Recently, large fires and explosions have continuously occurred in urban areas in major cities (namely Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), causing great damage to people and property. Most fires that cause loss of life are due to victims not having time to escape the fire because the townhouse has no emergency exits. Meanwhile, firefighters and rescue workers encounter many difficulties in accessing these structures, especially houses in deep alleys. The issue of emergency exits for townhouses is very important from an architectural point of view and needs to be designed so that it is easy to escape in case of an incident. Eurodor roof hatch - the escape solution for townhouses being used today.

1. Current status of the townhouse's emergency exit location

The layout of the exits of large townhouses has the common characteristics of being narrow, deep, small in area and close to adjacent houses. Therefore, townhouse design in urban areas often only focuses on usable area and ignores escape plans. Most townhouses have the same disadvantages: narrow and deep area, small area, little open space, and surrounding space. Therefore, when designing townhouses in urban areas, people often pay attention to the premises and other utility services but rarely think about escape plans. At the same time, there are concerns about theft and security issues (avoiding slipping and falling from heights).

The facade of a townhouse is often covered with bricks, nets, iron cages, iron windows... making the house look like a private room. When a fire occurs, there is often no escape for the smoke, so can quickly suffocate.

2. Architectural solutions ensure safety for users

Because it is a townhouse, this type of building cannot be designed according to conventional fire prevention standards. Installing a fire alarm system is also difficult and cumbersome. This is also a reason why fires often cause a lot of damage to people and property. Since then, the issue of townhouse fire escapes has had to be seriously reconsidered and architecturally designed. Where and how to place it is very important for safety and aesthetics. Below are some experiences to help you design escape routes for townhouses (townhouses) in a scientific and reasonable way:

+ Balcony design for townhouses:

- There should be a balcony and railing in front. This is a very effective escape route in case of fire. Not only does it have an aesthetic element, the balcony also provides sun protection, rain protection and is an emergency escape route in case of an accident. If the fire is creating a lot of smoke, the area will be ventilated enough to sustain life while you wait for rescue or, in the worst case, jump from here. If the balcony does not use a railing but uses a net for protection, the door should be designed to be hinged (with lock) to open when necessary.

+ The house should have a terrace and skylight

- The terrace is a spacious, airy space, like a balcony that helps people escape very effectively. Depending on the terrain, the victim can escape by climbing to the next house or waiting for rescue workers.

- The skylight plays an auxiliary role in the design of the townhouse's escape route,  helping to redirect smoke upward in case of fire, preventing smoke from accumulating and causing suffocation in the house.

+ The house has more than one facade

- The emergency exit door should be placed at the back or side of the house and must ensure that the locking system works well, is simple and easy to use so that it can be opened promptly in the event of an incident.

+ Arrange an emergency exit door on the roof

Currently, there are many houses that are fenced like tiger cages. When a fire occurs, it is impossible to escape through the main balcony, so climbing onto the roof is the most optimal solution at this time. The Eurodor roof access door is installed with a roof climbing ladder system to help people in the house easily climb up to escape to the roof of a neighboring house or easily reach the rescue team.

Eurodor roof hatch are designed with metal materials such as steel, aluminum, stainless steel, etc., which will make the product more durable and heat-resistant, increasing escape time for people. The smallest door size is 600x600mm and the maximum can be up to 1m.

Installed with a hydraulic door closer system to help open gently and a locking system from the inside to ensure that intruders cannot break into the house through the roof.

In addition, the door can be designed with an additional layer of mineral wool with sound and heat insulation functions, suitable for the user's intended use.

Eurodor roof hatch is currently a best-selling product at the moment and is manufactured and supplied by Euro Construction System Company Limited. Doors are designed to be suitable for both homes and projects nationwide. Contact 0971.594.488 for advice and support.

See more: How much does a roof hatch cost?