Escape balcony

An escape balcony is a balcony which, when connected to an external staircase or with the aid of fire brigade rescue equipment, forms a second escape route out of a building.

At the same time as the rescue function, the escape balcony is often used as a smoking balcony. It also serves as a break area for the adjoining workspaces, often also as a communal area.

Escape balconies are often integrated into double facades .

advantages

• Easy way to secure the second escape route
• Usually enhancement of the room quality of the adjacent rooms
• A simple solution to designate smoking areas

disadvantage

• Can cause problems with required clearance surfaces.
• In the case of careless execution and failure of thermal separation, thermal bridges can occur.

Web links

• Escape balconies at the ETH Zurich
• Clarification on the interpretation of the ArbStättV (accessed on March 19, 2020)
• Structural fire protection requirements for escape and rescue routes (accessed on March 19, 2020)
• Fire protection in your pocket (accessed March 19, 2020)
• Fire protection in the day care center (accessed on March 19, 2020)