claire mccartney miei miosh fire and safety consulting & training fire risk assessment: the...

Claire McCartney MIEI MIOSHFire and Safety Consulting & Training

Fire Risk Assessment: The Evacuation Perspective

Principles and Practical

Experiences

Claire McCartney BA BAI MBS P.G.Dip MIEI CMIOSH


The Evacuation Perspective - Legislation

Section 19 of the Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003 states:“potentially dangerous building means any building which would, in the event of a fire…, constitute a serious danger to life…”

Adequate means of egress from the building Notices as to the procedure which should be

followed in the event of fire Appliances or fittings for enabling the occupants to

escape on the occurrence of fire


Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 states:

“Every employer shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees. ”

Design, provision and maintenance of safe means of egress from the place of work

Prepare and revise adequate plans, procedures and measures to be taken in case of an emergency



Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 states:

“Every employer shall identify the hazards in the place of work under his or her control, assess the risks presented by those hazards and be in possession of a written assessment of the risks to the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees…and persons other than his or her employees. ”



Fire Risk Assessment - PrinciplesIt is not acceptable to rely on the intervention of the Fire Service

It is not acceptable to leave a disabled person in a refuge area

NDA Promoting Safety Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities


Fire Risk Assessment - Principles

Safe evacuation of all occupants

Fire Risk Assessment

Building Emergency Evacuation Plan

Building Occupantsand

Personal Emergency

Evacuation Plan


What is the evacuation strategy for the building? Total evacuation Phased evacuation Zoned evacuation

Fire Safety Certificate granted by local Fire Authority outlines the evacuation strategy

Building is designed based on the evacuation strategy, including building structure (passive) and fire safety systems (active)

Fire Risk Assessment – Building


Fire alarm – audibility of sounders, number, location & height of bgus, visual/vibrating devices, paging system

Compartmentation – fire resistance and fire doors Escape routes and final exits – complexity and familiarity

of routes, travel distances, stairs, ramps, level thresholds, fire doors along routes

Refuge/rest areas and communication system Evacuation lifts or normal lifts Way-finding – directional signs, low level signs,

handrails, directional sound, colour contrasts, thread indicators, number & location of emergency lights

Signage – height of signs, size of print, tactile info Equipment and facilities – evacuation chairs

Fire Risk Assessment – Building


To design a building that provides safe evacuation for all, we must base the evacuation time on the person who will take the longest time to escape.

Evacuation time – from detection, through pre-movement time (including alarm activation, recognition and response time) and to the end of movement time when the evacuation is complete

Design the Building Emergency Evacuation Plan to suit the greatest evacuation time

Fire Risk Assessment – Occupants


Fire Risk Assessment – Occupants: Types of Disability

Mobility impairment – range or speed of movement Sensory impairment – ability to gather information,

e.g. sight and sound Cognitive or mental health impairment – capacity to

process information and react appropriately e.g. dyslexia or autism

Hidden disability – stress of situation triggers condition e.g. asthma or heart problem


Effect of Disability on Evacuation Time

Recognition time – get alarm signal, see developing threat, interpret information

Response time – raise alarm, fight fire, prepare for escape, decide on action

Movement time – horizontal and vertical travel Automatic door closers and electromagnetic

catches, ‘Do not use lifts’, way-finding, unfamiliar terrain, complex escape routes, queues form behind person, reduced corridor/stair width, slower in dense crowds, travel distance without resting, reaction to instructions


Level of alertness – awake, asleep, cognitive state Level of mobility – walk aided or unaided Social affiliation – alone or with a group Intellectual capacity – ability to understand

instructions or procedures Mental health status – tolerance to noise or panic

situations Role and responsibility – staff or public Position – standing, seated or lying down Commitment – to activity they are engaged in

Fire Risk Assessment – Occupants


Building Emergency Evacuation Plan

Prepare a PEEP for all known disabled persons and standardised PEEPs for potential visitors

Facilitate independent escape if possible – provide suitable aids and adaptations

Do not overplay safety issues – dignity What can person do in exceptional circumstances not

just everyday situations Assign “buddies” if necessary and train accordingly Do evacuation drills and ‘mock-ups’ Identify time required for each person’s escape


Flashing beacons, vibrating devices, pagers Use of lift Walk down stairs slowly on their own Move down stairs on bottom Walk/move down stairs with assistance Use evacuation chair Carry down – own chair or other chair Additional orientation information, tactile map,

colour contrasting, large print Assistance with opening doors

PEEP Escape Options


Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan - Consultation

Consult with those directly affected: Employees Regular visitors

Consult with relevant disability organisations to anticipate needs of other visitors and members of the public

Consult with other members of staff assigned as ‘buddies’ in the evacuation procedures

Consult with local Fire Service Consult with the landlord and other tenants


References

NDA – Promoting Safe Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities

HM Government – Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Means of Escape for Disabled People www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk

BS5588-8:1999 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings – Code of practice for means of escape for disabled people


THANK YOU

Any Questions?

claire mccartney miei miosh fire and safety consulting & training fire risk assessment: the...

Documents

safety egress

claire mccartney miei

evacuation strategy

safety certificate

risk assessment building

safety systems active

dip miei cmiosh slide

building notices