9.29.4 Fire escape or external stairs

A fire escape or external stair shall be provided as provided in Regulation No.9.28.7. External stairs, when provided, shall comply the following :

i) External stairs shall always be kept in sound operable conditions.

ii) All external stairs shall be directly connected to the ground.

iii) Entrance to the external stairs shall be separate and remote from the internal staircase.

iv) Care shall be taken to ensure that no wall opening or window opens on to or close to an external stairs.

v) The route to the external stairs shall be free of obstructions at all times.

vi) The external stairs shall be constructed of non-combustible materials, and any doorway leading to it shall have the required fire resistance.

vii) No external staircase, used as a fire escape, shall be inclined at an angle greater than 45 degree from the horizontal.

viii) External stairs shall have straight flight not less than 1250 mm. wide with 250 mm. treads and risers not more than 190 mm. The number of risers shall be limited to 15 per flight.

ix) Handrails shall be of a height not less than 1000 mm. and not exceeding 1200 mm. There shall be provisions of balusters with maximum gap of 150 mm.

x) The use of spiral staircase shall be limited to low occupant load and to a building not exceeding 9 m. in height. A spiral stair case shall be not less than 1500 mm. in diameter and shall be designed to give adequate headroom.

xi) Unprotected steel frame staircase will not be accepted as means of escape. However, steel staircase in an enclosed fire rated compartment of 2 h will be accepted as means of escape.

xii) Fire escape staircase shall be connected to other staircases through common passage at every floor.

(1)

xiii) It shall not be permitted to provide fire escape chutes in alternate to fire escape or external stairs. However the applicant may provide fire escape chute in addition to fire escape / external stairs as mandatory under this Regulation.