Appliances in escape routes

[Redone]

RR(FS)O Article 14. —(1) Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that routes to emergency exits from premises and the exits themselves are kept clear at all times.

If adequate width equal to the exit is maintained across the front of the appliance, i.e. copier or drinks vending machine this satisfies, yes?

And with servicing contracts, AFD, CO2, two way travel, escorted visitors, trained fire wardens, I don't see a problem... wrong I see the problems, but they are managed out.

With all the above but with single direction of travel, I still think they are well managed and acceptable.  Would anybody else follow that thought process?

[PhilB]

Yes, possibly, but of course it depends on each case. Also the corridor may now be more like a room making all rooms off it inner rooms...but never say never.

[kurnal]

Not necessarily. In addition to Phils observation on inner rooms, if the photocopier or vending machine is in a corridor or staircase which has been classed as a protected route there could be a problem.

Where we have a protected route we stop counting travel distance at the storey exit into the protected route. If we start to install ignition sources and combustible materials in what should be a  protected route then it may be appropriate to count the travel distance all the way to the final exit.

[Redone]

Thanks for the input guy's, really appreciated.

[kurnal]

For what its worth I usually take the following line:

If its a dead end corridor in commercial, industrial office or shop apply the inner room rules

If its a corridor in a sleeping risk or assembly building it must be kept sterile

If its a single staircase building the staircase must be sterile if its a protected route

If its commercial, industrial office or shop low rise  and there are two alternative routes then I am fairly relaxed about things in stairways.

If its assembly or sleeping risk or high rise  then I put my foot down with a firm hand and use my stongest possible advice to the RP to keep it sterile

[Redone]

Cheers Kurnal for the additional, I pretty much follow those lines, the hard part I find is getting the RP to maintain the conditions once improved.

[Davo]

Redone
The old guide did not permit a whole list of stuff on escape routes but this has been dropped from the new guides.
Personally I still apply the old rules on the 'give em an inch........'  rule

Professor
Pray tell us again how do you put your foot down???

Davo