Direct distance
Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 2, Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2019 edition), defines 'direct distance' as:
| Direct distance The shortest distance from any point within the floor area to the nearest storey exit, measured within the external enclosures of the building, and ignoring walls, partitions and fittings other than the enclosing walls and partitions to protected stairways. |
The 'travel distance' is the distance that a person would travel from any point within the floor area to the nearest storey exit, determined by the layout of walls, partitions and fittings.
Where the internal layout of internal partitions, fittings etc. is not known when a building regulations application is made, direct distances may be used to assess travel distances, where the direct distance is taken to b 2/3rds of the travel distance.
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