Escape stairs
Escape staircase for the upper and attic storeys of the Peilsteinhaus , which by being "elevated" also serves as a viewing tower (built in 2013)
An escape staircase is a staircase that serves as an escape route in order to safely escape a suddenly occurring, dangerous event, especially a fire .
A fire staircase is an escape staircase that may only be used in the event of a fire and is not available for normal access to a building. Mostly these are external steel stairs. Fire stairs inside also require an appropriately fire-resistant stairwell and possibly fire-resistant hallways to the exit.
The term necessary stairs is used in the building regulations of the German federal states . Accordingly, at least one staircase must lead to every lounge or work room.
Fire protection requirements in Germany
- Stairs are considered fire-resistant if they are made of non-combustible building materials and do not lose their load-bearing capacity when exposed to fire and extinguishing water . You must prevent the passage of fire for a test time of 90 minutes (F90) or 120 minutes (F120). Fire-resistant stairs are mandatory in buildings with more than five full storeys and in high-rise buildings . Steps made of natural stone are not fire-resistant, as they can be exposed to such high tension when exposed to fire and extinguishing water that they shatter.
- Stairs are considered to be fire-retardant stairs if they prevent the fire from passing through for 30 minutes (F30) or 60 minutes (F60) in the event of a fire and do not lose their stability and load-bearing capacity. Without testing, the following stairs are fire-retardant: sandstone stairs , masonry stairs , concrete stairs , reinforced concrete stairs with a cross section of more than 10 cm and oak stairs . Fire-retardant stairs are permitted in buildings with up to two full floors. If the load-bearing parts are not flammable, they can also be used in buildings with three to five full storeys.
- For residential building stairs in residential buildings with up to two apartments and in attic apartments , less strict requirements regarding fire protection have to be met, which is why wooden stairs are definitely used here.
Web links
Commons : Fire escapes - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Escape stairs - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
- Escape stairs (accessed March 19, 2020)
- Design aids for steel stairs (accessed March 19, 2020)
- Straight industrial and escape stairs (accessed on March 19, 2020)
- Leaflet stairs and steps (accessed on March 19, 2020)
Individual evidence
- ^ ÖAV Section Austrian Mountain Association: Peilsteinhaus ; accessed on Dec. 13, 2019