An effective solution to the counter-flow issue is <br />a dedicated firefighting stairway. Codes in the <br />United Kingdom contain specifications for such fire- <br />fighting stairs, elevators, and intervening lobbies in <br />buildings of a certain height (Figure 2.23). Current <br />U.S. codes do not require dedicated stairways or <br />elevators. The disadvantages of dedicated firefight- <br />ing stairways include: cost, space, and the effort <br />needed to keep them clear and in operating order. <br />A solution to egress delays caused by either <br />counter-flow or total evacuation is to provide addi- <br />tional exit capacity by means of additional stairs or <br />widened stairs. Cost and space are also disadvan- <br />tages of this solution. <br />pal eviktt X11 ~ <br />Ardl I:iig Isar <br />t ~ <br />i <br />IV41!pllllt. <br />u: r11 1 <br />,il ~~a,1. I I <br />I <br />'1 ' uiL_4i Val, m aia llt !Vi"_~ l®l 1.W ~4 flail Si U36 <br />,1: 1:I.•lttdliiu r7 (Ii' 1 E 1>L •`~J b-~ 11 1.7:. 4!kl .*_+t~ i.d. iow:.el . q „a <br />va i t ~I _>C a *v tari it 11r1~, 11.1iii ice! iin izt:r.a a <br />rtnI~ a: t-s--{ <br />'ifilp. 1.t.d 4,P1, t77.4, Y 111.1 .•..1"t llw i,w+f •E..y1il'14`9{+~~1~ <br />r.I1a lir111}. aI i:; d ir_ 141 ii .=1X1:;ri Ifli:A. <br />'rtdl1t*ifir.ILJ, ,Irsi=ILMEm"'Ij;i ntlk3*sn^G! !y e <br />~C;i1 C'.+.°,.r `•~n'4+r 4.541 A,r;jyjI C+,q,ec at,i St!t.x <br />(Fig. 2.23) Dedicated firefighting stairway/elevator <br />tower. © Crown Copyright 2000 Queen's Printer of <br />Acts of Parliament. <br />These issues currently remain unresolved in the <br />code community; however, a designer may <br />encounter these issues on projects for large, high- <br />security, or high-profile facilities. Further guidance <br />on the movement of people in buildings can be <br />found in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers' <br />publication, Human Behavior in Fire. <br />Considerations - Firefighter Access <br />■ Consider firefighter foot access in site design. <br />■ Avoid using areas that are likely to be <br />obstructed (i.e., shipping and receiving areas). <br />■ Label blocked doors with exterior signage. <br />■ Coordinate temporary construction storage <br />and loading areas with access points and fire <br />protection features. <br />■ Provide key boxes when required; recommend <br />their use in other areas. <br />■ Locate key boxes as recommended by the par- <br />ticular fire department. <br />• Include fire protection features on building <br />directories. <br />■ Provide signs or diagrams at limited access <br />entrances. <br />■ Identify rooms containing utility shutoffs and <br />fire protection equipment. <br />• Coordinate elevator recall level with fire serv- <br />ice operating procedures. <br />■ Design elevator shutdown feature to minimize <br />the chance of trapping firefighters. <br />■ Provide identification signs at each level. of <br />every stairway. <br />• Extend stairs up or down with construction or <br />demolition; consider the need for lighting and <br />rated enclosure. <br />■ Where total evacuation of a large building is <br />likely, consider additional egress capacity. <br />■ Where firefighter counter-flow is expected, <br />consider additional egress capacity or dedicat- <br />ed firefighting stairs. <br />FIRE S;ERVI-C.E FEATUR--ES OF BUILDINGS AND FIRE PROT:E,C,T10N &Y-STEM'S, 25 <br />141 <br />i <br />• <br />I <br />