Break Area "obstructing" fire exit

[Guest ObstructedLuncher]

Hi All, 

I've read through a lot of posts and guidelines but I'm not sure what the real answer is now and I'm hoping someone with better real world knowledge would be able to help.

We have been told that we can only use one specific external area for breaks however this is area is directly in front of a fire exit. Would people standing\sitting on the external side of a fire exit constitute as obstruction? 

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated. :-)

Thanks you 

[Tom Sutton]

You need to include in your fire procedure the actions of the people having a break, instructing them, on the operation of the fire alarm, to proceed to the fire assembly point, consequently by the time the people in the building gets to the fire exit it should be clear.

[Guest ObstructedLuncher]

Hi Tom 

Thank you for your reply, that does make sense. 

Tanks again :-)