Control Room, and the minimum number of doors (ACCESS)

[JCSR]

We are designing a new Centro control Building at a Refinery.

I would like to know if is there any Standard for the minimum number of doors (access) for a Control Room.

Thanks.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

How big is the room??

Seems like at least two would be a minimum. Most codes say workers must be within 100' of an exit.

 

[JCSR]

The control room is 39' x 19'.

I already looked at the OSHA OTM, but I have not seen the information.

Also looked at the NFPA 70, 70E, and from the electrical point of view, I did not find any regulation for the minimum number of doors for a control room.

Could you please point out any standard for this issue.

Thanks for your help.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Can't find one - but again two doors would seem reasonable. Even houses must have two exits - windows of a certain size are acceptable.. What if you had a fire on the side where you had the only door.

So I would put at least one door - duh - and an openable window as a minimum.

 

[JLSeagull]

Determine the applicable building code. Building codes define exit and access doorway requirements. Tables define conditions that require two or more exit doors. These tables relate to the occupant type and quantity, common egress travel distances and limitations. There may be a specialty category; or an API standard for control rooms.

API RP 753 applies to the Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Portable Buildings. Surely a similar standard exists for process plant fixed occupied buildings.