3.4.7.6.(1)ATTRIBUTION:
Functional Statement:
F10
To facilitate the timely movement of persons to a safe place in an emergency.
F30
To minimize the risk of injury to persons as a result of tripping, slipping, falling, contact, drowning or collision.
Objective:
OS3.7, OS3.1
APPLICATION:
Minimum height of guards protecting the open sides of platforms, balconies and stairways forming part of a fire
escape referred to in Sentence
3.4.7.1.(2), where:
- it is impracticable to provide one or more of the exit facilities listed in Article 3.4.1.4., and
- the floor areas served are in an existing building and are not more than:
- 2 storeys above ground level in care and detention occupancies, and
- 5 storeys above ground level in other occupancies.
This applies to fire escapes serving floor areas that are intended for occupancy, including mezzanines as stated in Sentence
3.4.2.2.(1),
in buildings described in Sentence
1.3.3.2.(1) of Division A.
This also applies to:
- tents and air-supported structures, as stated in Sentences 3.1.6.1.(1) and 9.10.1.2.(1), and
- existing buildings to which Part 9 applies [see Sentence 1.3.3.3.(1) of Division A for application of Part 9], as stated in Sentence 9.9.2.1.(2).
INTENT:
To exempt guards protecting fire escape platforms, balconies
and stairways from the requirements of Sentence
3.4.6.5.(2) and permit
a lower minimum guard height, on the basis that the fire escapes will be used
infrequently.
This [the minimum guard height] is to limit
the probability that:
- persons using the fire escape will fall over the guard from a higher level to a lower level, which could lead to harm to persons, and
- the absence of a high guard will inhibit the use of the fire escape during an emergency situation, which could lead to delays in the evacuation or movement of persons to a safe place, which could lead to harm to persons.