Fire-safety screening

Travel Distance Help

Measure a segmented escape route and compare it with an explicitly selected England Approved Document B table context.

How to use the Travel Distance

Identify the relevant fire-strategy route, building-use context, available directions and drawing or model revision, then measure the actual path as connected segments.

The workspace starts blank. Load example temporarily fills the controls with demonstration data; reload or use the tool’s New or reset action, where provided, before entering live information.

  • Enter Route reference and Drawing / model revision, then choose Building-use context and one or more Available directions.
  • Describe how the route was measured, including the start point, path around fixed obstructions and end point used.
  • Add each segment with a name, length and measurement note in the selected unit system.
  • Review the total, selected source-table context and margin, then refer the route and assumptions to the project fire-safety review.

Worked examples

These examples explain the set-up, expected output and review needed without changing the tool workspace.

Office escape route

Set-up
Break the route from the remote occupied point to the relevant exit into named corridor and room segments against FP-101 P03.
Result
The record totals the measured path and compares it with the explicitly selected use and direction context.
Review
Confirm the route definition, alternative exits, dead ends, occupancy and any fire-engineered approach with the fire strategy.

Plan-option comparison

Set-up
Create separate route records for two layouts using the same start and end definitions and source context.
Result
The segment breakdown shows where one option adds distance rather than presenting only two totals.
Review
Do not reuse a result after doors, partitions, exit strategy or use classification changes.

Suggested workflow

Place the tool in a controlled project or practice process rather than treating its output as an isolated verdict.

  • Agree the measurement convention and applicable source-table context with the fire strategy.
  • Measure a reproducible segmented route from a controlled plan or model.
  • Review the result with all other means-of-escape factors before design sign-off.

Check before saving or issuing

  • Segments form one continuous route without gaps, overlaps or straight-line shortcuts.
  • Building use and available-direction selection match the assessed situation.
  • The drawing revision and measurement basis are recorded.

Common problems

  • Distance is shorter than a manual check: look for missing segments or measurements taken through obstructions.
  • Changing use changes the comparison: that is expected; verify the correct table context rather than selecting a favorable category.
  • A route passes but the design remains unsafe: dead ends, exit capacity, protection, occupancy and fire strategy remain separate reviews.

Output

A measured route record with selected table value, margin and calculation trace.

Professional boundary

This is an early life-safety screen, not a complete means-of-egress or project fire-safety assessment.