Cinema stairs

Satish Nakched, Suva

There have been tremendous improvements in the entertainment industry, especially the new movie theatres that we now have.

The classy interior, sound system, visual screen images adds to the patron’s comfort. These are the favourite getaways and an excellent place of relaxation for the whole family. However, it is noted with some concern of a cinema that I recently visited which has a seating capacity of about 206 seats.

From the initial steps from the ground level up to the top row of seats one has to walk up more than twenty-five flight of the steps.

This is more than two-storeys high and the pitch of the steps is approximately forty degrees in angle. The two set steps are located between the rows of the seats and there are no hand rails or any sort of support up the incline.

I believe that a continuous balustrade must be provided along the side or through the centre portion of the stairways as this is not bounded by any wall and the change in the levels is more than one metre.

The balustrade prevents a person accidently falling over as the cinema's internal environment has a very limited lighting system. The balustrade must be constructed at the certain height above the nosing of the stair treads to be effective in preventing a fall.

The cinema is frequented by people from all walks of life and the handrails will play an important part for the people with mobility problems or during an emergency if an evacuation is required for safety reasons.

All buildings are subjected to the National Building Code of Fiji that ensures acceptable standards of structural sufficiency, fire safety, health and amenity are maintained for the benefit of the community.

I believe that the cinema falls into class 9b buildings and must comply with the relevant sections and clauses of the Building Code and related regulations.