A fire evacuation plan is both a document and a physical task that users must abide by and carry out in the instance that a fire alarm sounds within the premises.
If there comes a time that the fire brigade must enter the premises in the case of a fire, they will ask the user where their fire Eevacuation plan is. This means that users not only need to practice their correct fire evacuation regularly but should also keep a written document containing the means of escape.
The Importance of an Evacuation Plan
Having a fire evacuation plan is essential for compliance with the UK Fire Safety Legislation. As the responsible person at the residence, users are obligated to ensure that a sufficient fire evacuation plan has been created and is regularly practiced to ensure the safety of all their occupants/employees in a fire emergency.
Failure to uphold sufficient and compliant fire evacuation plans can not only result in the loss of materials
A responsible person is anybody in a managerial position or one who has been appointed in charge of fire safety. Failure to uphold sufficient and compliant fire evacuation plans can not only result in the loss of materials and monetary investments within the property but can result in harm or worse cases, deaths of occupants and employees. This negligence can result in jail time or hefty fines.
Types of Fire Evacuation Strategy
There are a few variations of a fire evacuation strategy/plan. The scale, layout, and regulations of premises can alter the type of evacuation plan the user should implement. The two most common plans are:
- Simultaneous Evacuation: Most premises use this strategy. particularly those that are not very big and don’t have many floors. It involves everyone exiting the building in response to the alarm, in a calm, timely manner.
- Vertical or Horizontal Phased Evacuation: For larger properties, this plan will help those who are more at risk to evacuate the premises first. This could be anything from allowing for handicapped residents or staff to get to the nearest exits first, to making sure tall buildings evacuate from top to bottom.
An Evacuation plan must contain the following features:
- A clear passageway to all available escape routes
- Visibly marked escape routes that are as direct as possible to the dedicated safe place/evacuation point
- A variety of exits are suitable for all levels of able persons
- Emergency doors that are not blocked and open easily
- Emergency Lighting and Signage where needed
- Training to be available and completed by residents/employees to know and use emergency routes.
- A safe meeting point for residents/employees. (Otherwise known as a Fire Evacuation Point.)
As well as the above features, the user must also make sure to roll call once every call is gathered at the dedicated evacuation point/points.
PEEPS & GLEEPS are also an incredibly crucial part of any residences Evacuation Plan, where they may contain handicapped or less able-bodied occupants.
HOW TO: Write a Fire Evacuation Plan
The main priority when writing a Fire Evacuation Plan is ensuring that you are considering all possible routes and precautions for any circumstance. This could be anything from making sure PEEPS and GLEEPS are in place for all those who may not be able-bodied, to recognizing and indicating where features such as emergency lighting, stairs, ramps, and the evacuation point are located.
- Start with writing down the route that occupants should take to ensure the quickest escape. Walk around the building and take note of whether that route is obstructed, or does not have sufficient emergency lighting, and make sure to amend these issues immediately.
- Next, implement a strategy such as Velcro sheets. This tool allows dedicated Fire Wardens/Marshalls the opportunity to sweep each room for occupants who are struggling to escape the building promptly.
Once the user has covered all bases, make sure to train staff & occupants on the fire evacuation plan and allow the practice of it at least every six months.
Fire Wardens and Marshals in Fire Evacuations
A Warden/Marshall is in charge of helping evacuate all occupants from the premises in the case that a fire alarm is sounding
Fire Marshals and Wardens are a key element in ensuring fire evacuations go off without a hitch. Depending on the particularities of a premises/business, users must have enough people trained as Fire Wardens/Marshals to ensure they are covered in instances such as rotas changing, high overturn of staff/residence, etc.
A Warden/Marshall is in charge of helping evacuate all occupants from the premises in the case that a fire alarm is sounding.
Fire Warden/Marshal’s responsibility
The Fire Warden or responsible person will also be in charge of reporting to the fire service once they arrive. They will need to know the location of the written fire evacuation plan and fire risk assessment. At this stage, returning the Velcro sheets to the fire service to prove that all rooms have been swept is essential.
A Fire Warden/Marshal’s responsibility also covers assisting in the prevention of emergencies by monitoring the adequacy of the fire risk control measure. Similarly, they must raise awareness among other staff about the fire hazards that exist within the workplace.