Protected Lobbies to Stairwells

Ray Dow

Hi guys,

Quick one: can anyone advise if protected lobbies are required to protected escape stairs in an open plan office situation? 2 storey building with 2 stairwells at opposite sides of the open plan space on the 1st floor.

I have a niggling feeling that they are but I'm having trouble finding a definitive answer.

Cheers

Poor Uncle Tom

From memory (I can check later if you want) if the open plan space can hold more then 50 persons you will need a protected lobby so that people are not waiting in a fire risk area before getting to a protected escape route, which the lobby effectively becomes part of.

Ray Dow

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

From memory (I can check later if you want) if the open plan space can hold more then 50 persons you will need a protected lobby so that people are not waiting in a fire risk area before getting to a protected escape route, which the lobby effectively becomes part of.

Cheers Poor Uncle Tom. I knew there was some provision alright. Do you know the standard/reg where I can find further guidance on this?

sydthebeat

Ray Dow wrote: »

Cheers Poor Uncle Tom. I knew there was some provision alright. Do you know the standard/reg where I can find further guidance on this?

from my head... bs 5588 part 11 ??

sinnerboy

Lobbies are certainly required in single stairway buildings and may be required in your case if at ground floor the stairway serves more than one tenancy or purpose group.

You need to seek out either BS 9999 or BS 5588:11 ( depending which one the local fire officer dictates) to make your own determination.