Means of Escape for Disabled People /
Ref / Click HereCCCRCSESEQFAFSFINICTISOHSOPPREPSSUPTNGTRVS- NFG011
Issue/Revision Date / 01/06/2011 / Review Date / 01/07/2014 / Version / 6.0 /
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Means of Escape for Disabled People
Background
This Note for Inspecting Officers provides guidance on the standards that are considered appropriate in respect to means of escape for disabled people. The Note aims provide the reader with information as to which approved document or technical standard is considered by this Authority to be appropriate.
Information
To consider the needs of disabled people means that historic principles relating to means of escape have to be modified, as it is no longer correct to say that all people should be able to get out of a building by their own unaided efforts.
Access requirements for disabled people have been firmly established in legislation such as;
- Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Building Regulations 2000
The first two acts revolve around making reasonable adjustments to premises where members of the public have access. Where the Building Regulations apply (New builds, change of use, etc) Part M ensures that all persons have reasonable access to, and use of the facilities within a building.
Guidance available to assist compliance with Part M of the Building Regulations consists of the following;
- ADM (Building Regulations 2000, Access to and use of buildings, Approved Document M)
- BS8300 (BS 8300 : 2009, Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people – Code of practice)
In general, means of escape requirements are established in the following pieces legislation;
- Building Regulations 2000
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
If part M is being applied because the Building Regulations apply then, at the same time, Part B requires that all persons should be given a suitable means of escape at the design stage. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) also requires that in any premises where The Order applies, all relevant persons must be given suitable means of escape.
It should be noted that any evacuation plan or fire strategy considered should not involve the intervention of the Fire Service to assist.
Guidance Documents
There are two distinctly different times where guidance is likely to be required by an inspector;
- Making recommendations or requirements under Building Regulations at the consultation stage
- Making recommendations or requirements under the RRO, as advice or enforcement
Consultation or design stage:
The guidance documents that are appropriate for technical details and requirements at this stage are;
- BD2466 (Guidance on the emergency use of lifts or escalators for evacuation and fire and rescue service operations: BD 2466)[1]
- ADB (Building Regulations 2000, Fire Safety, Approved Document B, Volume 2.)[2]
- BS9999 (BS 9999: 2008, Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Sections 44, 45 & 46)
- BS5588-8 (BS 5588 Part 8 : 1999 Code of practice for means of escape for disabled people)[3]
BD2466 was published by CLG in March 2009, and its provisions are described as “guidance on the factors that should be considered by building designers” and these provisions are additional to those in ADB. Therefore, if ADB is being used as the design document then the details in ADB should be followed while also taking into account BD2466. If BS9999 is being used in any regard, then the recommendations in BS9999 should be followed while also taking into account BD2466. See footnote regarding BS5588-8.
Advice or enforcement stage:
The guidance documents that are appropriate for advice, recommendations or requirements at this stage are;
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Means of Escape for Disabled People (Supplementary Guide)[4]
- BD 2466 (Guidance on the emergency use of lifts or escalators for evacuation and fire and rescue service operations: BD 2466)
It must be taken into account that any existing building might have been built to an older standard, and common sense should be used when trying to apply standards, or giving advice, where the technical details might have originally been taken from such guidance. (Such as BS 5588 part 5 : 2004)
The guidance given in BD2466 should always be considered when assessing the suitability of the use of a lift or escalator as means of escape in both new and existing building.
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[1] Published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
[2]Published by NBS, available from
[3] BS5588-8 is only valid while ADB continues to make reference to it.
[4] Published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.