Residents of a large strata building demanded to know if fire regulations govern whether they could use the fire exit for normal egress?
I manage a large strata complex in Sydney. Residents have been using the fire stairs on their floor to walk down to exit on the ground floor, instead of waiting for the lift.
Is this permitted under apartment fire exit regulations? My concern is that the fire exit doors are being used much more than they normally would be in emergencies only, and sometimes residents keep the fire door on the ground floor slightly open which is also a security breach.
The residents demanded to know what apartment fire door regulations governed whether they could use the fire exit for normal egress.
There isn’t a requirement that restricts the use of the stairs for emergency only. However, the big issue with your question is that people are wedging open the fire doors (I assume to sneak back up the stairs).
There isn’t a requirement that restricts the use of the stairs for emergency only. However, the big issue with your question is that people are wedging open the fire doors (I assume to sneak back up the stairs). Yes, this may be a security problem but it also creates a HUGE fire risk.
A fire door is designed and installed to close automatically to prevent the spread of smoke and fire into an area. Fire doors must always be closed unless they are held open by a device that is connected to a system that allows for the door to close automatically in the event of fire / smoke being detected.
Part of the testing of a fire door is that the closer is in place and that the fire door automatically closes and latches. In this case, having these doors held open would allow smoke and fire to enter the stairwell which is designated for emergency egress.
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Chris Chatham is the Sales & Marketing Manager at Linkfire, a trusted leader in Essential Safety Measures (ESM) compliance and fire safety services across Victoria and New South Wales. With over 15 years’ experience in the fire protection and building compliance industry, Chris works closely with Owners’ Corporations, Facilities Managers, and property professionals to ensure ongoing compliance with legislative requirements. He has extensive knowledge of AS1851 maintenance standards and building safety obligations under the Building Regulations 2018. Passionate about education and transparency, Chris contributes and presents regularly to industry bodies and discussions around evolving compliance expectations and best practices in ESM management.
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