A global DIY music community joined forces to create a DIY venue harm reduction guide for those who manage spaces, host and or attend events.
The following harm reduction guide is an open source document contributed to us by a remarkable community of DIY/lived experience to credentialed professionals in architecture, fire rescue and prevention, disability justice, and many other fields. Please visit our friends at https://D-I-Y.fyi for more information. îŁď¸
IMMEDIATE LOW-COST
FREE BUILDING &
SAFETY
MODIFICATIONS
ENTRIES, EXITS, AND EGRESS
De-clutter
Piles = fires and obstruction.
Clearly mark ALL
or battery-powered
LED-lit signage.
Clearly mark ALL
fire escapes, etc.
YOUR SPACE
AND surrounding areas.Piles = fires and obstruction.
Clearly mark ALL
exit doors
Use reflective,or battery-powered
LED-lit signage.
Clearly mark ALL
emergency exiTS
including non-barred windows,fire escapes, etc.
Clear
obstructions
FROM doorways AND EXITS.To ensure people can safely enter or exit a doorway, remove any
objects or clutter that may prevent the door from opening fully.
This should especially be checked during events when equipment
may be temporarily placed in front of a door.
Mark and label building circulation with reflective tape or paint on
the floor. Ideally, these glow in the dark, paths should be at least 44"
(1.2m) wide, with doors a minimum 36â (90cm) wide.
Whenever possible, design your navigation so it's possible to get
through the space while using a wheelchair.
Ideally, at least one exit should
open onto a street
that is at least 20â wide
Narrow driveways, parking lots, alleys donât count.
If you have the means to add or modify an exit, you will need to consult with a professional.
It may require A structural engineer if a new opening needs to be placed in a masonry wall.
open onto a street
that is at least 20â wideNarrow driveways, parking lots, alleys donât count.
If you have the means to add or modify an exit, you will need to consult with a professional.
It may require A structural engineer if a new opening needs to be placed in a masonry wall.
Doors along the EGRESS PATH
including stair doors
should always
be unlocked
in the direction of egress.
Make sure doors swing freely and donât stick!
Make sure doors
swing away
as you move along the exit (egress) path.
Re-orient hinges as necessary.
Doors need to move in the direction of âegress,â or total exit from
both the âbuilding envelopeâ (exterior walls) and its grounds.
For example, a door that opens to the outdoors but into an
enclosed courtyard does not count as true âegress.â
Exit signs should ideally point in the direction of egress,
not just any point on the building envelope.
swing away
from you
as you move along the exit (egress) path.Re-orient hinges as necessary.
Doors need to move in the direction of âegress,â or total exit from
both the âbuilding envelopeâ (exterior walls) and its grounds.
For example, a door that opens to the outdoors but into an
enclosed courtyard does not count as true âegress.â
Exit signs should ideally point in the direction of egress,
not just any point on the building envelope.
In non-exit doors, locks that
require keys
from both sides
multi-occupant buildings.
These locks should be replaced with exit deadbolt locks.
These are useful for individual studios and relatively low-cost.
require keys
from both sides are illegal
in public ormulti-occupant buildings.
These locks should be replaced with exit deadbolt locks.
These are useful for individual studios and relatively low-cost.
Install panic hardware aka
to replace knobs or latches.
It makes sure venues can be locked from the outside
without sacrificing the ability to open them from the inside.
A Panic Exit Bar typically requires a skilled person to install.
If you canât afford panic hardware, push plates are an economical option.
crash bars
on your exit doors where it is possibleto replace knobs or latches.
It makes sure venues can be locked from the outside
without sacrificing the ability to open them from the inside.
A Panic Exit Bar typically requires a skilled person to install.
If you canât afford panic hardware, push plates are an economical option.