I have recently been asked a question by a  bar/restaurant, and they have been told they can only have 60 persons, when originally it was 100.

I am reading contradicting guides or not showing information I require.

The premise,

·         3 Interconnecting rooms with no door’s large openings with a central open plan kitchen.

·         Exits Front Open Inward 850mm from restaurant

·         Exit Rear Open Inward 850mm from restaurant

·         Central – Open outwards but you are required to pass through Prep room, that at present has 1 small electric hob and small storage.

 

If I disregard the Prep Room Exit – as it is a prep room, I am left with 2 x inward opening doors, disregard one of them and 60 person occupancy.

 

If Prep room is cleared of hob and storage, and disregarded as largest door of the 3, I am left with 2 x inward opening doors.    Is this still only 60 persons.

 

If they added a fire door half way between the two exits would this differ any? 

 

Many Thanks 

The 60 comes from the crush, blockage and resultant multiple fatality risk, which has led to many deaths over history, where the door has pushed shut against the flow of people trapping them.
All relevant doors (serving the public) would need to open outwards as regardless of any signage in a real fire all the customers would head for the entrances they came in by.

If you want to see this is action watch the raw Station Nightclub fire footage where inward opening main doors were a significant part of how 100 people died in under 90 seconds, trapped by a crush against the inward opening door - their bodies literally pile up in the doorway.

Securing the doors in the open positions when open to the public is an option