Design an evacuation plan for the building
Utilisateur anonyme
Regulations differ depending on where you are, but: if you're not a licensed engineer or architect, you don't design an evacuation. You draw up a brief and rough plan, and you take it to them and let them do the work. Here's what to bear in mind to make their lives easier: a) Two fire exits- one nearest to fire hazard rooms (eg. kitchen, mechanical room, etc.) and one nearest to the room with the highest number of people in it at any given time (eg. office). b) Design spaces that are farthest away from either exit to have the most direct paths to egress with the fewest obstacles. This goes right down to configuring furniture orientation- open-plan offices should have a V or T-shaped configuration that is longest at the top, widest at the farthest end. Interior designers are your friend here. c) The basement is your friend in most - NOT ALL - cases. Have emergency elevators that are exclusively sealed in the basement except when needed for egress. Have 'panic rooms' that are bunkers where you wait for help. Have stairwells with ADA waiting spaces on each floor and a telecom-it's normal practice for firefighters to check those areas first when finding people to rescue. d) Have clear instructions and maps to egress throughout the building. They should be visible to firefighters as well as visitors and regular workers or residents. e) Higher occupancy buildings with lower rating walls and doors and windows should be equipped with sprinklers. Depending on where you are and what the building codes are, the above may vary. But invest money in a licensed architect or engineer and let them do what they're good at.