Part D2 Provision for escape

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements D1P1 to D1P6, D1P8 and D1P9 are satisfied by complying with—

1. D2D2 to D2D23, D3D2 to D3D30 and D4D2 to D4D13; and
2. in a building containing an atrium, Part G3; and
3. in a building in an alpine area, Part G4; and
4. for a building containing an occupiable outdoor area, Part G6; and
5. for additional requirements for Class 9b buildings, Part I1; and
6. for public transport buildings, Part I2; and
7. for farm sheds, Part I3.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

(3) Performance RequirementD1P7 must be complied with if lifts are to be used to assist occupants to evacuate a building.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part do not apply to the internal parts of a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or a Class 4 part of a building.

(1) All buildings — Every building must have at least one exit from each storey.

(2) Class 2 to 8 buildings —

1. In addition to any horizontal exit, not less than 2 exits must be provided from the following:
   1. Each storey if the building has an effective height of more than 25 m.
   2. A Class 2 or 3 building subject to C2D6.
2. The requirements of (a)(i) do not apply to a part of a storey that—
   1. is provided with direct egress to a road or open space; and
   2. satisfies D2D5 by the provision of 1 exit.

(3) Basements — In addition to any horizontal exit, not less than 2 exits must be provided from any storey if egress from that storey involves a vertical rise within the building of more than 1.5 m, unless—

1. the floor area of the storey is not more than 50 m²; and
2. the distance of travel from any point on the floor to a single exit is not more than 20 m.

(4) Class 9 buildings —

1. In addition to any horizontal exit, not less than 2 exits must be provided from the following:
   1. Each storey if the building has a rise in storeys of more than 6 or an effective height of more than 25 m.
   2. Any storey which includes a patient care area in a Class 9a health-care building.
   3. Any storey that contains sleeping areas in a Class 9c building.
   4. Any storey used as a Class 9b early childhood centre, or any Class 9b early childhood centre which forms part of a storey.
   5. Each storey in a primary or secondary school with a rise in storeys of 2 or more.
   6. Any storey or mezzanine that accommodates more than 50 persons, calculated under D2D18.
2. The requirements of (a) do not apply to a part of a storey that—
   1. is a plant room, machinery room, storeroom, lift-machine room or the like; and
   2. is provided with direct egress to a road, open space or a fire-isolated exit complying with D2D12(2); and
   3. satisfies D2D5 by the provision of 1 exit.

(5) Exits from Class 9c buildings and patient care areas in Class 9a health-care buildings — In a Class 9a health-care building and a Class 9c building, at least one exit must be provided from every part of a storey which has been divided into fire compartments in accordance with C3D3 or C3D6.

(6) Exits in open spectator stands — In an open spectator stand containing more than one tier of seating, every tier must have not less than 2 stairways or ramps, each forming part of the path of travel to not less than 2 exits.

(7) Access to exits — Without passing through another sole-occupancy unit every occupant of a storey or part of a storey must have access to—

1. an exit; or
2. at least 2 exits if 2 or more exits are required.

(1) Class 2 and 3 buildings — The following applies:

1. Subject to (b), every stairway or ramp serving as a required exit must be fire-isolated unless it connects, passes through or passes by not more than—
   1. 3 consecutive storeys in a Class 2 building; or
   2. 2 consecutive storeys in a Class 3 building.
2. Notwithstanding (a), one extra storey of any classification may be included if—
   1. it is only for the accommodation of motor vehicles or for other ancillary purposes; or
   2. the building has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D system) complying with Specification 17 installed throughout; or
   3. the required exit does not provide access to or egress for, and is separated from, the extra storey by construction having—
      1. an FRL of –/60/60, if non-loadbearing; and
      2. an FRL of 90/90/90, if loadbearing; and
      3. no opening that could permit the passage of fire or smoke.

(2) Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 buildings — Every stairway or ramp serving as a required exit must be fire-isolated unless—

1. in a Class 9a health-care building — it connects, or passes through or passes by not more than 2 consecutive storeys in areas other than patient care areas; or
2. it is part of an open spectator stand; or
3. in any other case, except in a Class 9b early childhood centre or a Class 9c building, it connects, passes through or passes by not more than 2 consecutive storeys and one extra storey of any classification may be included if—
   1. the building has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D system) complying with Specification 17 installed throughout; or
   2. the required exit does not provide access to or egress for, and is separated from, the extra storey by construction having—
      1. an FRL of –/60/60, if non-loadbearing; and
      2. an FRL of 90/90/90 for Type A construction or 60/60/60 for Type B or C construction, if loadbearing; and
      3. no opening that could permit the passage of fire or smoke.

(1) Class 2 and 3 buildings —

1. The entrance doorway of any sole-occupancy unit must be not more than—
   1. 6 m from an exit or from a point from which travel in different directions to 2 exits is available; or
   2. 20 m from a single exit serving the storey at the level of egress to a road or open space; and
2. no point on the floor of a room which is not in a sole-occupancy unit must be more than 20 m from an exit or from a point at which travel in different directions to 2 exits is available.

(2) Class 4 parts of a building — The entrance doorway to any Class 4 part of a building must be not more than 6 m from an exit or a point from which travel in different directions to 2 exits is available.

(3) Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 buildings — Subject to (4), (5) and (6)—

1. no point on a floor must be more than 20 m from an exit, or a point from which travel in different directions to 2 exits is available, in which case the maximum distance to one of those exits must not exceed 40 m; and
2. in a Class 5 or 6 building, the distance to a single exit serving a storey at the level of access to a road or open space may be increased to 30 m.

(4) Class 9a buildings — In a patient care area in a Class 9a building—

1. no point on the floor must be more than 12 m from a point from which travel in different directions to 2 of the required exits is available; and
2. the maximum distance to one of those exits must not be more than 30 m from the starting point.

(5) Open spectator stands — The distance of travel to an exit in a Class 9b building used as an open spectator stand must be not more than 60 m.

(6) Assembly buildings — In a Class 9b building other than a school or early childhood centre, the distance to one of the exits may be 60 m if—

1. the path of travel from the room concerned to that exit is through another area which is a corridor, hallway, lobby, ramp or other circulation space; and
2. the room is smoke-separated from the circulation space by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60 with every doorway in that construction protected by a tight fitting, self-closing, solid-core door not less than 35 mm thick; and
3. the maximum distance of travel does not exceed 40 m within the room and 20 m from the doorway to the room through the circulation space to the exit.

Exits that are required as alternative means of egress must be—

1. distributed as uniformly as practicable within or around the storey served and in positions where unobstructed access to at least 2 exits is readily available from all points on the floor including lift lobby areas; and
2. not less than 9 m apart; and
3. not more than—
   1. in a Class 2 or 3 building — 45 m apart; or
   2. in a Class 9a health-care building, if such required exit serves a patient care area — 45 m apart; or
   3. in all other cases — 60 m apart; and
4. located so that alternative paths of travel do not converge such that they become less than 6 m apart.

In a required exit or path of travel to an exit the unobstructed height throughout must be not less than 2 m, except the unobstructed height of any doorway may be reduced to not less than 1980 mm.

(1) The unobstructed width of each required exit or path of travel to an exit, except for ladders provided in accordance with D2D21, D3D23 or I3D5, and doorways, must be not less than—

1. 1 m; or
2. 1.8 m in a passageway, corridor or ramp normally used for the transportation of patients in beds within a treatment area or ward area; and
3. in a public corridor in a Class 9c aged care building, notwithstanding (2) and (3)—
   1. 1.5 m; and
   2. 1.8 m for the full width of the doorway, providing access into a sole-occupancy unit or communal bathroom.

(2) If the storey, mezzanine or open spectator stand accommodates more than 100 persons but not more than 200 persons, the aggregate unobstructed width of required exits or paths of travel to an exit, except for doorways, must be not less than—

1. 1 m plus 250 mm for each 25 persons (or part) in excess of 100; or
2. 1.8 m in a passageway, corridor or ramp normally used for the transportation of patients in beds within a treatment area or ward area.

(3) If the storey, mezzanine or open spectator stand accommodates more than 200 persons, the aggregate unobstructed width of required exits or paths of travel to an exit, except for doorways, must be not less than—

1. 2 m plus 500 mm for every 60 persons (or part) in excess of 200 persons if egress involves a change in floor level by a stairway or ramp with a gradient steeper than 1 in 12; or
2. in any other case, 2 m plus 500 mm for every 75 persons (or part) in excess of 200.

(4) In an open spectator stand which accommodates more than 2000 persons, the aggregate unobstructed width of required exits or paths of travel to an exit, except for doorways, must be not less than 17 m plus a width (in metres) equal to the number in excess of 2000 divided by 600.

In a required exit or path of travel to an exit, the unobstructed width of a doorway must be not less than—

1. in patient care areas through which patients would normally be transported in beds—
   1. if the doorway provides access to, or from, a corridor of width—
      1. less than 2.2 m — 1200 mm; or
      2. 2.2 m or greater — 1070 mm; and
   2. where the doorway referred to in (i) is fitted with two leaves and one leaf is secured in the closed position in accordance with D3D26(3)(e), the other leaf must permit an unobstructed opening not less than 800 mm wide; or
2. in patient care areas in a horizontal exit — 1250 mm; or
3. the unobstructed width of each exit provided to comply with D2D8, minus 250 mm; or
4. in a Class 9c building, 800 mm, except—
   1. in resident use areas the minimum unobstructed width must be 870 mm; and
   2. for doorways leading from a public corridor to a sole-occupancy unit the minimum unobstructed width must be 1070 mm; and
   3. where the doorway is fitted with two leaves and one leaf is secured in the closed position in accordance with D3D26(3)(e), the other leaf must permit an unobstructed opening not less than 870 mm wide in resident use areas and 800 mm wide in non-resident use area; or
5. in any other case except where it opens to a sanitary compartment or bathroom — 750 mm wide.

The unobstructed width of a required exit must not diminish in the direction of travel to a road or open space, except where the width is increased in accordance with D2D8(1)(b) or D2D9(a)(i).

For the purposes of D2D7 to D2D10 the following apply:

1. The required width of a stairway or ramp in a required exit or path of travel to an exit must—
   1. be measured clear of all obstructions such as handrails, projecting parts of barriers and the like; and
   2. extend without interruption, except for ceiling cornices, to a height not less than 2 m vertically above a line along the nosings of the treads or the floor surface of the ramp or landing.
2. To determine the aggregate unobstructed width, the number of persons accommodated must be calculated according to D2D18.

(1) A doorway from a room must not open directly into a stairway, passageway or ramp that is required to be fire-isolated unless it is from—

1. a public corridor, public lobby or the like; or
2. a sole-occupancy unit occupying all of a storey; or
3. a sanitary compartment, airlock or the like.

(2) Each fire-isolated stairway or fire-isolated ramp must provide independent egress from each storey served and discharge directly, or by way of its own fire-isolated passageway—

1. to a road or open space; or
2. to a point—
   1. in a storey or space, within the confines of the building, that is used only for pedestrian movement, car parking or the like and is open for at least ⅔ of its perimeter; and
   2. from which an unimpeded path of travel, not further than 20 m, is available to a road or open space; or
3. into a covered area that—
   1. adjoins a road or open space; and
   2. is open for at least ⅓ of its perimeter; and
   3. has an unobstructed clear height throughout, including the perimeter openings, of not less than 3 m; and
   4. provides an unimpeded path of travel from the point of discharge to the road or open space of not more than 6 m.

(3) Where a path of travel from the point of discharge of a fire-isolated exit necessitates passing within 6 m of any part of an external wall of the same building, measured horizontally at right angles to the path of travel, the following applies:

1. That part of the wall must have—
   1. an FRL of not less than 60/60/60; and
   2. any openings protected internally in accordance with C4D5; and
2. The protection required by (a) must extend for a distance of 3 m above or below, as appropriate, the level of the path of travel, or for the height of the wall, whichever is the lesser.

(4) If more than 2 access doorways, not from a sanitary compartment or the like, open to a required fire-isolated exit in the same storey—

1. a smoke lobby in accordance with D3D7 must be provided; or
2. the exit must be pressurised in accordance with AS 1668.1.

(5) A ramp must be provided at any change in level less than 600 mm in a fire-isolated passageway in a Class 9 building.

(1) An external stairway or ramp may serve as a required exit in lieu of a fire-isolated exit serving a storey below an effective height of 25 m, if the stairway or ramp is—

1. non-combustible throughout; and
2. protected in accordance with (3) if it is within 6 m of, and exposed to, any part of the external wall of the building it serves.

(2) For the purposes of this clause—

1. exposure under (1)(b), is measured in accordance with S5C2, as if the exit was a building element and the external wall of the building was a fire-source feature to the exit, except that the FRL required in S5C2(1)(a) must not be less than 60/60/60; and
2. the plane formed at the construction edge or perimeter of an unenclosed building or part such as an open-deck carpark, open spectator stand or the like, is deemed to be an external wall; and
3. openings in an external wall and openings under (3) and (4), are determined in accordance with C4D2.

(3) The protection referred to in (1)(b), must adequately protect occupants using the exit from exposure to a fire within the building, in accordance with one of the following methods:

1. The part of the external wall of the building to which the exit is exposed must have—
   1. an FRL of not less than 60/60/60; and
   2. no openings less than 3 m from the exit (except a doorway serving the exit protected by a –/60/30 fire door in accordance with C4D9(1)); and
   3. any opening 3 m or more but less than 6 m from the exit, protected in accordance with C4D5 and if wall wetting sprinklers are used, they are located internally.
2. The exit must be protected by construction of a wall, roof, floor or other shielding element as appropriate in accordance with (4) from—
   1. any part of the external wall of the building having an FRL of less than 60/60/60; and
   2. any openings in the external wall.

(4) The wall, roof, floor or other shielding element required by (3)(b) must—

1. have an FRL of not less than 60/60/60; and
2. have no openings less than 3 m from the external wall of the building (except a doorway serving the exit protected by a –/60/30 fire door in accordance with C4D9(1)); and
3. have any opening 3 m or more but less than 6 m from any part of the external wall of the building protected in accordance with C4D5 and if wall wetting sprinklers are used, they are located on the side exposed to the external wall.

(1) A non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp serving as a required exit must provide a continuous means of travel by its own flights and landings from every storey served to the level at which egress to a road or open space is provided.

(2) In a Class 2, 3 or 4 building, the distance between the doorway of a room or sole-occupancy unit and the point of egress to a road or open space by way of a stairway or ramp that is not fire-isolated and is required to serve that room or sole-occupancy unit must not exceed—

1. 30 m in a building of Type C construction; or
2. 60 m in all other cases.

(3) In a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building, the distance from any point on a floor to a point of egress to a road or open space by way of a required non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp must not exceed 80 m.

(4) In a Class 2, 3 or 9a building, a required non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp must discharge at a point not more than—

1. 15 m from a doorway providing egress to a road or open space or from a fire-isolated passageway leading to a road or open space; or
2. 30 m from one of 2 such doorways or passageways if travel to each of them from the non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp is in opposite or approximately opposite directions.

(5) In a Class 5 to 8 or 9b building, a required non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp must discharge at a point not more than—

1. 20 m from a doorway providing egress to a road or open space or from a fire-isolated passageway leading to a road or open space; or
2. 40 m from one of 2 such doorways or passageways if travel to each of them from the non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp is in opposite or approximately opposite directions.

(6) In a Class 2 or 3 building, if 2 or more exits are required and are provided by means of internal non-fire-isolated stairways or non-fire-isolated ramps each exit must—

1. provide separate egress to a road or open space; and
2. be suitably smoke-separated from each other at the level of discharge.

(1) An exit must not be blocked at the point of discharge and where necessary, suitable barriers must be provided to prevent vehicles from blocking the exit, or access to it.

(2) If a required exit leads to an open space, the path of travel to the road must have an unobstructed width throughout of not less than—

1. the minimum width of the required exit; or
2. 1 m,

whichever is the greater.

(3) If an exit discharges to open space that is at a different level than the public road to which it is connected, the path of travel to the road must be by—

1. a ramp or other incline having a gradient not steeper than 1:8 at any part, or not steeper than 1:14 if required by the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part D4; or
2. except if the exit is from a Class 9a building, a stairway complying with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the NCC.

(4) The discharge point of alternative exits must be located as far apart as practical.

(5) In a Class 9b building which is an open spectator stand that accommodates more than 500 persons, a required stairway or required ramp must not discharge to the ground in front of the stand.

(6) In a Class 9b building containing an auditorium which accommodates more than 500 persons, not more than ⅔ of the required width of exits must be located in the main entrance foyer.

(7) The number of persons accommodated must be calculated according to D2D18.

(1) Horizontal exits must not be counted as required exits—

1. between sole-occupancy units; or
2. in a Class 9b building used as an early childhood centre, primary or secondary school.

(2) In a Class 9a health-care building or Class 9c building, horizontal exits may be counted as required exits if the path of travel from a fire compartment leads by one or more horizontal exits directly into another fire compartment which has at least one required exit which is not a horizontal exit.

(3) In cases other than in (2), horizontal exits must not comprise more than half of the required exits from any part of a storey divided by a fire wall.

(4) Horizontal exits must have a clear area on the side of the fire wall to which occupants are evacuating, to accommodate the total number of persons (calculated under D2D18) served by the horizontal exit of not less than—

1. 2.5 m² per patient/resident in a Class 9a health-care building or Class 9c aged care building; and
2. 0.5 m² per person in any other case.

(5) Where a fire compartment is provided with only two exits, and one of those exits is a horizontal exit, the clear area required by (4) is to be of a size that accommodates all the occupants from the fire compartment being evacuated.

(6) In a Class 9b early childhood centre, the clear area required by (4) must accommodate all occupants of the early childhood centre.

(7) The clear area required by (4) must be connected to the horizontal exit by an unobstructed path that has at least the dimensions required for the horizontal exit and may include the area of the unobstructed path.

(8) Each fire compartment required by C3D6(2) must be served by not less than 2 horizontal exits, each located not less than 9 m from—

1. at least one other horizontal exit; and
2. an exit other than a horizontal exit.

An escalator, moving walkway or non-required non fire-isolated stairway or pedestrian ramp—

1. must not be used between storeys in—
   1. a patient care area in a Class 9a health-care building; or
   2. a resident use area in a Class 9c building; and
2. may connect any number of storeys if it is—
   1. in an open spectator stand or indoor sports stadium; or
   2. in a carpark or an atrium; or
   3. outside a building; or
   4. in a Class 5 or 6 building that is sprinklered throughout, where the escalator, walkway, stairway or ramp complies with Specification 14; and
3. except where permitted in (b) must not connect more than—
   1. 3 storeys if—
      1. each of those storeys is provided with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D system) complying with Specification 17 throughout; and
      2. at least one of those storeys is situated at a level at which there is a direct egress to a road or open space; or
   2. 2 storeys, provided that those storeys are consecutive, and one of the storeys is situated at a level at which there is direct egress to a road or open space; and
4. except where permitted in (b) or (c), must not connect, directly or indirectly, more than 2 storeys at any level in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building and those storeys must be consecutive.

For the purposes of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, the number of persons accommodated in a storey, room or mezzanine must be determined with consideration to the purpose for which it is used and the layout of the floor area by—

1. calculating the sum of the numbers obtained by dividing the floor area of each part of the storey by the number of square metres per person listed in Table D2D18 according to the use of that part, excluding spaces set aside for—
   1. lifts, stairways, ramps and escalators, corridors, hallways, lobbies and the like; and
   2. service ducts and the like, sanitary compartments or other ancillary uses; or
2. reference to the seating capacity in an assembly building or room; or
3. any other suitable means of assessing its capacity.

The nearest part of an exit means in the case of—

1. a fire-isolated stairway, fire-isolated passageway, or fire-isolated ramp, the nearest part of the doorway providing access to them; and
2. a non-fire-isolated stairway, the nearest part of the nearest riser; and
3. a non-fire-isolated ramp, the nearest part of the junction of the floor of the ramp and the floor of the storey; and
4. a doorway opening to a road or open space, the nearest part of the doorway; and
5. a horizontal exit, the nearest part of the doorway.

The following rules apply:

1. In the case of a room that is not a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building, the distance includes the straight-line measurement from any point on the floor of the room to the nearest part of a doorway leading from it, together with the distance from that part of the doorway to the single required exit or point from which travel in different directions to 2 required exits is available.
2. Subject to (d), the distance from the doorway of a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or a Class 4 part of a building is measured in a straight line to the nearest part of the required single exit or point from which travel in different directions to 2 required exits is available.
3. Subject to (d), the distance between exits is measured in a straight line between the nearest parts of those exits.
4. Only the shortest distance is taken along a corridor, hallway, external balcony or other path of travel that curves or changes direction.
5. If more than one corridor, hallway, or other internal path of travel connects required exits, for the purposes of D2D6(c) the measurement is along the path of travel through the point at which travel in different directions to those exits is available, as determined in accordance with D2D5.
6. If a wall (including a demountable internal wall) that does not bound a room, corridor, hallway or the like causes a change of direction in proceeding to a required exit, the distance is measured along the path of travel past that wall.
7. If permanent fixed seating is provided, the distance is measured along the path of travel between the rows of seats.
8. In the case of a non-fire-isolated stairway or non-fire-isolated ramp, the distance is measured along a line connecting the nosings of the treads, or along the slope of the ramp, together with the distance connecting those lines across any intermediate landings.

(1) A ladder may be used in lieu of a stairway to provide egress from—

1. a plant room with a floor area of not more than 100 m²; or
2. all but one point of egress from a plant room, a lift machine room or a Class 8 electricity network substation with a floor area of not more than 200 m².

(2) A ladder permitted under (1)—

1. may—
   1. form part of an exit provided that in the case of a fire-isolated stairway it is contained within the shaft; or
   2. discharge within a storey in which case it must be considered as forming part of the path of travel; and
2. for a plant room or a Class 8 electricity network substation, must comply with AS 1657; and
3. for a lift machine room, where access is provided from within a machine room to a secondary floor, a fixed rung type ladder complying with AS 1657 may be used, provided that—
   1. the height between the floors is not more than 2800 mm; and
   2. the ladder is inclined at an angle to the horizontal not less than 65 degrees nor more than 75 degrees; and
   3. the distance between the front face of the ladder and any adjacent obstruction is not less than—
      1. 960 mm, where the ladder is inclined 65 degrees to the horizontal; or
      2. 760 mm, where the ladder is inclined 75 degrees to the horizontal; or
      3. a distance that is determined by interpolating the values in (A) and (B), where the ladder is inclined at any angle between 65 degrees and 75 degrees to the horizontal; and
   4. a clear space not less than 600 mm exists between the foot of the ladder and any equipment.

Access to lift pits must—

1. where the pit depth is not more than 3 m, be through the lowest landing doors; or
2. where the pit depth is more than 3 m, be provided through an access doorway complying with the following:
   1. In lieu of D2D7 to D2D11, the doorway must be level with the pit floor and not be less than 600 mm wide by 1980 mm high clear opening, which may be reduced to 1500 mm where it is necessary to comply with (ii).
   2. No part of the lift car or platform must encroach on the pit doorway entrance when the car is on a fully compressed buffer.
   3. Access to the doorway must be by a stairway complying with AS 1657.
   4. In lieu of D3D26, doors fitted to the doorway must be—
      1. of the horizontal sliding or outwards opening hinged type; and
      2. self-closing and self-locking from the outside; and
      3. marked on the landing side with the letters not less than 35 mm high:
         DANGER LIFTWELL – ENTRY OF UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS PROHIBITED – KEEP CLEAR AT ALL TIMES

(1) Every part of a Class 9b primary school must be wholly within a storey that provides direct egress to a road or open space.

(2) The requirements of (1) do not apply to a building with a rise in storeys of 4 or less, where the primary school is the only use in that building.