Area of refuge
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An area of refuge or safe room[1] is a place in a building designed to hold occupants during a fire or other emergency when evacuation may not be safe or possible. Occupants can wait there until rescued or relieved by firefighters.[1]
In some instances, an area of refuge or refuge area may refer to a designated space in a multi-unit residential building that can provide relief from unsafe or uncomfortable conditions in individual units.
Beneficiaries[edit]
People who use refuge areas may include:
- Those who cannot reach a safe escape route
- Those assisting people who are prevented from escaping
- Hospital patients
- Sick people[citation needed]
- People with disabilities[1][2]
- Elderly people
- Very young children and infants
- Medical personnel who may be operating on a patient at the time of the emergency
- Operators in a critical facility whose function must not be interrupted, such as nuclear power stations, key military fortifications, and high security prisons
Technical requirements[edit]
An area of refuge is typically supplied with a steady supply of fresh or filtered outside air.
A two way communication system is provided on each floor above or below the main floor. A call box is required in each area of refuge, which can call into a central location called a base station. If the station is not attended 24 hours a day, the call must automatically call to an outside location and have two-way voice person to person communication capabilities.
Typical areas of refuge[edit]
- Stairwells (also to allow egress unimpeded by smoke)
- Control rooms in nuclear power stations, chemical plants, and high security prisons
- Operating theaters
Such locations are usually required to be bounded by fire-resistant walls and floors.
Other uses of refuge areas[edit]
In the context of climate change, where older buildings may not be designed for changing climate conditions, refuge spaces are sometimes discussed in terms of providing communal areas in multi-unit buildings for when temperature and air quality is not safe or comfortable in individual units.[3][4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Roberts (2005, p. 155)
- ^ Roberts (2005, p. 159)
- ^ Schünemann, Christoph; Olfert, Alfred; Schiela, David; Gruhler, Karin; Ortlepp, Regine (2020). "Mitigation and adaptation in multifamily housing: overheating and climate justice". Buildings & Cities. 1 (1): 36–55. doi:10.5334/bc.12.
- ^ "The Design Guide Supplement on Overheating and Air Quality" (PDF). BC Housing. p. 35. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
Bibliography[edit]
- Roberts, Jessica L (2005). "An area of refuge: due process analysis and emergency evacuation for people with disabilities". Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law. 13 (127).
