Means of escape/fire escape

A means of escape or fire escape window is required in any habitable room on an upper floor.  In a storey building (for example a bungalow) there must be two exit point - a back and front door, although any rooms which connect to a hall which does not directly exit to an outside door will require windows with suitable means of escape.

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Fire safety: Approved Document B regulation

 In short:

• Ground floor habitable rooms (excluding kitchens or bathrooms) should either have a window/door that meets the fire escape window regulations or lead to a hallway that has a fire escape window/door.

• First floor room that are no higher than 4.5 metres off the ground have the same rules as ground floor rooms or direct access to a protected hallway.

• Emergency escape windows 

      Windows should have an unobstructed opening area of:

A minimum area of 0.33m2. 

A minimum height/width of 450mm and a minimum width/height of 734mm (the route through the window can be at an angle)

The bottom of the openable area is a maximum of 1100mm above the floor. 

 Windows must be able to remain open without being held. 

Locks (with or without removable keys) and opening stays (with child-resistant release catches) may be fitted to escape windows.

Replacement windows need to comply with the above if they are big enough to comply.  If not, the situation should not be made worse. 

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