Govt publishes second staircase guidance

The government has published its long-awaited guidance on second staircases in tall residential buildings in England.

In an update to Approved Document Part B (Fire safety) issued on Good Friday (March 29), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has confirmed “a new recommendation” for more than one common stair to be provided in blocks of flats of 18 metres or more in height.

According to the technical guidance, a second staircase should also apply if a flat is not separated from the common stair by a protected lobby or common protected corridor.

A second stair also applies if the maximum travel distance from the flat entrance door to the storey exit or stair lobby exceeds 7.5m in one direction, or 30m in more than one direction.

The update also states that design provisions should support the inclusion of evacuation lifts in blocks of flats.

On these, it states: “Where evacuation lifts are provided, these should be located within an evacuation shaft containing a protected stairway, evacuation lift and evacuation lift lobby.

“An evacuation lift lobby should provide a refuge area for those waiting for the evacuation lift, have direct access to a protected …