VDMA information sheet on fire protection and smoke extraction
In the event of a fire, every minute counts. A new VDMA publication provides an essential basis for determining evacuation times: Information Sheet No. 3, which has been fundamentally revised by the Fire Protection and Smoke Evacuation Working Group, has just been published.
VDMA Information Sheet No. 3 is part of the series "Safety in Buildings and Infrastructure Facilities". The publication is intended for building operators and building users, especially for buildings of a special type or use. In the event of a fire, the first danger for people inside the building is smoke. It takes away vision and contains toxic pyrolysis products that have a suffocating effect, and respiratory burns can also occur. "When there is a fire in buildings, every second counts to get people who are there to safety," says Michael Buschmann, past chairman of the Fire Protection and Smoke Exhaustion Working Group, who worked extensively on the publication's creation. "Information Sheet 3 serves as a guide for planning and implementing evacuation concepts. It is a must-read for anyone concerned with the subject of self-rescue of persons."
The objective of the fact sheet is to show a basis for determining evacuation times, and the information provided is based on safety research studies and fire department recommendations. In addition, the publication includes consideration of the factors influencing human behavior. The geometry of the building as well as the age of the people and their mobility play an important role. Information sheet No. 3 provides an insight into the legal basis and objectives of personal protection and gives advice on the possibilities of evacuation simulation for self-rescue and rescue. VDMA Information Sheet No. 3 "Necessary times for self-rescue, rescue and fire fighting" is available for download here.