This article discusses body corporate locked fire exit, explaining why prescribed emergency exits cannot be locked and the fire safety risks and legal implications involved.
Question: Our apartment block with 15 lots has a fire exit from our basement parking to the pool area. The body corporate recently put a padlock on this gate. Can they restrict an emergency exit? I’m concerned about fire safety.
Answer: Prescribed exits can not be locked or require opening with a key.
In any building, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, ensuring the safety of occupants is paramount. In the unfortunate event of a fire, having designated fire exits can make all the difference between a managed evacuation and a potential disaster.
Prescribed fire exits in buildings are strategically planned escape routes designed to facilitate safe and efficient evacuation during emergencies. Understanding the significance of prescribed fire exits within buildings is crucial for occupants and building managers to mitigate risks and ensure preparedness for unforeseen circumstances.
Therefore, prescribed exits can not be locked or require opening with a key. These doors must be openable by a single handed, downward or pushing action. Emergency exits will have an exit sign above or adjacent to the door and are also identified on the building’s evacuation diagrams. The Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 set out the requirements for exit doors in section 10.
This post appears in the May 2024 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.
Stefan Bauer
Fire Matters
E: sbauer@firematters.com.au
P: 07 3071 9088
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