Roof exits
It may be reasonable for an escape route to
cross a roof. Where this is the case, additional
precautions will normally be necessary:
• The roof should be flat and the route across
it should be adequately defined and wellilluminated
where necessary, with normal
electric and emergency escape lighting.
The route should be non-slip and guarded
with a protective barrier.
• The escape route across the roof and its
supporting structure should be constructed
as a fire-resisting floor.
• Where there are no alternatives other than
to use a roof exit, any doors, windows,
roof lights and ducting within 3m of the
escape route should be fire-resisting.
• The exit from the roof should be in, or
lead to, a place of reasonable safety where
people can quickly move to a place of
total safety.
• Where an escape route passes through or
across another person’s property, you will
need to have a robust legal agreement in
place to allow its use at all times when
people are on your premises.
• These should not normally be used by
members of the public.
A typical escape route across a roof is illustrated
in Figure 40.
External escape routes should receive routine
inspection and maintenance to ensure they
remain fit for use. You will need to ensure that
any legal agreements in place cover access for
maintenance of the escape route