Handrail on emergency exit

[lyledunn]

I have a newly constructed set of steps outside an existing emergency final exit in a hotel. The steps have a short flight of 5 treads. The double doors open to provide a clear exit width of 2000mm. The steps are slightly wider at 2200. There is a handrail both sides. Building control have no issues with the steps but the hotels safety officer wants a central hand rail. Normally when steps are greater than 1800mm, a central hand rail is required with the additional caveat that each flight is not less than 1200mm. To accommodate the safety officer would effectively mean a re-construction of the steps.

[Davo]

Lyle

What is the likely number of persons using this route, are they sober etc?

davo

[kurnal]

What is the applicable guidance - I assume NI is different to E&W?
Do you need the 2000mm exit width or would exit requirements and other access considerations be met with lesser width? If so you could reduce the opening of the doors and bring in the handrails to 1800mm?

Are there any other possible trade offs you could suggest as a compensatory package? Is the staircase rise and going much more relaxed than it need be? Can you show flow rate on the stairs is much less than expected on a staircase of this width? Lighting levels exceed benchmark standards?

[Tom Sutton]

Technical Booklet H: 2012 Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact at https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dfp/Technical-booklet-H-Stairs-ramps-guarding-and-protection-from-impact-October-2012.pdf. 3.32 page 30 which is the same as lyledunn has stated.

What surprises me is Building Control NI has no issues I would have thought they would be the ones objecting.

In England or Wales he would have only have to provide a central handrail. http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Stairs

[lyledunn]

Any alteration would be an expensive one. This was an existing exit that was altered externally only in so much that new steps were formed following an adjustment in ground level due to the construction of a beer garden, which, incidentally, you guys helped greatly with in the fire safety arrangements.
The BC officer was relaxed about the steps perhaps because they were a significant improvement on what was there before.
Full exit width may be needed as it serves a large room, albeit a sitting lounge. I had the spark cover the steps with normal and emergency lighting that far exceeds 5266-1 requirements.
It's not a simple matter of a central hand rail as each flight has to be 1200mm. Since the overall step width is barely 2200mm we would end up solving one thing and breaching another.

[wee brian]

Maybe just put two handrails down either side to narrow the effective width. that would avoid the need for a central rail?