Protected Escape Route

A chestnut, I know but this appeared in the Wiring Matters annual and I am unclear what the author is intending to convey, but my understanding of the article is that this would not be an example of a protected escape route;

If this is a bedroom corridor then, no matter what, it is required to be a protected corridor as far as building regulations are concerned. Protected corridors serving bedrooms in a hotel will give access to a place of safety. They might exit to the open air and provide direct access a safe route away from the building, which is regarded as a place of ultimate safety, or they might give access to a protected stair, which is regarded as a place of relative safety. Either way, they are part of the means of escape and are required to be of specified fire resisting construction and lead to a place of safety, whether ultimate or relative.

Now the definition in BS7671 for a protected escape route reads; A route enclosed with specified fire-resisting construction designated for escape to a place of safety in the event of an emergency.

To me that fits with the notion of "protected corridor" which will form part of the means of escape to either the protected stair or to the outside of the building. 

The definition in BS7671 for  escape route reads; path to follow for access to a safe area in the event of an emergency.

That is exactly what the bedroom corridor does and since the corridor is protected it follows that it is a protected escape route.

If the intention of 422.2 is to place additional limitations only on electrical services in protected stairs and the route that leads from the foot of the stairs to the final exit, then why not say that explicitly.

So my question then; is a bedroom corridor in a hotel a protected escape route as far as BS7671 2018 A2 is concerned?

  • Unless the fire strategy documents say it is.

  • "We present a letter from Frank Smith of FS Consulting, clearing up an inaccuracy in a previous Wiring Matters article."

    https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/years/2022/92-september-2022/letter-to-the-editor/

  • I'm hearing on the grapevine that there will be a clarification/publication of some sort issued in the not-too-distant future. Disclaimer: grapevines are often wrong or exaggerated.

  • Well, if that letter is supposed to clarify what one can or cannot do with wiring where in a building, I suppose we should be grateful no-one was trying to muddy the water deliberately, the result is quite opaque enough.

    No wonder folk struggle to get it right- whatever that means in this case.

    Mike

  • So, The IET acknowledge that the article in Wiring Matters is incorrect as clarified by Frank Smith. That makes my original interpretation correct and NICEIC’s wrong. 
    It is a matter of significant concern for a large part of my business as we offer design and compliance services to the hospitality industry.

    Accepting Frank Smith is correct, a hotel bedroom corridor is a protected escape route as defined by BS7671. The construction is normally 30min walls and 60 min or more upper ceilings, services then a lower ceiling to hide same. The lower ceiling is not required to have fire resistance as the walls go full storey height and the upper ceiling provides protection to the floor above.

    Strictly speaking, electrical services above the lower ceiling are still in the protected corridor so unless the lower ceiling is certified as fire resisting, the requirements in BS7671 relating to protected escape routes apply.

  • I think I will leave it to the Fire Engineer to decide whether a corridor or lobby is a protected escape route, which is OK on new builds or major refurbishments but for smaller jobs, the building owner will need to answer but they may well reply with a blank look.

  • I read that letter as saying that a hotel corridor could be a protected escape route, but might not be if the distance to the nearest protected escape route is short enough.  But I'm not familiar with the British Standards for fire safety.

  • The letter doesn't seem to clarify things as far as hotel corridors are concerned, however, I think this does:

    Approved Document B

  • But is a protected corridor necessarily a protected escape route?

        - Andy.

  • I beg to return to the concept of staying put. I shut my eyes and visualise a long hotel corridor with an escape route at both ends. If it is full of smoke, do you turn right or left?

    On the other hand, if the only other way out of the room is onto the balcony and a bit of free-style climbing?

    Clearly there is a difference between a rather charming semi-timbered old hotel and a modern concrete-framed one.

    I think that I would stay put for the time being unless it is my room which is on fire.

    P.S. My own experience is that fire extinguishers are pretty useless once a fire has taken hold. Always make sure that you can retreat.