Office exit route systems must be planned according to existing floor conditions, the number of occupants, and the building’s infrastructure. During design or renovation, businesses should review travel paths, doors, and protective features to maintain a continuous route to a safe area.
1. What Are Office Exit Route Systems?
Office exit route systems include exits, escape paths, stairs, stair enclosures, and technical features that support evacuation from hazardous areas. Escape paths connect continuously through exits to a safe area. Supporting equipment is selected according to the situation, installation conditions, and users’ ability to operate it.
2. The Role of Office Exit Route Systems
The ability to evacuate safely depends on the office layout, equipment, and how the space is managed during use. Office exit route systems serve the following purposes:
- Organize routes from work areas to suitable exits.
- Help occupants identify directions and see their route if normal lighting is interrupted.
- Protect people on escape paths from smoke, heat, and fire in accordance with the fire safety design.
- Support coordination between furniture layouts, technical systems, and evacuation plans.
The evacuation system should be assessed together with the building’s fire prevention and firefighting systems. The overall assessment provides a basis for determining the office’s fire safety conditions.
3. Components of Office Exit Route Systems
Exits and escape paths must form a continuous route from occupied spaces to a safe area. Equipment and protective features are arranged according to the building’s characteristics and design.
3.1. Exits and Escape Paths
Exits and escape paths connect occupied spaces to a safe area. Their layout should account for room locations, occupant numbers, travel distances, and the building’s fire protection measures.
3.2. Stairs and Stair Enclosures
Stairs and stair enclosures provide vertical escape routes between floors. Their type and protection requirements depend on the building’s fire safety height, occupancy, and design.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Smoke-protected | During a fire, air pressure inside the stair enclosure is higher than outside it. |
| Smoke-free | N3: Access from each floor is through a fire-protected lobby. The lobby maintains positive air pressure continuously or during a fire. |
3.3. Doors on Escape Paths
Doors allow occupants to move between spaces and help maintain continuity along escape routes. Where fire resistance or smoke protection is required, the door assembly must meet the technical requirements specified in the design.
Businesses should compare documentation demonstrating the door assembly’s technical performance with its installed configuration, including the leaf, frame, and hardware. Steel, stainless steel, or a wood-grain finish alone does not establish a fire-resistance rating. Selection should be based on documentation showing that the door assembly meets the design requirements.
3.4. Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs
Emergency lighting helps occupants see their route, while exit signs help them identify exits and directions:
- Emergency lights: Illuminate routes, stair treads, and obstacles when normal lighting is interrupted.
- Signs: Mark exits and directions. An illuminated “Exit” sign is an illuminated exit sign.
- Evacuation diagrams: Show the viewer’s location, routes, and evacuation information as required.
After the furniture layout is finalized, signs, diagrams, and lights should be checked to ensure they indicate the actual direction of travel. Illuminance, uniformity, and visibility should be checked for each area and installation location.
Under TCVN 13456:2022, emergency lights and safety signs with backup power must operate reliably and continuously. They must provide power for at least 120 minutes during a fire or explosion.
3.5. Smoke Protection Systems
Smoke protection systems help maintain conditions for safe evacuation along escape routes. Depending on the design, measures may include smoke extraction, pressurization with fresh air, lobbies, and enclosure structures.
When renovating partitions, doors, or ceilings, the design team should check compatibility with the existing smoke protection solution. Air outlets, ductwork, power supplies, and control systems must be coordinated in accordance with the design. This coordination should distinguish comfort ventilation from smoke protection.
3.6. Evacuation and Rescue Equipment
Descent devices, rope ladders, and other support equipment may be provided under the building’s evacuation and rescue plan. Their selection, management, and use should meet the following requirements:
- Selection: Consider location, anchoring conditions, working height, load capacity, and user training requirements.
- Management: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the rescue plan.
- Inspection: Assess whether the equipment can be used safely given the installation conditions and users’ capabilities.
When determining escape provisions under applicable codes, rescue equipment must not be used to compensate for a missing required exit.
4. Codes and Standards to Review
The design team should determine the applicable codes and standards based on the building type, design documentation, project schedule, and scope of renovation. Three documents directly related to evacuation planning and supporting equipment have different scopes:
| Reference | Scope | What to check when designing an office |
|---|---|---|
| QCVN 06:2022/BXD and Amendment 1:2023 | Fire safety for buildings and structures | Exits, escape paths, stairs, doors, fire separation, and smoke protection. |
| QCVN 10:2025/BCA | Provision and arrangement of fire prevention, firefighting, rescue, and evacuation equipment for buildings and structures | Requirements for emergency lighting, exit signs, and evacuation guidance systems. |
| TCVN 13456:2022 | Design and installation of emergency lighting and exit signs | Placement, backup power, lighting quality, signs, and evacuation diagrams. |
For existing buildings, the design team should review transitional provisions and previously approved documentation. Requirements for renovations depend on the scope of the changes. In addition to these three documents, the applicable fire safety standards should be selected based on the building’s actual systems.
5. Requirements for Exit and Escape Route Layouts
The design team should check evacuation requirements against the floor plans and actual conditions of use. Assessment of evacuation capability must consider occupant numbers, room locations, doors, and stairs together.
5.1. Number and Location of Exits
The required number of exits should be determined separately for each room, floor, and building. Administrative and office areas generally fall under functional fire hazard group F4.3, within group F4. In mixed-use buildings, each area should be classified according to its actual function.
Some cases to check under QCVN 06 include:
| Case | Required number of exits |
|---|---|
| A room occupied by 50 or more people at the same time | At least two exits are required. |
| A room with fewer than 50 people that is not in production or storage group F5 | At least two exits are required if the travel distance from the farthest occupied point to an exit exceeds 25 m. |
| A floor in group F4 | At least two exits are required, except where one exit is permitted under the conditions in Section 3.2.6.2. |
A single exit is permitted only if all applicable conditions for fire safety height, area, occupant numbers, and protective measures are met. The design team should check every condition for the relevant case before selecting a solution.
When there are two or more exits, they must be arranged to provide separation. The assessment must consider a scenario in which a fire blocks one exit while the others remain available for evacuation.
5.2. Escape Distance and How to Measure It on a Floor Plan
Escape distance is measured along the centerline of the route to the center of the nearest exit on the floor. The starting point is the center of the room door or the farthest point in the room that may be occupied, depending on the fire separation between the room and the escape route.
The permitted distance depends on the building’s function, occupant numbers, construction, and protective measures. The design team should compare these factors with the applicable case in Appendix G of QCVN 06. Floor plans should show partitions, desks, and cabinets so the actual travel route can be checked. Do not measure a straight line through furniture.
5.3. Clear Dimensions and Changes in Level
Clear dimensions are the actual unobstructed space available for movement after finishes are installed. For offices in group F4.3, the following dimensions should be checked against the applicable conditions:
| Item | Minimum dimension | Applicable condition |
|---|---|---|
| Exit height | 1.9 m | General requirement under Section 3.2.9 of QCVN 06. |
| Exit width | 0.8 m or 1.2 m | The 1.2 m width applies when more than 50 people are evacuating. The 0.8 m width applies to the other cases within the scope considered. |
| Height of a horizontal escape route | 2 m | Measured as the actual clear dimension. |
| Common corridor width | 1.2 m when serving more than 50 people | For other cases, refer to Section 3.3.6, including the 1 m requirement and the exception for routes to a single workplace. |
In addition to the dimensions in the table, check the following:
- Stair flights: Compare the calculated width with the conditions for each case under Section 3.4.1.
- Doors from stair enclosures to the exterior or a lobby: Check the width against the calculated value and the stair-flight width.
- Doors opening onto corridors: Calculate the escape route width while accounting for the door leaf projecting into the corridor.
- Double-leaf doors: Calculate the passage width using the open leaf; do not include a closed or fixed leaf.
Changes in level along escape routes should be addressed in accordance with requirements for steps, stairways, ramps, and handrails. When raising floors, adding platforms, or changing finish materials, check the route to avoid trip hazards and reduced escape-route width.
5.4. Door Swing, Locking Mechanisms, and Self-Closing
Doors on escape routes should be checked for swing direction, opening from the escape side, and protection requirements. The design team should review each door against the applicable requirements:
- Swing direction: Doors should open in the direction of escape, except for specified exceptions based on the location and room served.
- Opening from inside: Exit doors from floor corridors, common areas, lobbies, and stair enclosures within the scope of the requirements must open freely without a key.
- Self-closing: Doors required to have a fire-resistance rating must be fitted with self-closing devices.
- Control coordination: Electric locks, hold-open doors, and access control systems must be coordinated with evacuation requirements and emergency operation.
5.5. Conditions for Using Stairs and Stair Enclosures
The type of stair and stair enclosure should be selected based on fire safety height, occupancy, building scale, and protection requirements. Each type must meet the requirements for construction, access, and routes leading outside the building. Stairs used for everyday circulation should be checked separately before being included in an evacuation plan.
For stair enclosures requiring smoke protection, doors, lobbies, and air supply systems must be maintained as designed for each type. Using a stair enclosure for storage or changing its enclosure structure may obstruct movement and reduce the effectiveness of smoke protection.
6. Coordinating Exit Route Systems During Office Design and Renovation
During office design and construction, the design team should check escape routes before finalizing room and furniture locations. Exit routes within the office must connect to the building’s corridors, stairs, and shared systems in accordance with the design.
6.1. Reviewing Existing Conditions, Drawings, and Occupant Numbers
The business and design team should agree on the information needed to assess the evacuation plan:
- Floor plans, fire safety documentation, and relevant as-built drawings.
- Exit locations, stair enclosure entrances, and routes leading outside the building.
- The number of people using each area at the same time, including staff and visitors.
- The condition of doors, exit signs, emergency lighting, and smoke protection systems.
- The scope of changes permitted by building management.
If the drawings differ from actual conditions, the parties should document the discrepancies and confirm which information will be used to develop the plan. For locations that have not been inspected, the business and design team should assign someone to verify and clarify the conditions.
6.2. Coordinating Furniture, Doors, and Technical Systems
The design team should compare the furniture plan with the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) drawings. Changes to check during coordination include:
- Check whether partitions, meeting rooms, or cabinets could alter routes or create dead ends.
- Check corridor width, escape direction, and door operation when adding new doors.
- Check whether ceilings, signs, or furniture could obstruct exit signs or other guidance equipment.
- Assess how changes to air outlets, doors, or partitions could affect smoke protection.
- Coordinate the operation of electric locks, power supplies, and control signals during an emergency.
6.3. Agreeing on the Scope of Changes and Pre-Handover Inspections
The business, design team, contractor, and building management should confirm which items belong to the office, which are shared, and who is responsible for addressing them. Fire safety specialists should review changes affecting fire safety solutions to determine the required documentation and procedures.
Before handover, inspectors should record the location and condition of each item and retain evidence. The inspection checklist should distinguish between items that can be observed directly, items that require drawing review, and items that need functional testing.
| Item group | What to check | Inspection method and evidence | Responsible party under the agreed scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routes and exits | Route connections, obstructions, width, and distance | Review floor plans, measure existing conditions, and photograph locations | Design team, contractor, and building management |
| Doors | Opening, locking mechanism, self-closing, and hardware | Test operation and check configuration and door assembly documentation | Door contractor, access control provider, and building management |
| Stairs and stair enclosures | Access, obstructions, doors, and lobbies | Observe existing conditions and review documentation | Building management and specialists |
| Exit signs and emergency lighting | Sign direction, visibility, and backup power operation | Check each location, take measurements, and test power according to the plan | Electrical contractor, fire safety contractor, and building operator |
| Smoke protection, power, and controls | System operation after changes | Test system coordination and record results in a report | Specialists and building management |
| Documentation and operating instructions | Updated drawings, evacuation instructions, records of defects, and corrective actions | Review the checklist and handover records | Parties handing over and receiving the items, as assigned |
The parties should coordinate with the building operator before testing backup power and interlocking controls. Inspection results for exit route items should be compiled into the documentation for fire safety acceptance within the building’s scope.
7. Important Considerations for Office Exit Route Systems
Businesses should maintain safe evacuation conditions after the office begins operating. The assigned person should monitor changes to the layout, occupant numbers, and use of the space, and coordinate corrective action when problems are found.
- Keep furniture and additional equipment outside exits and escape routes.
- Maintain doors, self-closing devices, and locks in the configuration specified in the design.
- Review the evacuation plan if occupant numbers increase, more rooms are added, or the use of the space changes.
- Consult building management before modifying items that belong to shared systems.
- Keep maintenance, inspection, and corrective action records by location, date, and person confirming the work.
- Brief staff, visitors, and people who may need mobility assistance on the evacuation plan.
Businesses should review office exit route systems before finalizing the layout and whenever conditions of use change. The parties should compare drawings with existing conditions, agree on responsibilities, and inspect the results of any changes. This helps businesses identify issues to address before taking over or continuing to operate the space.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
8.1. Can a Small Office Have Only One Exit Route?
In some cases, it is permitted, but a small floor area alone is not enough to determine eligibility. The building’s function, fire safety height, occupant numbers, floor area, and relevant protective measures must all be checked. Requirements for the room and the floor must be reviewed separately under QCVN 06.
8.2. Can Two Entrance Doors Count as Two Exit Routes?
The number of doors does not by itself determine how many compliant exit routes there are. Check where each door leads, whether the routes are sufficiently separated, and whether the routes beyond them can accommodate occupants. The requirement for two exits from a room should be distinguished from the requirement for exits from a floor.
8.3. Can an Exit Door Have a Key Card Lock?
The use of an electric lock depends on the door’s location and applicable technical conditions. Doors required to open freely from the inside must meet that requirement when access control is installed. Some doors to stair enclosures must also unlock automatically when the fire alarm activates or power fails.
8.4. Can Occupants Use Elevators to Evacuate During a Fire?
Occupants should not use ordinary passenger elevators to evacuate during a fire. They should follow the evacuation plan and instructions from the personnel in charge. Firefighting elevators have separate functions and operating modes and are used under appropriate control during firefighting and rescue operations.
8.5. Does an Office in a Building That Has Passed Fire Safety Acceptance Need to Review Exit Routes During Renovation?
Yes. Adding rooms, replacing doors, or increasing occupant numbers can change routes and evacuation conditions. Businesses should review the changes against the building documentation. Whether design, appraisal, or acceptance procedures are required depends on the renovation scope and applicable regulations.