This rule checks that it is possible to exit safely from the building in case of fire or some other emergency. The building must have enough suitably located exit passageways that have sufficient capacity, so that exit time is not dangerously long. This rule is designed to check building escape routes against building fire codes. Codes can be imported from Microsoft Excel sheet or manually set to the rule parameters.
The rule uses three different classifications: Exits, Space Usage, and Vertical Access. Exits classification is used to identify the exits of building. When using this rule, you must specify which doors are the exit doors. Space Usage classification is used in the rule parameters. You can specify, which spaces are e.g. Offices or Meeting Rooms and set specific maximum distances for them in rule parameters. Vertical Access classification is used for identifying stairs and lifts. You can specify which spaces are lifts if your exit routes allow them. You can also specify which objects are stairs although the component type is not Object.
The rule parameters are:
Space Classification:
Classification used for classifying spaces. Classification names are set in the Classification Name of the General Requirements table.
General Requirements:
'General Requirements' table defines general requirements for the spaces by usage type. One row defines classification name, minimum travel distance, area per one occupant, minimum number of escape routes, and the start point of the routes. Space usage classification can be done in the Classification View. Table values can be imported from an Excel sheet.
Route:
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Routing Method: Routing method inside space. The route length and visualization depend on this.
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Shared Route Length Multiplier: The multiplier for part of the route shared by multiple exit routes in calculation of route length. This is used only if the multiplier is more than one.
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Stair Length: The method for calculating stair length in calculation of route length.
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Stair Height Multiplier: The multiplier for stair height in calculation of route length.
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Check Door Opening Direction: Checks that doors open to the direction of escape. Note: the mode must have door operation type included. The operation type can be seen on 'Info View'.
Exit Door:
Exit Door Classification: Classification used for exit doors. Exit door classification names are set in the Classification Name of the exits.
Exits:
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Classification Name: Here, you can specify the 'Classification Name' used for the Exits.
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Exit Type: Here, you can specify the type of Exit such as 'Exit Door', 'Secondary Door' and 'Not used for Escape'.
Fire Zones:
Fire Zone Priorities: You can specify here the priority of the fire zones which is used when escaping from the building. You can add fire zone usage values in the Compartmentation view, which is shown here. The Escape Route goes through the fire zones in order from bigger priority towards smaller priority.
Vertical Access:
Vertical Access Classification: Classification used for stair. Stair classification names are set in the Classification Names of Stairs Used for Escape table.
Exit Passageway:
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Minimum Exit Passageway Height: Minimum Exit Passageway Height defines the minimum height of the doors and Passageways.
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Minimum Exit Passageway Width: This Minimum Exit Passageway Width table allows you to specify the minimum width of the exit passageway. It also allows you to define escape route width requirements for different occupant counts. It allows to add a new row that consists of the Occupants, total width of the doors, total width of the passageways, minimum width of door and minimum width of passageway. Tale values can be imported from an MS-Excel sheet to the table.
Analysing the results:
The rule creates issues if there is missing information or if the building model doesn’t fulfill the requirements set in the rule parameters. Issues about missing information are created if there is no exit in the exit list, fire compartments are not defined, or travel distances or occupant counts are not defined for all spaces. Missing information can usually be fixed in by configuring the rule parameters and fire compartments. The rule creates also issues if some spaces that don’t have required number of escape routes or the escape routes don’t fulfill length and capacity requirements.
Rule report:
The rule does not have a report.
Rule tools:
The tools panel of the rule is designed for visualization of the escape routes. The panel consists of visualization controls and a tree model. The check boxes turn different visualization components on and off. Route and fire compartment colors can be changed by clicking the colored boxes. Selected spaces and routes in the tree model are visualized in the 3D view. The visualization of routes can be controlled by two combo boxes. The first defines the length of the routes and the second defines the number of routes. It is also possible to apply the current selection to the tree model. It can be done using the button in the tool bar. The tool bar also consists of a button for exporting the floor plan image and selected routes to DFX file.