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Should there be an outbreak of fire, it is essential that people can safety and quickly evacuate the building without being put at any risk. Fire exit routes need to lead as directly to a place of safety as possible and must be marked with exit signs.
Numbers and size of exits
The exact numbers of fire exits needed in any situation depends on a number of factors, including the number of people who could potentially use the exit. Churches and Places of Worship that have recently been refurbished or built will comply with the current building regulations and the number and size of the fire exits should be adequate in these situations.
In most Churches and Places of Worship, the time taken to evacuate the building should be about 2 minutes 30 seconds, with consideration to the time it takes for people to respond to a fire alarm. This time can be increased by up to 30 seconds for new buildings that comply with the latest Building Regulations, or reduced as much as necessary for a high fire risk building.
A typical single-width exit door will enable about 40 people per minute to evacuate, but this is only a guideline and more thorough calculations are needed that take into account any exit routes that might be blocked by smoke or flames. It is commonly the number of fire exits that limit the number of people that can safely use a building although other factors can have an impact.
It is commonly accepted that buildings where no more than 60 people congregate, one exit is adequate providing that the building is on ground floor level only. However, it is always recommended that more than one fire exit is available so there is always another way out if the main entrance is blocked by fire. Note that windows and ladders are not acceptable for use as fire exits in Churches and Places of Worship.
The fire exits should be distributed around the building so ensuring that people can reach a safe exit route. Ideally the two exit routes would go in opposite directions, but at the least they should be positioned so that they are far enough apart so that a fire blocking one of the doors will not block the other.
All doors that are used in an emergency need to open in the direction that people are moving to evacuate the building. For the final exit door from the building, it would be usual to use panic locks (of the "push bar to open" kind). Such doors must be opened quickly in an emergency as people might panic as they evacuate the burning building, so additional locks or mechanisms must not be fitted.
Electronic locking systems are becoming more popular. These must be fitted with suitable 'emergency door release' call points (break glass units), green in colour, and positioned so the door can be unlocked if the exit is needed. These locking mechanisms should ideally be connected to the fire alarm system, if there is one present, to ensure that the doors unlock automatically and remain unlocked until reset manually.
In some buildings, inward opening, rotating or sliding doors are installed at main entrances. None of these types of door are usually acceptable as emergency exit doors so they might need to be fixed open using a latch or chain if the door is needed as an exit route. In some situations, especially where fewer than 60 people congregate, a traditional inward-opening entrance door might be acceptable, especially if someone is instructed to secure the door open if required in an emergency.
Keep Clear
Fire exit routes must be kept clear at all times. There are 'rules' about what you cannot have in these areas because they might hamper evacuation. The list includes:
 Portable heating equipment (including electric heaters)
Anything that has a naked flame, including candles and lamps
Cooking equipment (including tea urns and kettles)
Bins and rubbish bags
Stored items, such as clothes for a charity shop or bring-and-buy sale
Notice boards (unless small and the notices are kept firmly pinned onto the board)
It might be acceptable to have a coat rack in the escape route as long as it does not reduce the width of the exit significantly. Fire retardant furniture might be acceptable, again providing that there is no reduction in the escape route width and consideration is given to the fact that people will often move the furniture about and this could block the exit route.
The outside of fire exits needs to be kept clear and marked with a suitable keep clear sign (usually 200mm x 200mm with the words "Fire exit keep clear" printed white in a blue coloured circle). Regularly inspect that the outside of fire exits is free from obstruction and ensure that there is a clear route away from the building to an assembly point.
Exits need to be well lit by normal mains lighting, which should be switched on whenever the building is in use. In many situations, emergency lighting might be necessary both inside the building and directly outside the final exit doors. Such lighting would be designed to provide enough light to find an exit in safety.
Fire Doors
Some larger buildings will have Fire Doors installed, which are part of the fire protection measures in the building. These doors have a distinctly different function to fire exit doors, but are regularly confused.
Fire doors are designed to withstand the effects of fire for a period of time - usually 30 minutes. In a fire, the special strips around the door will seal the gap to prevent flames getting through and the brushes or seals will limit the smoke spread. This prevents the spread of flames and smoke through the building, making escape easier and limiting damage to property.
These doors are usually designed to close by means of a spring door closer. Sometimes, these doors are connected to a fire alarm system such as they will close if the fire alarm sounds, such as when a smoke detector nearby operates. Others doors are designed to be kept locked shut, and are usually only installed on cupboards and access hatches.
It is very important that fire doors are not wedged or propped open because of the important function that they have in a fire. It is very unlikely that someone will have the time or inclination to close a door if there were to be a real fire in the building.
Exits for people with disabilities
Current Disability Discrimination legislation requires a provision of suitable fire exits for disabled people. In some buildings, it might be a good idea to have a number of dedicated exit routes for people with impaired mobility where the normal fire exits are not suitable. In situations where exit routes need to be marked as suitable for wheelchair users, special exit signs are available which show a wheelchair symbol next to the usual fire exit symbols, arrow and text.
In some larger buildings, it might be necessary to provide 'refuge points' for disabled or elderly people to wait for assistance. This is necessary because most lifts cannot be used in the event of fire as people might be put in greater danger if the lift doors open onto the fire itself. Refuge areas usually need to have some form of intercom or communications system and must be protected against fire by means of fire doors.
In any case, you should have a procedure in place to enable the safe evacuation of all people from the building. This includes those that might have impaired hearing, mobility, sight or perception. For regular attenders, employees and volunteers, consider setting up a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP), where a detailed plan is laid down, highlighting who will provide assistance if it is needed.
Assembly Point
A Fire Assembly Point is a place of safety where people meet if there is a fire. This needs to be away from the building, and the normal recommendation is for it to be a distance equal to twice the height of the building. The assembly point must be large enough and located so that people do not get in the way of the emergency services.
Additional Information
More information on exits and means of escape can be found in the guidance to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These are available from the Department of Communities and Local Government. Additional guidance about the evacuation of people with disabilities is also available from this source.
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