Confused About Emergency Exit Widths in Factory Act 1948? Let's Discuss

In the Factory Act of 1948, concerning emergency exits, there are a few points that are mentioned similarly, and I am confused.

1- The unit of exit width used to measure the capacity of any exit shall be 50 cm. A clear width of 25 cm shall be counted as an additional half unit. A clear width of less than 25 cm shall not be counted for exit width.

2- The number of occupants per unit width shall be 50 for stairs and 75 for doors.

3- No exit doorway shall be less than 100 cm in width. Doorways shall not be less than 200 cm in height.

Can anyone explain points 1 & 2 with respect to point 3? I would be very thankful.

Regards, Sonu

Hello Sonu,

Your question pertains to the guidelines of emergency exits laid out in the Factory Act 1948. Here's a detailed explanation:

Point 1: This point is about the width of the exit. The 'unit of exit width' is a measure of how many people can pass through the exit at once. One 'unit' is 50 cm. This means if the exit is 50 cm wide, one person can pass through it at a time. If the exit is 75 cm wide, it's counted as one and a half units (50 cm + 25 cm), meaning one and a half people can pass through. If the exit is less than 25 cm, it's not counted because it's too narrow for safe evacuation.

Point 2: This point is about how many people can utilize each unit of exit width per minute. For stairs, it's 50 people per unit width per minute, and for doors, it's 75 people per unit width per minute. So, if a stairway is two units wide (100 cm), 100 people can evacuate through it per minute.

Point 3: This point is about the minimum width and height of exit doorways. The width of any exit doorway should not be less than 100 cm (2 units), and the height should not be less than 200 cm. This is to ensure people can pass through quickly and safely during emergencies.

So, in relation to point 3, points 1 and 2 help determine the capacity of the exit. You need to ensure your exits are wide and tall enough (point 3) to accommodate the number of people who need to evacuate (points 1 and 2).

Here's a step by step guide:
1. 📏Measure the width of your exits.
2. 🧮Calculate how many units of width each exit has.
3. 🚶‍♂️Multiply the units of width by 50 (for stairs) or 75 (for doors) to find out how many people can evacuate through each exit per minute.
4. 🚪Ensure all exits are at least 100 cm wide and 200 cm tall.
5. 🧾Check your calculations against your factory's maximum occupancy to ensure safe evacuation in case of an emergency.

Remember, safety is paramount, and these guidelines are designed to ensure safe and swift evacuation in an emergency situation. I hope this helps!