FIRE EVACUATION PLANNING

1. FIRE EVACUATION PLANNING

2. This Includes • Reporting of Emergencies • Coordination with emergency response agencies • Emergency Plans • Procedures for managing or responding to emergencies

3. Why Evacuation Plans ? • Helps with the safe and efficient evacuation of building occupants during an emergency • Formalized procedure for evacuation • Provides information for not only employees but also visitors to the building

4. Emergency Egress or Escape Routes • Need to be adequately marked • Not blocked or restricted width due to equipment or storage • Occupants familiar with locations • Occupants able to navigate routes • Occupants have used the exit route

5. Accounting of Occupants • Designated meeting location • Away from the building (across street, adjoining building etc.) • Away from driveways or other access ways to building • Specific work areas or floors of building should gather at separate locations to prevent confusion

6. Accounting of Occupants • Method to identify who did not show up at the designated meeting location • Employee list • Fellow employees knowledge

7. How to Report an Emergency • Phone 911 from a safe location • Activation of a manual fire alarm pull station

8. Occupant Notification of Emergency • Fire alarm devices • visual, audible • Alternate methods • Compressed air horns • Intercom system • Whistles • Lights

9. Critical Equipment & Processes • Left unattended could cause another serious problem • Procedures for employees who must remain to secure critical process • Staying doesn’t compromise their safety • Minimum number of steps to make safe • Understanding of fire behavior • Leave immediately once secure or unsafe conditions develop

10. Specific Employee Responsibilities • Assisting others during evacuation • visitors, people with disabilities • Checking other rooms in area (bathrooms, copier areas, stock areas, high noise locations. etc) • Exterior Doors • Individual remains at door to prevent entry into building by non-authorized people

11. Individuals Unable to Evacuate Building to the Exterior • Are stairtower landings available for staging purposes • Can a temporary area of refuge be made in a room next to the stairtower (door, phone, blanket/towel to block smoke from entering room under door, ability to mark exterior window for visible indication) • Assigned person to assist and remain with individuals

12. Continued • Notification of Emergency Personnel that people requiring assistance are in the building • Penn State Safety Policy SY02 “Identification Decals for Individuals Requesting Assistance”

13. Evacuation Route Signage • Posted in areas accessible for viewing (elevator lobbies, public areas) • Identify exit routes, fire alarm locations, fire extinguisher locations, areas of refuge

16. Buildings Which Should Have Evacuation Plans • Multi-story buildings • Public Assembly buildings (theatres, dining areas, athletic facilities etc) • Libraries • Complex building layouts • Health care and child care facilities

17. CONCLUSION • Evacuation plans are not difficult to produce • Once plan is complete • Post plan • Provide information / training to all employees • Drill (verbal, walk-thru, fire drill) • Implement into new employee orientation • Evaluate plan for any changes

18. Thank you Steven G. Triebold Fire Protection Engineer Environmental Health and Safety Penn State University