Fire Code of the Philippines Ebook - SafetySignsPH.com Fire Code of the Philippines eBook - SafetySignsPH | Page 91

C. Bridges and Balconies
1. Each bridge or balcony utilized in conjunction with horizontal exits shall
comply with the structural requirements for outside stairs and shall
have guards and handrails in general conformity with the
requirements of Section 10.2.5.4 of this IRR for stairs and smokeproof
enclosures.
2. Every bridge or balcony shall be at least as wide as the door leading
to it and not less than one hundred twelve centimeters (112 cm) for
new construction.
3. Every door leading to a bridge or balcony serving as a horizontal exit
from a fire area, shall swing with exit travel out of the fire area.
4. Where the bridge of balcony serves as a horizontal exit in one
direction, only the door from the bridge or balcony into the area of
refuge shall swing in.
5. Where the bridge or balcony serve as a horizontal exit in both
direction, doors shall be provided in pairs swinging in opposite
directions, only the door swinging with the exit travel to be counted in
determination of exit width, unless the bridge or balcony has sufficient
floor area to accommodate the occupant load of either connected
or fire area on the basis of three-tenths square meter (0.3 m 2 ) per
person or in existing buildings by specific permission of the
City/Municipal Fire Marshal having jurisdiction, in which case doors on
both ends of the bridge or balcony may swing out from the buildings.
6. The bridge or balcony floor shall be level with the floor of the building.
7. Ramps shall be employed where there is a difference in level between
connected buildings or floor areas. Steps may be used where the
difference in elevation is greater than fifty three and one-third
centimeters (53.34 cm). Ramps and stairs shall be in accordance with
the sections of this Rule pertaining to ramps, stairs and outside stairs.
8. All wall openings, in both of the connected buildings or fire areas any
part of which is within three meters (3 m) of any bridge or balcony as
measured horizontally or below, shall be protected with fire doors or
fixed metal-frame wired-glass windows, except where bridges have
solid sides not less than one and eight-tenths meters (1.8 m) in height,
such protection of wall openings may be omitted.
D. Openings through Walls for Horizontal Exits
1. Walls connected by a horizontal exit between buildings shall be of
non-combustible material having a two (2) hour fire resistance rating.
They shall provide a separation continuous to the ground.
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