Advice required on fire exit routes

[johnv]

The owners of the nursing home where I work are looking to create a 4 room apartment on the top floor of a 3 storey building. It will consist of lounge, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. The current thinking is that the kitchen area will be the entry point into the apartment at the top of a staircase from the first floor level and this will be the primary route of escape in the event of a fire alarm. There will be a secondary exit from the apartment through a fire door which is normally locked on a magnetic lock linked to the fire alarm system but which will release in the event of a fire.
Does anyone have a view on whether this is going to be acceptable within fire/building regulations? The staircase is currently used as an escape route but the kitchen area is not in place yet and area is currently covered by smoke detectors and emergency lighting.
Thanks
John

[kurnal]

Who will be using the apartment and does the alternative exit route follow a completely seperate route via a different stair to a final exit?

Theres lots more questions to follow!

[Martin Burford]

Johnw

A number of Q's
* Is the door from the proposed appartment and alternative Mof E FR&SC
* Who is proposed to occupy this area
* Does the kitchen have a door
* If so is it FRSC
* If no door fitted I would raise concerns over false alarms fron SD
* Does the alternative Escape Route lead to open air or Final Exit.
Enough for now!
Conqueror.

[johnv]

To answer your questions
The apartment will  be used by live in domestic staff, not residents of the nursing home.
The alternative route follows a separate path down a separate stairase to first floor level and then shares a part of the route to a final exit door.
We propose to fit a door from the kitchen onto the stairs and we will fit whatever is appropriate.
We are considering replacing the current smoke detector with a heat detector but the ceiling is relatively low.

Next set of questions please!!

[kurnal]

I assume that the shared part of the escape route is completely seperate from the route served by the main staircase. If the main staircase and its route to a final exit can be classed as a protected route, the other may be relaxed a little so long as a fire in any location cannot possible affect both routes simultaneously. Kitchens onto staircases in care homes are not desirable but the top floor should not be a problem. Kitchens  on escape routes within flats are undesirable but you have an alternative route. So all in all it sounds achievable in principle but obviously will only be so only as long as it is ancillary to the care home.

As you say it will require Building Regs approval in any case so the detail will be sorted out there.