Fire Evacuation

[BLEVE]

Just went off on a rant on another forum regarding fire evacuation.

Seems that there is yet another ISO standard ISO 23601: 2009 Safety Identification- Escape and Evacuation plan signs.

These seem to be as much use as the introduction of directional brail signage for the blind.

When will some people realise that the current positioning of high level signange and emergency lighting is as much use as a chocolate fire blanket.

Smoke/fire effluent will travel and accumulate from ceiling downward but our standards, guidance etc will advocate the positioning of EL & signange at high level. When will we realise that mid to low is a better proposition

[Phoenix]

It's not as simple as you make out, Bleve.  In some types of buildings your argument might hold but there are arguments on both sides. 

In the absence of smoke, the most effective position for EL is at high level and the most conspicuous position for signs is also at high level. 

In the presence of smoke, obviously, the effectiveness of the high level EL and signs will diminish greatly but to be in this position, haven't we missed something.  Shouldn't we be aiming to get the people out of the building well before smoke gets into the escape routes in this way?

I will agree, absolutely, that in open plan areas such as nightclubs, assembly venues, trains, coaches and planes, signs and EL should be positioned so that they will still perform their required functions in the presence of smoke but this does not convert to a general rule that all signage and EL should be at a lower level.

Stu