Outdoor Power Escape Plan

External escape routes provide alternative evacuation means by directing occupants outside. These include fire escapes, balconies, and external staircases. Design should consider the building's exterior, ensuring paths are clear and accessible. Fire escapes must be constructed from durable, non-combustible materials and regularly inspected.

A safe escape route should be the first thing on your mind when you start designing a passive fire protection plan. Fire safety first focuses on the safety of the occupants of the building. If you want to save lives, you need to make sure people have the time and the means to evacuate in case of fire to a place of total safety.

By providing a fire-resisting construction around the escape route, you can keep the fire out long enough for people to evacuate. It might also be necessary to apply positive air pressure to an escape route to discourage smoke from entering in the event of a fire.

The route must also facilitate a rapid and effective rescue by fire brigades who enter the building to extinguish the fire or to search for people still inside the building. Different protective measures need to be put in place to create an effective escape route.

Routes must be free from obstacles and well-lit. In larger buildings, horizontal routes may include refuge areas for those needing assistance, equipped with communication systems to alert emergency personnel. Vertical escape routes are essential for multi-story buildings, providing movement between floors.

Creating accessible escape routes ensures all occupants can evacuate safely. This includes ramps with gentle slopes and clear, wide doorways for wheelchair users, and auditory and visual alarms for those with sensory challenges. Assistive technologies enhance accessibility.