Last edited 24 Jan 2025

Exit passageway definition

According to approved document B of the building regulations, 'Fire Safety', an exit passageway is:

A protected passageway that connects a protected stairway to a final exit.

Where, a protected stairway is: 'A stair that leads to a final exit to a place of safety and that is adequately enclosed with fire resisting construction. Included in the definition is any exit passageway between the foot of the stair and the final exit.'

And a final exit is: 'The end of an escape route from a building that gives direct access to a street, passageway, walkway or open space, and is sited to ensure that people rapidly disperse away from the building so that they are no longer in danger from
fire and/or smoke. NOTE: Windows are not acceptable as final exits.'

The approved document requires that exit passageways are protected to the same standard as the stairway that they serve.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

Designing Buildings Anywhere

Get the Firefox add-on to access 20,000 definitions direct from any website

Find out more Accept cookies and
don't show me this again