Fire Code

[ricklev]

The fire alarm in my 20 story condo went off last night.

Turns out the fire exit doors are all locked from the inside. You can enter from any floor but can't exit until you reach the ground floor. It isn't because they are airtight though.

Anybody know if that is the fire code here or in the west? Seems dangerous.

There didn't appear to be a fire. A couple hundred people milling about the lobby with no idea what was going on. Go figure.

Edited January 6, 2016 by ricklev

[stoneyboy]

So if you want to exit the building by way of fire exit you can only do so on the ground floor ?

I think that's how I read it.

If so it's downright wrong and should be addressed with the building manager.

This same practice of locking emergency exits contributed to the number of fatalities in 1997 at the Royal Jomtien Hotel fire.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Jomtien_Resort_Hotel_fire

[ricklev]

You can enter the fire exit stairway on any floor, but you can only exit on the ground floor.

[stoneyboy]

You can enter the fire exit stairway on any floor, but you can only exit on the ground floor.

And I assume that there are doors leading from the internal stairwell to an external staircase on every level but these doors are locked.

If so they shouldn't be.

What use is the internal emergency stairwell if your on the 10th floor and the below floors are on fire or smoke filled you will still be in danger and unable to escape safely unless of course this stairwell is airtight with exhaust fans and ducts etc.

I'm no Fire Marshall but would wish to be able to escape on any level to an external staircase.

Edited January 6, 2016 by stoneyboy

[ricklev]

There is no external staircase. Only elevators and one fire exit staircase.

I guess I best find out the exact fire code and then contact building management.

Maybe there is a reason for it.

Edited January 6, 2016 by ricklev

[ricklev]

Well, they unlocked all the fire exit doors. I guess someone beat me to it.

[trogers]

You can enter the fire exit stairway on any floor, but you can only exit on the ground floor.

Ground floor and roof deck. That's the rule in the fire code.

And in the event of fire, how can you control and evacuate a panicky crowd that is running around on every floor should the fire escape doors not be lock from its inside?

Edited January 6, 2016 by trogers