What Is an Area of Refuge?
Area of Refuge Systems
An area of refuge, also known as an area of rescue assistance, is a place within a building where people can safely wait for rescue and call emergency responders for help.
An area of refuge is part of U.S. federal law, enacted in 1990 as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also is part of the International Building Code requirements for all new or change-of-use, multi-story buildings in nearly every state in the United States.
In an emergency, stairways are the main way to escape a multi-story building. For those who are disabled, sick, or elderly, accessing the stairs may not be possible. What should they do? If they try to maneuver the stairs when they know they are unable, they put their safety and the safety of others at risk. If they don’t use the stairs, where do they go to stay safe, and how can they alert emergency responders to their location?
An area of refuge protects many more than just those with disabilities. Even if occupants of the building can use the stairs, there are situations where escape via the stairway is no longer possible because there is a fire or other danger on a lower floor.
Area of Refuge Requirements
In general, there are several common requirements for a refuge area.
- It must be next to the emergency exit path.
- It doesn’t block others who are trying to get out.
- It has the same protection and fire rating as the stairwell.
- It is well labeled to direct people to its location.
- It has fresh, outside air to breathe.
- It is big enough for one or more wheelchairs, depending on the size of the building.
- It is equipped with a two-way communication system so those waiting can call emergency responders.
When is an Area of Refuge Required?
Does your multi-story building have an area of refuge? Should it? The only way to know for sure is to contact the Authority Having Jurisdiction in your municipality.
If you need to install an area of refuge, it’s important to work with the right security provider. Look for providers who are:
- Licensed Fire Protection Engineers
- NICET-certified technicians
- Well-versed in local and national building codes
At FSS Technologies, our installers and designers go through rigorous training programs to ensure that our security and fire safety systems are not only up-to-code, but also meets all of your business’s needs.
Contact our friendly security and fire safety pros to schedule a consultation today.
Explore Our Other Blogs
How to Deter Burglars From Your Business
Burglaries are often considered crimes of opportunity, leaving businesses struggling to recover in the aftermath. Although there is no all-powerful solution to protect your business, you can implement various preventative measures that bolster your security efforts. Here are 5 actions you can take to help deter burglars from casing and breaking into your business. 1….
Best Small Business Security Systems
While no two small businesses are the same, they share commonalities when it comes to what they want in a security system. Most small business owners want to do three things: Protect their people, property, and assets from fire Protect their people, property, and assets from theft See what is happening in their business even…
How Does Fire Alarm Monitoring Work?
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there is a fire reported in the United States every 23 seconds. If a fire occurs in your home or business, you want to be notified right away. You might be asking yourself, so how does this work? How can I ensure I am protected at all…
Inside the Mind of a Burglar
What Message Are You Sending? Whether you know it or not, your business could send a message to potential burglars about how easy or difficult it is to break in. Professional thieves can quickly assess a property, also known as “casing,” to determine if it could be an easy and lucrative target. Unfortunately, many employees…
What is the Difference Between Analog and IP Cameras in a CCTV System?
When you are considering different security systems and potentially implementing surveillance cameras into your home or business, a big question is whether you want IP or analog cameras. Global Market Insights estimates that the IP camera market will be worth more than 20 billion by 2025. With today’s technology both IP and analog systems can be viewed…
How Savance Workplace Can Work for You
Savance Workplace is one of the nation’s leaders in workforce management solutions, offering tools that help declutter your company’s processes and optimize your productivity. With a wide variety of fully customizable products branded for your business, Savance Workplace can help your organization take its efficiency to the next level. As a trusted partner of Savance…
Code Requirements for Commercial Fire Alarms
The International Code Council The purpose of commercial property is for business or retail use, and the International Code Council (ICC) is a nonprofit association that develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable, and resilient structures. The fire codes vary depending on the type of business you run. For example,…
The Safest Neighborhoods in Detroit
Low-Crime Neighborhoods of Detroit SafeWise released its rankings of Michigan’s 20 Safest Cities of 2021. On the 2021 list, 9 of the 20 cities are considered suburbs of Detroit. They include: Gross Ile Township #3 Oakland Township #4 Huntington Woods #9 South Lyon #13 Addison Township #16 Highland Township #17 Rochester #18 Berkley #19 Brandon Township…
What to Do If a Package Is Stolen
According to a recent study, nearly one in four people report being a victim of package theft and nearly half know someone who has had a package stolen. Of course, the uptick in package theft is not that surprising, considering consumers purchased $2.86 trillion in online retail goods in& 2018. Many of these items land squarely in…
Home Security Solutions for People with Disabilities
According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five American adults live with a disability. The most common disabilities are hearing or vision impairments, mobility issues like arthritis or a diminished ability to live independently, speech and language challenges, and cognitive conditions including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Recently we talked about…