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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: lyledunn on June 05, 2014, 11:07:54 PM
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Whilst still at consultation stage the third amendment to BS7671 2008, due for publication in early 2015, will require wiring systems in escape routes to be secured with metal fixings. Thus plastic conduit, Plastic trunking, cables held with plastic clips or ties etc will not be permitted. The requirements are generally intended to protect fire and rescue personnel.
One question that I would like to ask you fire officers is what do you think would define the extent of an escape route? I do not think that the term is defined in the standard. Would it be the case that an escape route might be considered as being within the room from which a person might need to escape? Further, on a escape route, for example a corridor in a hospital, does the extent of the escape route go beyond the suspended ceiling or would the ceiling have to be assessed as having a specified fire rating in terms of structural integrity?
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Any route that aperson would take to exit a premise to a final place of safety.
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Whilst still at consultation stage the third amendment to BS7671 2008, due for publication in early 2015, will require wiring systems in escape routes to be secured with metal fixings. Thus plastic conduit, Plastic trunking, cables held with plastic clips or ties etc will not be permitted. The requirements are generally intended to protect fire and rescue personnel.
One question that I would like to ask you fire officers is what do you think would define the extent of an escape route? I do not think that the term is defined in the standard. Would it be the case that an escape route might be considered as being within the room from which a person might need to escape? Further, on a escape route, for example a corridor in a hospital, does the extent of the escape route go beyond the suspended ceiling or would the ceiling have to be assessed as having a specified fire rating in terms of structural integrity?
I understand where you are coming from Lyle and if you are on the throne and the fire alarm sounds your escape route starts there. So really everywhere is an escape route in the event of a fire.
Would plastic conduit and trunking be a risk if it is clipped with non combustible clips? The conduit might give but the cable inside would still be restrained. Just a thought.
Maybe they mean designated escape routes like stairway enclosures, corridors and the like.
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Who needs wires these days anyway?
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Lyle well spotted. Are you planning to comment toBSI? Sounds like they need a definition for escape routes?
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Kurnal,
I have emailed iet but so far no response. NICEIC Technical guys say that an escape route is a "designated passage from a building that has to be kept clear so that there is no loss of life in an emergency". Further "the route must prevent the spread of fire so that there is no issue to prevent escape and"..........."the area could extend above the suspended ceiling".
Really doesn't clarify matters and I have never seen such a definition used before.
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It sounds like the NICEIC is referring to a protected escape route which is only part of an escape route. Like Joe public keep on referring to fire exits as final exits with an exit sign above and do not accepts all doors leading to the ultimate safe area are fire exits.
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Surely one of the issues must be where the problems arise, if we are talking about the fire fighters deaths, the fire fighter who died at Harrow Court was trapped as he exited the flat whilst the two who died at Shirley Towers were actually inside the flat. Working on this basis then we must be looking at all escape routes and not just the protected means of escape.
Another issue is that if the fire is so severe that the support for the cabling fails the conditions are going to be such that the only people who will be alive in the area are firefighters in protective clothing and BA anyone else is likely to be dead or dieing.
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That's the point
Plastic trunking fails at very low temperatures so cable entanglement could be an escape issue (bearing in mind its a stay put strat)
Stuff falling down is normal for firefighting - there's a balance to be found here.
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https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6139/1860324.pdf
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"Would it be the case that an escape route might be considered as being within the room from which a person might need to escape?
Tena koutou,
Given the requirement for this is to protect Firefighters i would think that, whatever the terminology, the requirement would start outwith the potential room of origin. [Given that access corridors etc should be sterile areas].
I agree that they should be more specific "escape routes".
Ka kite ano.
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My thoughts are that an escape route is a principle that in the event of a fire or other emergency one can safely leave a building to a place of safety.
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people often say "escape route" when they really mean "circulation space".
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Not sure why they're specifying the enhanced protection in escape routes when the risk appears to be associated with fire-fighting and rescue operations (which don't necessarily follow escape routes)?