CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE PROVISION OF MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CASE OF FIRE 1996 BUILDING AUTHORITY HONG KONGFOREWORD Fire safety in a building is determined by a number of factors one of which is the provision of adequate means of escape in case of fire. Requirements for means of escape for buildings are laid down in section 41(1) of the Building (Planning) Regulations. This Code of Practice provides guidance on compliance with these requirements. This Code will be reviewed regularly. Suggestions for improving it are welcome. Building Authority First issue: December 1959 This revision : June 1996CONTENTS Paragraph Part I - GENERAL PROVISIONS Use of the Code Objectives Two Approaches to Fire Safety Interpretations Application Part Il - GENERAL PROVISIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE Special Hazard Occupancy Assessment of Accommodation General Requirements of Exit Routes Buildings with a Single Staircase Exits from Rooms Exits from Storeys Exits at Ground Storey Page 13 1514, ae 16. 17. 18, 19, 20. 21 Access to Staircase(s) within a Building Direct Distance and Travel Distance Discharge Value and Width of Staircase Doors in Relation to Exits Construction of Staircases Ramps Lift Lobbies Basements Refuge Floors Part II - PROVISIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT Site Cinemas in Multi-storey Non-domestic or Composite Buildings Exit, Notices, etc. Entrance and Exit Routes Staircases Barriers Chains and Padlocks 33 35 36 37 38 3829, Gangways and Seaways 30. Non-slippery Surfaces 31, Edges of Steps 32. Exit from Stages 33. Lighting 34. ‘Temporary Buildings COMMENTARIES DIAGRAMS 1-7 39 39 39 39 40 40 2Part I - GENERAL PROVISIONS Use of the Code Authorised persons, registered structural engineers and any person responsible for the design of buildings may find this Code useful in establishing the requirements of the Building Authority for adequate means of escape in case of fire: This Code gives guidance on how the Building Authority's requirements may be complied with Objectives The objective of this Code is to announce provisions for the protection of buildings from the effects of fire by providing adequate means of escape in the event of fire and other emergencies. There are other fire safety objectives : preventing the outbreak of fire, inhibiting the spread of fire, abating fire hazards, fire suppression, preventing loss of property and assisting in firefighting and rescue. Provisions for some of these can be found in the Buildings Ordinance and other Codes of Practice issued by the Building Authority Two Approaches to Fire Safety Prescriptive Provisions : Compliance with the prescriptive provisions in this Code may be regarded as a reliable way to satisty the Building Authority's requirements Departure from these provisions will necessitate an alternative approach to be adopted and proved, in individual cases, to the satisfaction of the Building Authority as to compliance with requirements.33 34 35 Alternative Approach : The Building Authority recognizes that fire safety may be approached in a number of ways the best of which is not necessarily prescriptive. This is particularly pertinent to buildings of special hazards which, because of their size, height, use, design, construction or location, may necessitate special consideration and specific standards. In this Code, the points to note for an alternative approach are set out. For the assessment of the need of a building for fire protection, the Building Authority accepts the following as relevant factors ~ the anticipated risk of a fire occurring in a building; the anticipated severity of a fire; - the ability of the structure of a building to resist the effect of fire and to minimize the spread of fire and smoke: and ~ the consequential and possible danger to the people in and around a building, Where an alternative approach is adopted, the Building Authority will assess its acceptability by reference to a set of criteria. This includes the means of escape. the means of access, the fire service installations, the fire resisting construction. the size, the height, the use, the location and the management of a building. An acceptable alternative approach should take into consideration these criteria and at the same time, should apply scientific and engineering principles to the protection of people and property from fire. Such an approach, which is also called “a fire engineering approach", may be the only viable means to a satisfactory standard of fire safety in some large and complex buildings. A variety of measures may be taken to achieve fire safety in a building. These measures may provide for or enhance the following : ~ the means to prevent fire; ~ early fire warning by an automatic detection and warning system; ~ the standard of the provision of means of escape;3.6 = the facilities for smoke control; - the control of the rate of spread of fire; ~ the resistance of the effects of a fire: the capacity for fire containment; ~ fire separation between buildings or parts of buildings: ~ the standard of active measures for fire extinguishment or control: ~ the facilities to assist in fire-fighting and rescue: ~ the effectiveness of property management to minimize the outbreak of fi = the availability of personnel trained in fire protection; and ~ the availability of any arrangement that could ensure the continued maintenance of fire protection systems. Quantitative techniques may be used to evaluate risks and hazards. Some factors listed above may be given numerical values in certain circumstances. When quantitative methods are used, any assumptions made should be substantiated. where possible, by documents from competent authorities. Interpretations "balcony approach” means a balcony which is used as an external approach to a common staircase and which serves two or more occupancies. “basement” means any storey of a building which is below the lower or lowest ground storey and from which any required exit route is in an upward direction“capacity” in relation to a room or storey of a building means that number of persons which the room or storey of a building is, for the purpose of this Code of Practice, to be taken as capable of holding. Provided that where there is on any storey the entrance to a maisonette, that storey shall, for the purpose of this definition, be deemed to include all floors of the maisonette. “direct distance” means the distance measured in straight lines along the notional path from any part of a room to the centre of an exit door of the room. discharge value" means the number of persons that a staircase of a given width may be assumed to be capable of discharging from a given number of. storeys, “exit door” means a door from a storey, flat, or room, which gives access from such storey, flat or room on (o an exit route. “exit route” means a route by which persons in any storey of a building may reach a place of safety outside the building and may include rooms. door-ways, corridors, staircases, areas for refuge in refuge floors or other means of passage not being a revolving door, lift or escalator. “factory” is as defined in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. “flat” means a separate and self-contained dwelling, forming part of a building from some other part of which it is divided horizontally, and includes a maisonette and tenement floor, "ground storey” means the storey in which is situated an entrance from a street to the building and, where a building fronts or abuts on more than one street and due to a difference in street levels there are two or more entrances serving different streets and situated in different storeys, means each such storey. “industrial undertaking” is as defined in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance.“maisonette” means a flat not being a tenement floor ana having more than one but not more than three storeys. “notifiable workplace” is as defined inthe Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. “place of public entertainment” means any building or that part of a building constructed or adapted to be used for any public entertainment and includes the place itself and any means of ingress or egress for the purpose of and in connexion with such place, and in cases in which such place consists of a part or parts only of a building includes also any other part or parts of such building used or intended to be used for the purpose of and in connexion with such place. Public entertainment in this context 1s as defined in the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance “protected lobby" means the intercepted approach, to. a staircase or an exit route, which acts as a fire and smoke check between a storey and the staircase or the exit route, and enclosed throughout by walls and doors in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction, “refuge floor” means a protected floor that serves as a refuge for the occupants of the building to assemble in case of fire “travel distance” means the horizontal distance measured on the floor along the centre line of the exit route between the centre of an exit door from a room and (a) the centre of the fire-resisting door to the enclosure of any one staircase; (b) if there is no such door, the first stair tread of the staircase: or (c) if the exit route leads directly to a street or to an open area at ground level complying with paragraph 8.2, any one of the points of discharge to the street or open area.5.1 5.2 usable floor area” means the aggregate of the areas of the floor or floors in a storey or a building excluding, unless otherwise specified, any staircases, public circulation space, lift landings, lavatories, water-closets, kitchens in self-contained flats, and any space occupied by machinery for any lift, air-conditioning system or similar service provided for the building Application The provi buildings - ns in this Code apply to all buildings with the exception of domestic {a) having not more than three main domestic storeys: (b) _ the level of the highest floor of which is not more than 13 m above the ground level; and (©) used or intended to be used for occupation by a single family. Where any Ordinance or any Regulations made under any Ordinance includes any Provision relating to means of escape in case of fire, nothing in this Code of Practice shall be deemed to overrule such provision. In this connexion attention is drawn to the following Ordinances and the Regulations made thereunder - (a) Bedspace Apartments Ordinance, Cap. 447; (b) Child Care Centres Ordinance, Cap. 243: () Education Ordinance, Cap. 279: (d) Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Cap. 59: (©) Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, Cap. 349; () Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance, Cap. 459;53 For situations not covered in this Code, the means of escape will be determined by the Building Authority according to the circumstances of individual cases PART I: GENERAL PROVISIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE 6.1 Special Hazard Occupancy In a building where an area of special hazard occupancy is directly associated with an ‘occupancy of normal hazard (for example store rooms for combustible material in a hotel: a kitchen attached to a restaurant; a boiler room in a hotel) any opening from such area of special hazard into any exit route should be provided with a protected lobby. The means of escape from an area of normal hazard should not pass through any area of special hazard. For the purpose of this paragraph, the hazard of occupancy should be the relative danger of the start and spread of fire, the relative danger of smoke or gases generated and the relative danger of explosion or other occurrence which may endanger the lives and safety of the occupants. (a) The requirements for fire resisting construction in areas of special hazard occupancy are contained in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction. (b) A kitchen attached to a restaurant is an “industrial undertaking” as defined in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance.] Assessment of Accommodation As a guide to assessing the requirements for means of escape, or the capacity or population of various portions of a building, or the number of persons and population density within a building, the following Table 1 and notes should be the basis of calculation.“8 ‘Table_t Intended use of storey | Factor representing usable floor area in my per person (Assembly halls, auditoria and stadia without seating or with movable seating (b) Areas accessible to the public in viewing galleries, banking halls, betting centres and places where public service counvers ate provided (c) Dance halls (calculated on dancing area), disco and reception area for restaurant (4) Restaurants(caleulated on dining area}, dining area, lounges, comunittee rooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, common oomis, function room and waiting rooms (e) Kitchens attached to restaurants (®) Muscums, exhibition halls, crademarts and display areas (2) Supermarkets, showrooms, jewellery and goldsmith shops, pawn shops and money changers. (hy Shopping arcades, department stores and shopping areas + basement, GIF, 1/F & 2/F 0s 0s 0.78 SIF Seal i (i) Offives 9 G) Tenement houses, barracks. dormitories, and self-contained fats 3 comprising a single room or naving the main living area subdivided by rooms (ki Self-contained flats with corridor or balcony aecess having five or 45 more flats on each floor served by each staircase (Flats not covered by G) oF (ky 9 {any Platte factories 45 (ny Warehouses, godowns and storage ateas 30 (0) Classrooms of school not covered by Education Ordinance and other 2 lecture toms, library, and study roonts oe (i) For definition of “usable floor area” see paragraph 4. For uses in category (g) & (h), the usable floor areas shall include the public circulation space as it normally forms part of the premises, except for shopping arcades where a notional arcade width of 2.Sm and 3.0m for single-loaded and double-loaded shopping mally respectively will be used, Gi) Hospitals. hotels. hostels, places of public entertainment etc, will be assessed by the Building Authority ‘on the basis of detailed layout plans, iit) The worst scenario will be adopre: order to calculate the maximum capacity of carpark but Jes than 1-5 carparking spaces per person. The travel distance in carpark should be measured along the aisle based on the assumption that the carpark is ful. (iv) Single user specialized industrial workplace will be determined by the Commissioner for Labour according to the specialized trade process proposed, (v) For any use mot specified in (vi) The Buildin building. his table, the Building Authority should determine the factor to be used. Authority recognizes actual counting as a reliable way to establish the population of a8. General Requirements of Exit Routes Bu 8.3 8.4 Every building to which this Code applies should be so constructed that there are available from each storey of the building such exits and exit routes as will comply with the requirements set out in this Code. Every exit route should lead directly to a street or to an open area at ground level having unobstructed access, not less in width than the total required width of exit routes discharging into such an area, to a street. Such access to a street should not be closed with doors or gates unless sucn doors or gates are capable of being readily opened from inside without the use of key(s) and in the direction of exit If an exit staircase leads to an open area at any upper floor levels of the building such as the podium level. instead of leading directly to a street or to an open area complying with paragraph 8.2. the staircase should lead to an exit route at such floor level whici - (a) should be adequately defined by permanent features eg : handrail, railing: (b) should lead to a place of ultimate safety, i.e. a street or an open area complying with paragraph 8.2; and (c) should be designed and constructed as if it is part of the exit staircase complying with the requirements in this Code and those in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction. For the purpose of complying with the requirements in the Code of Practice of Fire Resisting Construction, the roof of the exit route should be regarded as an external wall and the slab of the open area should be regarded as a floor Every part of an exit route should be provided with artificial lighting providing a horizontal illuminance at floor level of not less than 30 lux and backed up by an emergency lighting system providing a horizontal illuminance at floor ievei of not less than 2 lux. The design of the emergency lighting system should comply with the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment. Exit routes from a building should not discharge into a private lane unless the lane is properly paved and free from any permanent obstruction and the Building Authority is satisfied with the integrity of the lane as a means of escape.8.6 8.7 8.8 -10- If the final point of discharge of the exit routes at ground level are so sited that they adjoin each other or any other accommodation, the walls enclosing such exit routes should be returned along the frontage of the final discharge or project from the frontage for a distance of not less than 450 mm, provided that any return should not reduce the effective width of the exit route. Every part of an exit route should have a clear height of not less than 2000 mm. provided that sprinkler heads may be installed along the side wall of the exit route and every such sprinkler head should not project : (a) more than 90 mm from such side wall; and (b) so as to reduce the clear height of the exit route by more than 105 mm, At the final point of discharge of an exit route at ground level where there is a drop in level, any door or gate, if installed, should be set back from the line of drop in level for a distance of not less than the width of the exit route. If the drop in level consists of a single step, it should be so marked that the step is clearly visible.91 Buildings with a Single Staircase Single staircases may be permitted in buildings not exceeding 6 storeys in height and the ievel of the floor of the uppermost storey is not more than 17 m above the level of the ground at the point of discharge of the staircase. No building will be permitted to have a single staircase unless such building complies with the following conditions :- (a) no room or storey of the building may be used for any occupancy other than domesti c or offices, except that the ground storey may be used for the purposes of 2 shop or carparking space provided that the requirements for staircase enclosures in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction are complied wit (b) adequate access should be provided at ground level to enable a rescue ladder/appliance to reach at least one window of every separate occupancy on each floor above the ground storey. Such access shall be at least: i) 3m wide in the case of a building in which the level of the highest floor is not more than 10 m above ground level: and (ii) 4.5m wide in the case of a building in which the level of the highest floor is more than 10 m above ground level (c) in the case of a building in which the level of the highest floor is not more than 13m above ground level the usable floor area of any storey above the ground floor should nor exceed 250 m* (d) in the case of a building in which the level of the highest floor is more than 13 m above ground level the usable floor area of any storey above the ground floor should not exceed 150 m?: and10.2 10.3 “12. (e) in the case of a building in which the level of the highest floor is more than 13 m above ground level:- (i) access to the staircase at each storey should be through a protected lobby. Such lobby should be designed as a common area and an integral part of the staircase so that it could not be readily incorporated as part of any adjacent unit(s) of accommodation: (ii) the staircase should be continued to the roof; (iii) there should be available on the roof an area of flat surface for refuge of not Jess than 0.5 m2 per person based on the total population of the building above ground storey determined according to Table 1. Such flat roof should be accessible directly from the staircase, clear of any obstruction, and is so positioned that it is readily accessible for rescue purposes; and (iv) the roof should comply with the requirements in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction. Exits from Rooms There should be available from every room of a capacity exceeding 3 persons not less than the number of exit doors shown in Table 2 according to the capacity of the room. The width of each exit door and the total width of all the exit doors shall be not less than the width shown in Table 2 according to tne capacity and the number of exit doors provided. Every exit door so provided should give access to an exit route which complies with paragraph 8 and which is independent of any other exit route to which access may be directly obtained from that room. Provided that where the capacity does not exceed 200 persons the exit doors may give access to a single corridor or balcony approach from which it is possible to escape in more than one direction Where two or more exit doors (required by Table 2) vary in width, any width of an exit door in such group in excess of 50% above the width of the narrowest exit door in such group should not be included in the calculation for the minimum total width of exit doors as required in column 3 of Table 2.12 Exits from Storeys Every building. except those buildings permitted under paragraph 6 to have a single staircase, should be so constructed that there are available from each storey not less than 2 exit routes or such greater number as may be required by Table 2. The width of each exit route and the totai width of all the exit routes should be not less than the width shown in Table 2 according to the capacity and the number of exit route provided. Provided that {a) this requirement should apply to only one of the storeys of a maisonette, (b) where two or more exit routes (required by Tabie 2 to serve a storey) vary in width, any width of an exit route in such group in excess of 50% above the width of the narrowest exit route in such group should not be included in the calculation for the minimum total width of exit routes as required by column 4 of Table 2. Where two or more exit staircases are required, people using one staircase should be able to gain access to at least one of the other staircases at any time without having to pass through other person’s private premises. Such access should be provided either at each floor or, where refuge floors are provided, at the refuge floor(s) and the roof. The requirements in this paragraph do not apply to a domestic building or a composite building not exceeding 15 storeys in height above the lowest ground storey.“14 ‘Table 2 Table showing minimum number of exit doors from a room, or exit routes from a storey, and required minimum width thereof Min, No. of | Capacity of exit doors Min, Total Width of Min. Width of cach room or storey | (from room) ~ cents | est'doos [exceoues | esicdoor [ext ome (trom sory) | | | I | 4 - 8 1 i i 750mm | 1050 mm | 3 200 2 1750 mm 2100 mm 850 mm 1050 mm 201 300 2 2500 mm | 2500mm | 1050mm | 1050 mm 301-500 2 300mm | 300mm | 1050 mm | — 1050 mm so 70 | 45001mm | 4500mm | 1200mm | 1200 mm 75) 100 | | comm | etomm | 200mm | 1200 mm lool - 1280 | s | 7500mm | 7500mm | 1390mm J 1350 mm 12st - 1500 6 9000 nm | 9000.mm | 1380 mm | 1350 mm 17 or such | greater | tw be calculated atthe rateof | 1500mm | 1500 mn over 1500 | numer asthe | 300mm per 50 persons | i | | | puitsing | i \ | aunionty may | ' i | lemremel| | | Noves (i) In the case of Plaves of Public Entertainment attention is drawn to Part IIL of this Code, the requirements of which must be followed. (ii) The width of an exit door should be the least clear width measured hetween the vertical members of the door frame. ily The width of a staircase, starr Tanding, passage or corridor comprising an exit route should be measured berween the finished surfaces of the walls or of the inner sides of any balustrade and should not be decreased by the introduction of any projections other than handrails the projection of which should not exceed 90 mm, (iv) The Table shows the minimum requirement on the assumption that doors can be readily and freely opened by occupants in case of fire i.e, no lock () Incase of shopping arcades, department stores and shopping areas at basement, G/F, L/F & 2/F over 500 persons. minimum no. of exit doors (from room) oF exit routes (from Storey) may be lesser than that as shown on Table 2 subject to the compliance of minimum total width of exit doorsiroutes as shown on Table 2,“Ise 12. Exits at Ground Storey 121 13. 13.1 The enclosing walls of every staircase should be so continued at ground storey as to separate from the remainder of the building any passage or corridor leading from the staircase to any ground storey exit door to which the staircase gives access; provided that - (a) in the case of a building served by wo or more staircases, a cloakroom, lavatory, water-closet, caretaker's office. fire control room or caretaker’s counter may open off such passage-way: and (b) in the case of a building served by three or more staircases one in every three such staircases may discharge through fire resisting doors to a hall or shopping arcade and that part of the hall or shopping arcade which forms the actual exit route should comply with the requirements of paragraphs 8.2 and 8.4 Where an exit route from a ground storey forms also the exit route from a staircase, the width of such exit route should be not less than the sum of - (a) half the width required for the exit from the ground storey; and (b) the width required for the staircase from the upper storeys: and {c) the width required for the staircase, if any, from the vasements. Access to Staircase(s) within a Building Every staircase should be separated from the remainder of the building in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction (see diagram 1) In the case of a building with a single staircase attention is drawn to the requirements in paragraph 9,13.5 “16. In the case of a building with two or more staircases, the access to the staircases should be so arranged that:~ (a) each staircase is approached from a different direction provided that deadends will be permitted in accordance with paragraph 14.3(b); (b) the door of one staircase, or the nearest point in the perimeter of the landing 10 the staircase where there is no door. should not be nearer than 6m from the door or a similar point of any other staircase measured in a straight line along the wall. The means of escape from any part of a building should be so arranged that it is not necessary to pass through one staircase enclosure or the landing of one staircase. as the case may be. in order to reach an alternative staircase Where internal access is provided, (@) no door opening on to an internal common corridor should at any part of its swing reduce the minimum required width of such corridor; (b; @ protected lobby should be provided to each and every staircase unless the staircase is : (i) a staircase of which at least 50 % of its perimeter, measured on plan, is open, from the top of the balustrade or parapet to the underside of the flight of the staircase immediately above, to the external air; or (ii) a staircase in a single staircase building in which the level of the highest floor is not more than 13 m above ground level (iii) a staircase in a building which is provided with two or more stairs and the level of the highest floor is not more than 20 m above ground level. Such lobby shall be designed as a common area and an integral part of the staircase so that it could not be readily incorporated as part of any adjacent unit(s) of accommodation.“it Where balcony approach is provided, (a) a balcony approach should be protected in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction: (b) the landing of any staircase should not form part of the balcony approach: (c) a0 door opening on to the balcony approach should at any part of its swing reduce the minimum required width of the balcony approach: and (d) every window opening on to the balcony approach should be so arranged that it sould not be possible to fix any such window in an open position in such a manner as will reduce the minimum required width of the balcony. The sill of such window should be not less than 1000 mm above the balcony level. Provided that nothing in this paragraph should prevent a window from opening through 180 degrees and being fixed open in such position, or the use of fanlights at a height of not less than 2000 mm above the balcony level 14. Direct Distance and Travel Distance Wa 14.2 The direct distance within a room which is provided with an alternative exit door ieading to an alternative staircase or an alternative point of discharge to a street or to an open area at ground level complying with paragraph 8.2, as the case may be, should not exceed 18m except in exhibition hall, concert hall, transport terminal and similar buildings. Where such aiternative exit door is not provided, the direct distance should not exceed 1Sm. (see diagrams 2, 3 and 4) Ina storey of a single-staircase building, the travel distance and the sum of the direct distance and travel distance should not exceed the limitations stipulated in Table 3.“18. Table 3 Limitation on Direct Distance and Travel Distance for Single-staircase Bui ings { Type of exit route* Maximum travel distance | Maximum sum of the direct distance and travel distance (A) 18m 24m (B) 12m 24m (cy 8m 18 m *Notes : (A) exit route along balcony approach or internal corridor with ventilation and complying with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction. (B) exit route along internal corridor without ventilation and complying with the requirements of the Code of Pra Fire Resisting Construction. tice for (C) storey partitioned into rooms but exit route is not along balcony approach or internal corridor which complies with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction 14.3 Ina storey which is served by two or more staircases or points of discharge to a street or to an open area at ground level complying with paragraph 8.2, as the case may be, - (a) the travel distance and the sum of the direct distance and travel distance should not exceed the limitations stipulated in Table 4,“19. Table 4 Limitation on Direct Distance and Travel Distance for Buildings with Two or More Staircases f r T 7 1 Use of he i i premises or || Type of exit | Maximum travel distance {| Maximum sum of the direct part of the roue* | distance and travel distance jj premises # (0 otfices, aw | 45m t sebiools and Pp shops fanned 26m 1 t oO | 30m i 30 m {i (iy all ower Pay | 30m 36m: i cases t 8) 2m 36m | © | 30m i 30m “Notes : (A) exit route along baicony approacn or internal corridor with ventilation and complying with the requi Practice for Fire Resisting Construction. ments of the Code of (B) exit route along internal corridor without ventilation and complying with the reauirements of the Code of Pract Resisting Construct ce for Fire ion, (C) storey partitioned into rooms but exit route is not along balcony approach or internal corridor which complies with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Fire Resisti Construction. (b) where the dire on of travel from an exit door of a room (0 a staircase or a point of discharge to a street or to an open area at ground level complying with paragraph 8.2 as the case may be, is possible in one direction only (i.e, deadend), the sum of the direct distance and travel distance should not exceed 18m.-20- (c) the horizontal distance along the corridor measured on the floor along the centre line 14.4 14.5 of the exit route between a staircase or a point of discharge and any one of the other staircases or points of discharge. as the case may be, should not exceed 48m. In the case of staircases, the distance should be measured between - (i) the centre of the fire resisting doors to the enclosures of the staircases; (ii) if there is no such door, the landings of the staircases; or (iii) in the case of an open podium floor, the points as described in (i) or (ii) above. or the first staircase treads nearest to the podium. If the storey is not partitioned into rooms or the internal layout of partitions, fittings, etc. is not known when plans are submitted (i.e. open plan layout), the direct distance should not exceed 30m for all cases where a secondary exit door is provided and should not exceed 18m if a secondary exit door is not provided. (see diagram 5) An inner room, i.e. a room from which the only exit route is through another room, should not be acceptable unless the following conditions are satisfied (a) the capacity of the inner room does not exceed 30: (b) the exit route from the inner room does not pass through more than one other room; (c) the escape distance from any point in the inner room to the exit of the room giving access to the inner room does not exceed the direct distance stipulated in paragraph 14.1 above: (d) the room giving access to the inner room is not an area of special hazard and is under the control of the same occupant; and {e) a vision panel, except in the case of a toilet, is located in the door or walls of the inner room14.6 147 14.8 15, 15.1 15.3 In any room where «wo or more exit doors are required to be provided under Table 2. the line of the direct distance from any point in the room to one of the exit doors should form an angle of not less than 30° with the line of the direct distance from the same point to any of the other exit doors. For the purposes of paragraphs 14.1 and 14.4, a secondary exit door is not considered to be provided unless the line of the direct distance from any point in the room to one of the exit doors forms an angle of not less than 30° with the line of the direct distance from the same point to the other exit door. For the purposes of paragraphs 14.2 and 14.3, an internal corridor with ventilation should be one which is - (a) cross ventilated by permanent openings which may be fitted with ventilator(s) provided that such ventilator(s) should be triggered to open by automatic smoke detector located in the space to be ventilated and fitted with a manual override, ‘The openings should have a otal free area of at least 6.25% of the floor area of the corridor to be ventilated and each opening should have a free area of at ieast LS mor (b) provided with a static or a dynamic smoke extraction system to the satisfaction of the Director of Fire Services. Discharge Value and Width of Staircase The staircases serving the storeys of a building above the ground storey should have a total discharge value of not less than the total capacity of those storeys assessed in accordance with paragraph 7 The staircases serving the basements of a building should have a total discharge value of not less than the toral capacity of those basements assessed in accordance with paragraph 7. The discharge value of a staircase in a non-sprinklered building should be assessed from Table 5 according to the width of the staircase and the number of storeys it serves.a Non-sprinklered Building Width of Staircase No. of Storey | werved 10S0mm | 120mm | 1350mm } {500mm } 160mm | 1700mm | 180mm ue but but but but j under} under | under under under under {120mm | 1350mm | 1500mm | 1600mm 100mm } 190mm 1 210 240 270 300 340 360 2 242 278 315 351 402 428 3 24 316 360 402 464 496 + | 306 354 405 453 526 S64 5 | 338 392 450 504 588 632 fete | 370 430 495 555 650 700 7 402 468 540 606 2 768 8 434 506 585 657 74 836 8 466 544 630 708 836 90 10 498 $82 615 159 898 972 Each additional 32 38 45 sl 7 2 68 storey add The discharge value of a staircase having a width more than 1900 mm may be obtained by using linear projection from the table.1S.4 ‘The discharge value of a staircase in a sprinklered building should be assessed from Table 6 according to the width of the staircase and the number of storeys it serves. Table 6: Discharge Value of a Staircase in a Sprinklered Building f T D f T i \ i Width of Staircase i | No. of i Storey 7 seed | | | F1osomm | 1200mm | 1350mm | 1500mm | 1600mm | 1700mm | 1800mm butt bur | but but bur j bur | ut under | under | under under under | under | under | r200mm | 13S0mm | 100mm | r6o0mm | 1700m0 | 800mm | 1900: i | 1 I \ 420 | 480 s40 600 640 | 680 | 720 2 452 si 585 6st 67 72 | 788 i + 3 } 484 | 556 I 630 702 734 | 804 856 «| sie | se | os | 783 au | 866 | 94 | s | se | oe | m0 aos | 6s | 928 | 992 + + t 6 | sso | or | 76s | ass | 925 | 990 | 1080 T Y 7 612 | 708 810 506 saz | 1052 | 1128 + 8 644 746 855 957 1039 | nd 1196 t t 9 | 6% | 74 | 900 | 1008 | 10% | 176 | 1264 0 | 7 | me | os | to | us | me | om | Each additional 2 38 45 si 7 6 68 storey add Note : THe discharge value ofa staircase naving a width more than 1900 rim may be obsained by using Tinear projection from the table.15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 2A. The discharge value of a staircase where the direction of exit is upwards should be that assessed from Table 5 for non-sprinklered building or Tab!e 6 for sprinklered building as the case may be, and multiplied by a reduction factor of 0.8. The discharge value of a scissors staircase without any intermediate landing between 2 consecutive floors should be that assessed from Table 5 for non-sprinklered building or Table 6 for sprinklered building as the case may be, and multiplied by a reduction factor of 0.7. For the purpose of this paragraph, sprinklered buildings are those where the whole building is protected by sprinklers. Where part of a building is protected by sprinklers and other part is not and the staircases serving these different parts are not separated, the discharge value of such staircases should be assessed from Table 5 The total width of staircases serving a building having a total capacity of not less than 10.000 persons for sport arenas, stadia, convention centres, passenger terminals or similar uses should be 1.2 times the total width of exit routes required by Table 2 according to the capacity of the area concerned, Where part of the exits lead directly to a place of ultimate safety which means a street or the open area referred to in paragraph 8,2 and part of the exits lead to staircases, the total width of the staircases should be 1.2 times the width of the exit routes calculated by deducting the total width of exits leading directly to the place of ultimate safety from the total width of exit routes required by Table 2 according to the capacity of the area concerned. ‘A building having a total capacity of not less than 10,000 persons may necessitate special consideration. Fire engineering approach may be the only viable means 10 a satisfactory standard of a fire safety16. 16.1 16.2 16.4 16.5 25. Doors in Relation to Exits Every door across an exit, or into an exit route from a room or storey the capacity of which exceeds 30, should - (a) open in the direction of exit; (b) if constructed to open both ways, have a transparent upper view panel. It itis necessary to s ture an exit door against entry from outside, the locking device shall be of the type which is capable of being readily opened from the inside without the use of a key. A locking device which is electrically operated is acceptable Provided that such lock is capable of automatic release upon actuation of a smoke detection system or the operation of an alarm system or a central manual override. installed to the satisfaction of the Director of Fire Services. Upon power failure . the electrical locking device shall also be released automatically. In the case of a door toa Staircase or a protected lobby of the staircase, the security mechanism should not affect compliance with the requirements in paragraph 11.2. Every door opening on to a landing between flights of a staircase should not at any point of its swing, reduce the effective radius of the ianding to less than the width of the staircase. Exit door from a room or storey having a capacity in excess of 3 persons should not be less than 750mm in width. In the case of a double leaf door, no leaf of such door should be less in width than 600 mm and. where the meeting stiles are rebated, a checking device to control the closing order of the doors should be installed. Such checking device should ensure that both leaves of door are closed in the correct order and position, Every door giving access to a protected lobby from a staircase enclosure or from a storey should be provided with a transparent upper view panel of the requisite fire resistance.16.6 16.7 16.8 26- !n the case of factories and industrial undertakings that are required to be notified to the Commissioner for Labour, i.e. notifiable workplaces, (a) every exit door ieading out of a notifiable workplace. and the doors of every room in a notifiable workplace in which 10 persons or more are employed should be constructed so as to open outwards; (b) every exit door leading out of a notifiable workplace should be fitted with an effective self-closing device Every door to a staircase or a protected lobby of the staircase should comply with the following requirements: (a) the self-closing mechanism should not be capable of allowing a check action to hold the door open and (b) appropriate notices should be fixed to both sides of the doors to remind building users that the doors should normally be kept closed. Every door across an exit or into an exit route from a room, except a door to a staircase or a protected lobby of the staircase, if required to be self-closing, may be held open in normal times provided that the hold-open device can be released to allow the door to become self-closing again manually and automatically upon actuation of a smoke detection system or the operation of an alarm system designed, installed to the satisfaction of the Director of Fire Services.17.3 74 17.6 Construction of Staircases Every staircase to which this Code applies should be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction Staircases should be arranged in straight flights without winders, each flight should consist of not more than 16 risers nor less than 2 risers. Treads should be not less than 225 mm wide, measured clear of nosings and the risers should be not more than 175 mm high. Provided that :- (a) in schools treads should be not less than 250 mm wide and the risers should be not more than [50 mm nor less than 75 mm high, and {b) in places of public entertainment treads should be not less than 280 mm wide and not more than 150 mm high. Landings should be provided at the top and bottom of each flight not less in width and length than the staircase width. and no exit door should at any part of its swing reduce the effective width or effective radius of such landing as the case may be. Every staircase should have a clear width of not less than that required by paragraph 11.1 and a clear height of not less than 2000 mm. No staircase should exceed 1800 mm in width unless it is divided by a central handrail into separate sections, each of which should be not iess than 1050 mm in width, ‘There should be provided a handrail on each side of the staircase. Every such handrail should - (a) be ata height not less than 850 mm nor more than 1100 mm: (b) not project so as to reduce the clear width of the stair by more than 90 mm, for each handrail: and (c) be continuous throughout each flight, but need not be carried round a landing or half landing except in the case of a place of public entertainment.18. 19, 20. 20.1 20.3 -28- Ramps The gradient of every ramp forming part of an exit route should not at any part be steeper than 1:12, ift Lobbies Every lift lobby should have access, without any obstruction and lockable door, to an exit route. Such access should be available at all times to any person who may come out from a lift car to the lift lobby. ‘The provision of a direct intercom link connecting a lift lobby with the management office of the building will be accepted as an adequate alternative if the building is provided with good management. Basements Every basement should have not less than 2 exits excepting a basement - (a) the floor of which is not more than 3000 mm below the level of the ground to which the exit serving such basement gives access; (b) the area of which does not exceed 150 m*; and (c) which is used solely for a lavatory or plantroom, No stair se serving the storeys of a building above the ground storey should be continued direct to a basement Sufficient directional and exit signs, in English and Chinese, to indicate the direction of exit should be displayed in each staircase serving the basement(s). Such signs should be illuminated by a light on two systems as the lighting referred to in paragraph 8.4 and be - (a) in rectangular shape and should be in either one of the following forms : MVEXIT or EXIT By20.4 25. All words and characters should be in block letters not less than 50 mm high ‘The wording should be in white and the background in green er the wording in green with the background in white or black (b) not easily defaced or damaged: and (c) displayed on the central part of the side wall of each flight of the staircase(s) at a height of 1500 mm from and parallel to the nosing line of the flight. In the case of a basement, except a basement used solely as a lavatory, which is below the lowest ground storey and from which all the required exit routes discharge in an upward direction, at least one exit from such basement should discharge independently of any other exit imo a street or area having access to a street in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 8.2. Refuge Floors Subject to paragraph 21.5, refuge floors should be provided in all buildings exceeding 25 storeys in height above the lowest ground storey, at not more than 20 storeys and 25 storeys respectively for industrial and non-industrial buildings from any other refuge floor, or above the street or the open area referred to in paragraph 8.2. For the purpose of this paragraph the number of storeys may exclude storeys which contain solely mechanical piants. Every refuge floor. except that provided under paragraphs 21.3 and 21.5, should comply with the following requirements (a) there is no occupied accommodation or accessible mechanical plant room, except fire services water tanks and associated fire service installation plant room, at the same level as the refuge floor; (b) the net area for refuge should be not less than 50 % of the total gross floor area of the refuge floor and should have a clear neight of not less than 2300 mm;-30- (©) the minimum dimension of the area for refuge should be at least 50% greater than the width of the widest staircase passing through the refuge floor: (d) the area for refuge should be separated from the remainder of the building in accordance with the requirements in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction; (e) the area for refuge should be open-sided above safe parapet height on at least two opposite sides to provide adequate cross ventilation: the open sides should comply with the requirements in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction; (1) any staircase passing through a refuge floor should be discontinued at such level so that the exit route is diverted to pass over part of the refuge area before it is continued to exit downwards; (g) every part of the area for refuge should be provided with artificial lignting providing a horizontal illuminance at floor Jevel of not less than 30 lux and backed up by an emergency lighting system providing a horizontal illuminance at floor level of not less than 2 lux. The design of the emergency lighting system should comply with the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service installations and Equipment; (h) a refuge floor should be provided with such fire services installation and equipment as may be required by the Director of Fire Services: and (i) @ refuge floor should be served by a fireman's lift. The lift doors should not ‘open onto the refuge floor in normal operation and should be locked at all times until automatically released on actuation of the fireman's switch. (see diagram 6)214 Ble The main roof of a building may be regarded as a refuge floor for the purpose of paragraphs 21.1 and 21.5 provided that - {a} it should be of flat surface and should comply with the requirements in the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction; (b) the net area for refuge should be not less than 50% of the gross floor area of a typical floor below the main roof: (©) any staircase serving the floors immediately below the main roof should be continued to give access to the main roof without any obstruction at all times: (d) the minimum dimension of the area for refuge should be at least 50% greawer than the width of the widest staircase serving the roof: and fe) every part of the area for refuge should be provided with artificial lighting providing a horizontal illuminance at floor level of not less than 30 lux and backed up by an emergency lighting system providing a horizontal illuminance at floor level of not less than 2 lux. The design of the emergency lighting system should comply with the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service installations and Equipment see diagram 7! At each refuge floor, notices and signs should be provided in the following manners (a) a sign indicating the staircase number and a sign indicating the entrance to the refuge floor should be displayed inside each staircase at a position immediately before entering the refuge floor at a height of 1500mm above the landing or the step immediately below the staircase number: (b) a notice in rectangular shape and in the following form should be displayed at a position immediately after entering the refuge floor from each staircase at a height of [500mm above the floor leve!;32. REFUGE FLOOR i +k ji} j For Temporary Rest During Emergency Escape SR cox Ae TF ES EXITS TO STREET LEVEL. | Mao > staircase (no.) staircase (no.) CE A CEB (©) sufficient directional signs in the following form should be displayed at appropriate positions at the refuge floor at a height of 1500mm above the floor level, to indicate the direction of travel in order to enter the respective staircase number; > STAIRCASE (No.} CD Be AR RB (d) all signs and notices provided under (a), (b) and (c) should - (i)_be in English and Chinese; (ii) be illuminated by a light on two systems as the lighting referred to in paragraph 8.4: (iii) have words and characters in block letters not less than SOmm high in white colour on a background in green or the words and char: green on a background in white or biack; and rs in (iv) not be easily defaced or damaged:33 (e) appropriate notices in English and Chinese in letters and characters not less than 25mm high should be provided in a conspicuous part at the main entrance of the building to indicate where the refuge floors are situated. This paragraph does not apply to a domestic building or a composite building not exceeding 40 storeys in height above the iowest ground storey. In a domestic duilding or a composite building exceeding 25 storeys but not exceeding 40 storeys in height above the lowest ground storey, the main roof of the building should be a refuge floor and should comply with the requirements in paragraphs 21.3 and 21.4. PART Il] : PROVISIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT In addition to the general requirements in Part Ii all places of public entertainment should comply with the requirements in this part. 22.3 The site of a place of public entertainment should abut upon and have frontages to 2 or more thoroughfares. The frontages of a building having a place of public entertainment should, subject 10 paragraph 22.7, form at least one-half of the total boundaries of the site on which the building is situated. excluding recesses and projections which do not prejudi- cially affect exit routes, and should permit of the provision of exit routes in accordance with this Code from each tier or floor direct to 2 or more thoroughfares The thoroughfares referred to in paragraph 22.2 should be of such widths as will enable the persons who are to be accommodated in the place of public entertainment to disperse rapidly in the event of fire or panic and as will afford reasonable facilities for the approach of fire appliances.22.6 22.7 34- in the case of a place of public entertainment which is capable of accommodating more than 500 but not more than 2,000 persons one of the thoroughfares referred to in paragraph 22.2 should be at least 12 m wide. In the case of a place of public entertainment which is capable of accommodating more than 2,000 but not more than 3,000 persons one of the thoroughfares referred to in paragraph 22.2 should be at least 12 m wide and the other one should be at least 9 m wide if a carriageway or 6 m wide if a footway. In the case of a place of public entertainment which is capable of accommodating more than 3,000 but not more than 5,000 persons one of the thoroughfares referred to in paragraph 22.2 should be at least 15 m wide and the other one should be at least 9 m wide. in the case of a place of public entertainment which 1s capable of accommodating more than 5,000 persons such further frontage to the thoroughfares referred w in paragraph 22.2 should be provided as the Building Authority may require In the case of a place of public entertainment which is capable of accommodating not more than 500 persons, the Building Authority should determine the number and width of thoroughfares required (0 be provides as access t0 the place of entertainment Cinemas in Multi-storey Non-domestic or Composite Buildings Cinemas accommodating not more than 2,000 people in the aggregate in any one building may be situated in any one storey or storeys of a non-domestic building or the non-domestic part of a composite building. Such cinemas may have shared facilities including exit routes. The exit routes should have adequate widths and sizes based on the total capacity of the cinemas to be served. The exits from the cinemas should be relatively remote from each other and the majority of exit routes should discharge to streets of not less than 4.5m wide which is accessible to fire fighting vehicles to the satisfaction of the Director of Fire Services and, if necessary, may discharge through but should be separated from other occupancies23.3 35- Such cinemas may be situated at the first basement only, subject to compliance with the following requirements (a) all exit routes from the auditorium to the staircases and from the staircases to the streets should be short and direct; (b) all staircases/exits from the cinemas should discharge independently onto a street; (c) all staircases serving other basement floors should be sealed off at the floor where the cinemas are situated; {d) at least one of the exit routes should be a fire-fighting and rescue stairway designed and constructed in accordance with the Code of Practice for Means of Access for Fire-fighting and Rescue: and (e) the widths of the staircases should be in accordance with Table 7. Table 7 T 7 No. of persons | No. of exit routes i widths of exit routes, in each PPE | required { required i Less than 300 2 1.5m each 301 - 500 i 2 i 2m each i 50! - 750 i 3 i 2m each i { T Over 750 i to be decided by Building Authority | L i Exit, Notices, ete All exit doors or openings from a place of public entertainment and from the stage and dressing rooms in such place should be clearly indicated by a notice bearing th word EXIT in block letters in English and Chinese of letters not Jess than 175 mm high in white colour with a background in green or letters in green with a backgro1 in white or black.24.3 25.2 25.4 -36- Such notices should be at a height of at least 2 m above the floor and, where possible, should be placed over such doors or openings. Doors and openings. other than exits, in sight of the audience, which lead to portions of the place of public entertainment accessible to the public. should have notices placed over them indicating the use of such portions and such doors and openings should not resemble exits. Notices, signs and handpoimeers indicating the way out should be provided. Notices bearing the words NO EXIT should not be provided. Each notice indicating an exit should be illuminated by a light on two systems as the lighting referred to in paragraph 33. ‘The lighting of exit notices should not in any circumstances be extinguished or dimmed while the public are on the place of public entertainment. Entrances and Exit Routes ‘Two separate exit routes should be provided from every tier or floor which is capable of accommodating not more than 500 persons, and one additional exit route should be provided for every 250 or part of 250 persons above 500. Two of the exit routes from each tier or floor should open into different thoroughfares or ways. If the tier or floor is capable of accommodating not more than 300 persons the width of each exit route should be not less than 1.2 m measured between the walls at any point or between the leaves of the doors when open, and if the tier or floor is capable of accommodating more than 300 persons the width of each of the exits should be not less than 1.5 m measured in like manner. In the case of any places of public entertainment or portions thereof which are 12 m or more above pavement level the total width of exit routes should be 25 per cent in excess of the width required by paragraph 25.3.25.5 25.8 26. 26.1 3 If any tier or floor is divided into 2 or more parts exit routes as required by this paragraph should be provided from each of such parts In calculating the number of persons who can be accommodated in any tier or floor or part of a tier or floor. the accommodation of all standing and waiting spaces in such tier or floor or part of a tier or floor should be included and for the purpose of this paragraph, any tea room, lounge, restaurant or foyer should be regarded as a waiting space. Exit routes should be arranged so as to afford a ready means of egress from all parts of each tier or floor and should iead directly into thoroughfares or ways. In theatres and music halls and other places of public entertainment where the principal fire risk is on the stage, the exit routes from each part of each tier or floor should be placed in a position remote from the stage. All entrances and exit doors. other than pass doors in connexion with spaces in which persons await admission, should be arranged so as to be available for exit during the whole of the time that the public are on the place of public entertainment. Staircases Staircases intended for the use of the public from any tier or floor or part of a tier or floor capable of accommodating not more than 300 persons should be in no part less than 1.2 m wide and such staircases from any tier or floor or part of a tier or floor accommodating more than 300 persons should be in no part iess than 1.5 m wide.26. 27. 21. 28. 3 4 I 38. Staircases referred to in paragraph 26.1 should - {a} not have winders; (b) be in flights of not more than 16 or less than 3 steps each; (c) not have more than 2 successive flights without a turn: and (d)_ if there are more than 12 steps in a flight, should not have more than one flight without a turn. Where a flight of steps in a place of public entertainment returns the newel wall should be chased so as to allow the handrail to turn without projecting over the landing. Any recess in the walls of a staircase should be defended by guardrails. Barriers Any barriers which may be provided for checking or controlling admission should be arranged so that the portions immediately in the line of exit open automatically upon pressure being applied in the direction of exit and so as not to reduce the width of the exit route. All fixed directional barriers to define the exit route should have adequate strength complying with the requirements in section 17(3) of the Building (Construction) Regulations. Rope barriers should be fitted with automatic catches or slip connexions and should be arranged so as not to trail on the floor when parted and the fittings should not project into the gangway or exit route. Chains and Padlocks Chains or padlocks should not be used to secure exit doors. When any other locking ‘mechanism is used, the doors should be capable of being opened from inside without using a key.