MANAGEMENT OF PHASED EVACUATION OF BUILDINGS Guidance for Senior Key Persons

Transcription

1 MANAGEMENT OF PHASED EVACUATION OF BUILDINGS Guidance for Senior Key Persons HEALTH & SAFETY UNIT AUTUMN 2007

2 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION SUMMARY AND SUGGESTED ACTION PLAN BUILDING MATTERS MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES Disabled Persons Emergency Evacuation Procedures Fire Log Book Faculty Handbook Fire Drill

3 1 INTRODUCTION Creation of an alarm system which zones a building into two or more areas for the purposes of fire evacuation requires planning, consultation and training to be completed successfully. The benefits of such a system are that there will be less disruption to teaching activities caused by the fire alarm and subsequent evacuation of building occupants. This is achieved by evacuating only one zone whilst the adjacent zone enters alert mode. For MMU buildings many of which have occupancies in terms of hundreds and some in thousands of persons a fire alarm and evacuation is a large event which needs managing. Consult your staff and their representatives in order to let them know what is happening. This is a significant change affecting their health and safety. 2 SUMMARY AND SUGGESTED ACTION PLAN Consultation Faculty Structural matters, signage and training in the PRMPT alarm system Management of Evacuations Faculty Arrangements for Disabled Persons Faculty Emergency Evacuation Procedures to be altered Faculty/Health and Safety Unit Fire Log Book to be updated PRMPT Faculty Handbook to be updated Faculty Fire Drill Faculty The Health and Safety Unit will advise and assist in the implementation of the action plan. 3 BUILDING MATTERS Zoning requires a minimum of one hour fire separation between areas. This and other matters such as the provision of smoke detectors, illuminated signs and altered fire action notices have to be considered. Your Area Surveyor from Property Management Performance Team (PRMPT) should co-ordinate these works. It is important that the phasing of the alarm system is made operational only after all other necessary building works and management arrangements have been made. 4 MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES 4.1 Management of Evacuations PRMPT will need to provide instruction and training to house services staff in the operation of the altered fire alarm panel.

4 In normal hours: It may be appropriate that the most senior member of staff in an area is responsible for the evacuation of that area. Alternatively fire marshals (and a deputy) may be appointed to be responsible for evacuation of an area. Out of hours and areas not closely supervised in normal hours: Provide fire action notices in computer suites and studios which may not be closely supervised. Students must receive instruction in the nature of the detection and alarm system and their responsibility to evacuate. The most appropriate time to do this is during their induction to the computer or studio areas. NB. This assumes that persons are responsible enough to stop work and evacuate the area. If the fire drill provides evidence that this is not happening then alternative arrangements will be necessary (e.g. appoint a member of staff to supervise the evacuation of the area). 4.2 Disabled Persons Arrangements will need to be made for disabled persons. Please see Guidance Note 'Evacuation of Disabled Persons' for further information. 4.3 Emergency Evacuation Procedures With the Health and Safety Unit alter your emergency evacuation procedures to include details of: The concept of the system (evacuation area and alert area) The different alarm sound (continuous for evacuation, intermittent for alert) Responsibilities of staff: it may be appropriate for the most senior staff member present or the fire marshal to be responsible for the evacuation of the area which they are working in. Responsibilities of students: where not closely supervised each person is required to evacuate. 4.4 Fire Log Book Include altered procedures and arrangements in the log book. Also the fire risk assessment may need to be altered by Estate Planning Services and Health and Safety. 4.5 Faculty Handbook Include the altered emergency evacuation procedures in the Faculty handbook

5 4.6 Fire Drill Undertake at least one fire drill in the first term in normal hours and out of hours. Faculty, House Services and Health and Safety should assess the behaviour of students in areas not closely supervised.