Fire escape

As an emergency staircase is called a staircase that serves as an escape to a suddenly appearing, dangerous event, especially a fire to escape.

As a fire escape fire escape is called, which may only be used in case of fire and is not available for the normal development of a building available. Mostly it involves external steel stairs. Fire stairs inside also require a correspondingly fireproof stairwell and possibly fire-resistant corridors to the exit.

In the building regulations of the countries the term is necessary steps needed. Therefore, it must lead to any living room or work space at least a necessary stairs.

Fire protection requirements

• Stairs are considered fireproof stairs, if they are made of non-combustible materials and do not lose their resistance under fire and fire water exposure. You must prevent the passage of fire during a test period of 90 minutes ( F90 ) or 120 minutes ( F120 ). Fireproof stairs are required in buildings with more than five full floors and skyscrapers. Stairs made of natural stone are not fire-resistant, as they may be exposed to the action of fire and fire-fighting water such high voltages that they burst.
• Stairs are considered fire retardant stairs when they prevent in a fire for a period of 30 minutes ( F30 ) or 60 minutes ( F60) the passage of fire and do not lose the stability and sustainability. Without test, the following steps are fire retardant: sandstone stairs, masonry stairs, concrete stairs, concrete stairs with more than 10 cm cross section and oak stairs. Fire retardant stairs are permitted in buildings with up to two full floors. If the supporting parts are not flammable, they can also be used in buildings with three to five full stories.

• For residential house staircases in homes with up to two dwellings, and in Mansardwohnungen less strict requirements concerning fire protection must be met, so here very often wooden stairs are used.