I am the owner of a freehold flat and as such am responsible for the parking area which is shared with two neighbouring and attached houses.

I would like to mark parking spaces but am aware that the car park area is the alternative means of escape if the families in the properties on either side cannot escape from the front of their property.

Would you please advise me of the minimum width required to be left clear as an emergency fire escape?

Thanks for your assistance.

Regards,

Steve.

There are few hard and fast 'rules' in these days of risk based approach to fire safety and everything is about assessing the true risk to occupants. However Approved Document B states that the minimum width of a fire escape route or exit which will be used by 60 persons or less is 750 mm (Table 4 page 36). It also states that the width of escape routes and exits should not be less than the dimensions given in table 4.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_B2_2013.pdf