ᐅ Is a manual override for roller shutters on a window required?
Created on: 28 Jun 2016 13:12
F
fraubauer
Hello,
I have the following problem.
My windows and balcony door are equipped with electric roller shutters. (I have a condominium in a multi-family building. It was built as a turnkey project.)
During the final inspection of the apartment, an inspector stated that the kitchen window or the balcony door must have an emergency release. There could be a power outage, and in an emergency, the roller shutters would not be openable. Because if there is a fire in the hallway (my apartment is on the upper floor), I would neither be able to ventilate the smoke nor escape onto the balcony. My kitchen window opens onto the balcony.
So, either a manual crank (in which case the roller shutter motor must be replaced; radio control would no longer work) or a battery backup (which is not available from my roller shutter manufacturer).
I have already informed the roller shutter installer about this. He is not aware of any regulations or requirements.
Of course, I want to avoid any problems with, among others, the household/building insurance if such a situation should occur.
Who can definitively tell me whether I really have to have a window equipped with an emergency release?
And who must cover the costs of the modification? The roller shutter installer should know this if it is indeed required!
My property developer only learned about this from the inspector at the final inspection, so they could not warn us earlier...
I am quite desperate...
Thank you very much
erika
I have the following problem.
My windows and balcony door are equipped with electric roller shutters. (I have a condominium in a multi-family building. It was built as a turnkey project.)
During the final inspection of the apartment, an inspector stated that the kitchen window or the balcony door must have an emergency release. There could be a power outage, and in an emergency, the roller shutters would not be openable. Because if there is a fire in the hallway (my apartment is on the upper floor), I would neither be able to ventilate the smoke nor escape onto the balcony. My kitchen window opens onto the balcony.
So, either a manual crank (in which case the roller shutter motor must be replaced; radio control would no longer work) or a battery backup (which is not available from my roller shutter manufacturer).
I have already informed the roller shutter installer about this. He is not aware of any regulations or requirements.
Of course, I want to avoid any problems with, among others, the household/building insurance if such a situation should occur.
Who can definitively tell me whether I really have to have a window equipped with an emergency release?
And who must cover the costs of the modification? The roller shutter installer should know this if it is indeed required!
My property developer only learned about this from the inspector at the final inspection, so they could not warn us earlier...
I am quite desperate...
Thank you very much
erika
Otus11 schrieb:
By the way:
It would only be consistent to also have the green emergency exit signs inside with stylish night lighting... Hopefully no one from the EU is reading this. Otherwise, it might end up in the next parliamentary session as part of a new draft directive.
B
Bauexperte30 Jun 2016 10:29Hello Otus,
"For each unit of use, two escape routes must be available on every floor with a habitable room; the escape routes may lead through a common required corridor within a floor. The first escape route must, in units not located at ground level, lead via at least one required staircase; the second escape route can be a location accessible by the fire department’s rescue equipment or an additional required staircase. A second escape route is not necessary if rescue is possible via a safely accessible stairwell into which fire and smoke cannot penetrate (fire-protected stairwell). Buildings where the second escape route leads via the fire department’s rescue equipment and where the top edge of the sills of required windows or other designated points for ladder access is more than 8 meters (26 feet) above ground level may only be constructed if the necessary rescue equipment is maintained by the fire department."
and in § 40 (4):
"Openings in windows used as escape routes must have a clear opening of at least 0.90 m x 1.20 m (3 feet x 4 feet) and must be located no higher than 1.20 m (4 feet) above the finished floor level. If these openings are located in roof slopes or dormers, their bottom edge or a horizontal access in front of them must not be more than 1.20 m (4 feet) from the eaves edge; people must be able to signal from these windows to public traffic areas or to spaces accessible to the fire department."
From my professional experience, I can explain that no building approval is granted by the authorities unless the second escape route is ensured via a crank-operated mechanism when originally electric roller shutters are installed.
Edit: My son-in-law is a professional firefighter and recently informed me that the fire department would not forcibly open a roller shutter if there is enough time to enter a single-family home with minimal damage.
Best regards, Bauexperte
Otus11 schrieb:The NRW State Building Code § 17 (3) states:
As far as I know, there are at least clarifications below the building regulations in Hamburg and Hessen (possibly also in other federal states)?
"For each unit of use, two escape routes must be available on every floor with a habitable room; the escape routes may lead through a common required corridor within a floor. The first escape route must, in units not located at ground level, lead via at least one required staircase; the second escape route can be a location accessible by the fire department’s rescue equipment or an additional required staircase. A second escape route is not necessary if rescue is possible via a safely accessible stairwell into which fire and smoke cannot penetrate (fire-protected stairwell). Buildings where the second escape route leads via the fire department’s rescue equipment and where the top edge of the sills of required windows or other designated points for ladder access is more than 8 meters (26 feet) above ground level may only be constructed if the necessary rescue equipment is maintained by the fire department."
and in § 40 (4):
"Openings in windows used as escape routes must have a clear opening of at least 0.90 m x 1.20 m (3 feet x 4 feet) and must be located no higher than 1.20 m (4 feet) above the finished floor level. If these openings are located in roof slopes or dormers, their bottom edge or a horizontal access in front of them must not be more than 1.20 m (4 feet) from the eaves edge; people must be able to signal from these windows to public traffic areas or to spaces accessible to the fire department."
From my professional experience, I can explain that no building approval is granted by the authorities unless the second escape route is ensured via a crank-operated mechanism when originally electric roller shutters are installed.
Edit: My son-in-law is a professional firefighter and recently informed me that the fire department would not forcibly open a roller shutter if there is enough time to enter a single-family home with minimal damage.
Best regards, Bauexperte
A few related questions come to mind. What exactly counts as a living space? Is it just the living area, or does it also include sleeping areas? What about a party room in the basement, or generally underground rooms used for living without windows? If there’s a fire on the stairs, you’re trapped. So why are basements allowed at all?
With plastic roller shutters, you can get through them in 2 seconds, faster than any motor or crank.
We are currently in talks with a window manufacturer, and I will inquire about this. Unlike in Hesse and Hamburg, the regulations for North Rhine-Westphalia are not clearly defined.
With plastic roller shutters, you can get through them in 2 seconds, faster than any motor or crank.
We are currently in talks with a window manufacturer, and I will inquire about this. Unlike in Hesse and Hamburg, the regulations for North Rhine-Westphalia are not clearly defined.
Bauexperte schrieb:
From my professional experience, I can confirm that any building application will not receive approval from the authorities if the second emergency exit is not ensured via a crank mechanism—when originally electric roller shutters are to be installed.
Hello Bauexperte,
For North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the clarification “make noticeable” sufficiently clarifies the (legal) situation.
However, building regulations are state laws and therefore vary.
In the Bavarian Building Code, the issue may be handled more leniently—possibly considered under “window opening” (as likely by experts and building authorities)—which, given the legally different implementation in each federal state but the uniform emergency situation in individual cases, is also objectively defensible (or serves one’s own interest). And roller shutters and similar components are not explicitly mentioned in the Bavarian Building Code itself (which is probably the construction company’s upcoming rebuttal, denying the defect). If the drafters of the Bavarian Building Code had intended otherwise, it would have to be written there (but it is not) or clarified elsewhere (to my knowledge, not the case in Lower Saxony either).
It would also be helpful if Ms. B. could answer the questions posed.
Whose expert opinion? Acceptance by general contractor or subcontractor? Was the acceptance granted?
C
Caspar202030 Jun 2016 11:17Regarding NRW: Just try searching for "Stellungnahme MBWSV zu elektrischen Rollläden im zweiten Rettungsweg.pdf."
Experts disagree on whether it is strictly required under the current NRW building code; however, a court case might lead to a different outcome. At the same time, the common practice of authorities demanding this could potentially be declared unlawful.
Even in the updated version of the NRW building code (first reading on 08.06.2016), there is no mention of this topic.
I believe the most important information is: at the very least, builders should be advised to take appropriate measures to enhance their own safety.
Experts disagree on whether it is strictly required under the current NRW building code; however, a court case might lead to a different outcome. At the same time, the common practice of authorities demanding this could potentially be declared unlawful.
Even in the updated version of the NRW building code (first reading on 08.06.2016), there is no mention of this topic.
I believe the most important information is: at the very least, builders should be advised to take appropriate measures to enhance their own safety.
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