231.1 Egress code basics

Establish minimum doorway and route widths, then add local adjustments for crowd peaks. Keep furniture and signage out of egress cones. HVM bollard lines must not encroach on required widths; if a crash rated bollard sits near exits, verify offsets and head shapes meet accessibility (312, 357).

Start with the minimum clear width that keeps people moving without shoulder contact, then layer your local occupancy and risk context. Maintain an “egress cone” from each exit that stays free of fixtures, bins, planters, or a bollard array. Where an HVM line sits close to doors, check the stand-off distance and ensure no protrusions reduce the effective width or snag clothing or canes.

Coordinate with door swings, security screening lanes, and the chosen array pattern (see Array Patterns). If crowding or detours are likely, increase widths beyond code minimums to protect flow reliability and reduce crush risk; validate your choices during obstruction & intrusion tests (635).

231.2 Peak hour vs event modes

Size for worst credible occupancy and queuing (239). In event mode, widen corridors with temporary marshal lines. HVM bollard patterns should leave refuge pockets; a crash rated bollard at a frontage must not narrow escape routes below targets.

Model a “typical peak” and a “credible worst case” using local counts (see Site Assessment Checklist). For event mode, plan demountable lane markers that expand the effective corridor while keeping frontage arrays intact. Include small refuge pockets between posts so slower users can pause without blocking flow. If you must narrow a route, validate the remaining width versus evacuation targets and signage sightlines (357).

231.3 Queueing & pinch points

Map queue spill, tactile paving, and turnstiles. Use islands to separate flows (321). HVM bollard spacing respects wheelchair/scooter paths; any crash rated bollard near a pinch point needs conspicuity cues (366, 357).

Identify where queues begin, turn, and dissipate—especially near door clusters, kiosks, and screening. Use small splitter islands or staggered posts to separate opposing flows and stop tailgating. Keep a continuous clear corridor that meets your clear-gap calculations (322) for mobility devices, and add high-contrast bands or rings where bollards sit near tactile paving to improve conspicuity.

231.4 Crossings near arrays

Align desire lines and set zebra/raised tables (237). HVM bollard posts frame, not block, crossings; a crash rated bollard adjacent to a crossing gets night visibility aids (313, 353).

Crossings should sit naturally where people already walk—your desire lines. Position arrays to “frame” the entry to a zebra or raised table, ensuring the first and last posts do not constrict the crossing throat. Where a post sits within the approach cone, fit night-visible heads or bands (see Heads & Attachments) and confirm sightlines with Sightlines & Signage (237, 353).

231.5 Accessibility users

Provide continuous 1:12 ramps, kerb cuts, and detectable warnings. HVM bollard clear gaps accommodate mobility devices (232). A crash rated bollard sleeve/finish should avoid glare and snag risk (316, 366).

Maintain uninterrupted routes with compliant kerb cuts and tactile warnings. Dimension clear-gaps for wheelchairs, scooters, and prams (see Spacing rules for HVM & Crash-Rated Bollards). Choose sleeves and finishes that resist glare in strong sun and present smooth edges with no snag risks for clothing, canes, or guide dog leads (316, 366). Where automatic control is used, add photo-eyes and induction loops per Safety Signalling (353).

231.6 Wayfinding & signage

Use simple arrows, beaconing, and contrasts (353, 357). HVM bollard layouts reinforce desire lines; mark each crash rated bollard nose or ring for visibility at night.

Wayfinding should be obvious at walking speed. Combine high-contrast arrows at decision points with rhythmic post spacing that subtly channels pedestrians. Use consistent “beaconing” (steady lights or reflective rings) on posts adjacent to desire lines, and keep messages brief with intuitive pictograms. Check that no sign stands within the egress cone or reduces the effective width below your targets (231.1) and verify legibility in low-light conditions (357).

231.7 Temporary/event crowding

Pre-plan stewarded lanes and collapsible fences (239, 327). HVM bollard openings become controlled portals; removable crash rated bollard inserts keep keepered accuracy (626).

Event layouts should be pre-drawn with locations for collapsible barriers, steward posts, and accessible bypass lanes. Treat major openings in the secure perimeter as controlled portals with good sightlines for stewards and CCTV (534). Where removable posts are used, ensure “keepered” inserts and datum checks keep the clear-gap rule intact after re-instatement (see Datum & Alignment Checks).

231.8 Measuring in the field

Count bi-directional flows, measure effective widths, and photograph conflicts (716). Data calibrates HVM bollard spacing; confirm a nearby crash rated bollard doesn’t create trip edges.

Use short, timed manual counts (or video samples) at representative times to capture bi-directional flow and queue formation. Measure “effective width” (free, usable space considering handrails, bins, head shapes) rather than kerb-to-kerb. Log recurrent conflicts with a photo/redline logbook (937) and tie observations to annotated overlay standards (936). Feed results into clear-gap checks (322) and your VDA (221–229).

231.9 Designing widths

Prototype with cones/paint, iterate, then fix in drawings (931). HVM bollard gaps map to the adopted width table; where a crash rated bollard sits, add tactile/visual cues.

Before you pour concrete, mock up the corridor with cones, tape, or chalk to validate target widths against real flows. Iterate spacing, then lock the pattern into the drawing set using the project’s CAD/BIM standards (931). Ensure each post-to-post gap aligns with your adopted width table and mobility targets (232). Where a post sits near a turning radius or tactile paving, add visual/tactile cues and confirm no sharp edges or raised collars present trip hazards (629).

231 People Flow & Egress Widths — FAQ