Inner room definition
Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 1 Dwelling houses, defines an 'inner room' as:
‘…a room whose only escape route is through another room.’
It suggests that an inner room is at risk if a fire starts in the other room (the access room - that is, ‘a room through which the only escape route from an inner room passes’).
This situation may arise with open-plan layouts and galleries.
Such an arrangement is only acceptable where the inner room is:
- A kitchen.
- A laundry or utility room.
- A dressing room.
- A bathroom, WC, or shower room.
- Any other room on a floor, not more than 4.5m above ground level, provided with an emergency egress window (which complies with paragraph 2.8).
- A gallery (which complies with paragraph 2.12).
A room accessed only via an inner room (an inner-inner room) may be acceptable if it complies with the above, not more than one door separates the room from an interlinked smoke alarm and none of the access rooms is a kitchen.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved documents.
- Automatic release mechanism.
- Door energy rating.
- Fire detection and alarm systems.
- Fire door.
- Fire Door Inspection Scheme.
- Fire Prevention on Construction Sites.
- Fire protection engineering.
- Joint fire code.
- Separating floor.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Unprotected escape route.
- Visual alarm devices - their effectiveness in warning of fire.
Featured articles and news
3 ways the world’s fastest growing economies can close the infrastructure gap.
The sooner early warning notices can be appreciated as of mutual benefit rather than one-sided advantage, the better.
BSRIA responds to government green storage announcement.
What is phenomenology and how does it relate to the built environment?
Read about Belgrade's Brutalist landmark - the Western City Gate.
Clean indoor air for healthy living
Read about the measures that can be taken by individuals to protect and minimise exposure to outdoor sourced air pollution.
Government announces leaseholds on new-build houses will be banned.
Transport Secretary announces public consultation into London's funding of Crossrail 2.
Architecture of concert stages
Have a look at some of the most impressive concert stage designs of all time, including Pink Floyd, U2, Rolling Stones, and more...
What is the Home Quality Mark? Find out how it can help you when buying/renting a new home.
Grenfell Tower articles updated daily
