Disabled Refuge

Current Building Regulations insist that all new non-domestic buildings with more than one storey provide ‘refuge’ areas – relatively safe places where people who cannot easily use fire escapes and evacuation lifts can call for assistance and wait until help arrives.

Building managers have a duty of care to provide everyone within the building with a means of escape. Due to their level of disability some people will not be able to use the building's emergency staircase. Thus physically disabled people go into designated safe refuge areas (Disabled Refuge) located on each floor (usually on the staircase landing), until help arrives. Simple, effective two-way communication is essential to help rescue teams to determine where assistance is required and to provide reassurance to people that help is on the way.

Fire and Security System Portsmouth & Hampshire

A Disabled Refuge System will allow fire fighters and others to communicate with one another during emergency situations. It is a "system that allows voice communication in either direction between a central control point and a number of other points throughout a building or building complex, particularly under the direction of management of fire fighters."

Standards

Learn about the various standards. Read more