The width of escape routes and exits depends on the number of persons needing to use them, should not be less than the dimensions given in Table 5, and should not narrow in the direction of escape.

An escape route may become unavailable due to a fire in a building. It is therefore necessary to discount each escape route in turn and to take account of this when calculating the total capacity of available escape routes. Discounting of storey exits is not required where:

(a) there is only a single escape route (see Para 1.4.2.5); or

(b) all the exits from an area open directly to the open air at ground-floor level.

The total capacity of the escape routes and exits from any room or storey should be adequate for the number of occupants, taking account of discounting, where required.

The total capacity should be based on the sum of the capacities of each individual escape route or exit, based on the values indicated in Table 5, with an allowance for discounting where applicable

Table 5 Width of Escape Routes and Exits
Maximum number of persons	Minimum width (mm) (1) (2) (3)
60	800 (4)
100	850
150	950
220	1050
More than 220	5mm per person (5)
Notes: (1) Refer to Para 1.3.2: Measurement of Width. (2) The minimum widths given in the table may need to be increased in accordance with the guidance in TGD M: Access and Use. (3) Widths less than 1050 mm should not be interpolated. (4) May be reduced to 530 mm for gangways between fixed storage racking other than in public areas of Industrial or Storage buildings (Purpose Group 6 or 7). (5) 5 mm per person does not apply to an opening serving less than 220 persons.

1.4.3.1 Width of Escape Routes and Exits

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