Path Of Travel
Path of travel is the paths leading to, serving & the required exits of a building.
Required exits are determined by the Building Code of Australia, Section D.
The number and placement are determined by the size, use, height & travel distance within any point of a building.
In NSW the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 retrospectively requires the owner of a building must ensure that—
(a) each fire exit area for the building is kept clear of anything that may obstruct the free passage of persons, and
(b) the operation of a fire exit door is not interfered with or obstructed, except with lawful excuse.
(Lawful excuse is generally taken to be concessions provided within the Building code of Australia "BCA" for certain uses & classes of building. See BCA Section D2.21 for some exclusions. Typically the interpretation is determined by the PCA with a buildings consent)
It is also a requirement in NSW that the paths of travel are check by an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) as part of the annual fire safety statement.
Solutions to Common Path of travel issues
See below a list of solutions to common path of travel issues that provide compliance while also achieving a level of security often desired by owners & tenants.
Most snib locks can easily be converted to a lever-action handle by a qualified locksmith.
In instances were security in of concern it may be desirable to have mesh/plastic covering over the outside of the door or alternative a guard around the handle so it can not be easily accessed from the outside.
A security single action Multi-point locking system is a very secure & compliant solution.
Rivers is the most common provider of these kind of locking systems, however there are wide range of providers of these kinds of solutions that your locksmith/door provider can source.
The most compliant solution is to have a pedestrian gate fitted with compliant hardware, a single lever action or crash bar, and a covering such metal mesh or plastic to prevent access to the action from the external side
