB100), then the glazing and escape route does not need to be fire resisting.

*protected route means a route kept free from obstructions, ignition sources and constructed from fire resisting material so that it creates a place of relative safety for those escaping. Once in a protected route, evacuees must be able to reach outside without leaving that protected route.

Please note that this is a quick basic reply and you should not introduce any control measure as a result of reading this. A full risk assessment will of course be necessary
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millpond
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Re: Glass/glazed units - Internal escape route

Post by millpond »

Thanks Messy, your advice is always appreciated. As I thought there is no hard and fast rule and RA is the way to go

Thanks again
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