Meaning of 'ground floor' in guidance docs

[Mar62]

In documents such as ADB for example, what does 'ground floor' refer to? Reason why I am asking is that i am looking at a block of flats over shops. There are two staircases giving access to flat entrances that are accessed from a large open terrace. The terrace is accessed via an enclosed staircase from street level. At the far end of the terrace is a partially open concrete staircase used as an escape route to final exit at ground floor. In this type of case when referring to '3 levels above ground' - do you think the 'ground' can be taken as the terrace level?

[Tom Sutton]

Check out ADB vol 2, page 138, diagram C5/C6 may help. I would think the ground floor is the street level.

[Fishy]

Depends what the context is.  Possibly, as regards some aspects of means of escape - not if you're considering fire-fighting access and building 'height' in that context.

[Mar62]

Thanks both. Im really looking at smoke control in the staircases and whether its required. I was hoping that i could count the terrace as the ground floor?