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In this article we'll be providing a beginners guide on fire evacuation strategies, which will include:
What is a fire evacuation strategy
Why do I need a fire evacuation strategy
What are the different strategies and when should they be adopted
Who is responsible for implementing, managing and enforcing the strategy
How to implement a suitable strategy and stay complaint
What is a Fire Evacuation Strategy?
A fire evacuation strategy is the predetermined plan of action for occupants of a property to follow in the event of a fire. They're designed to keep the occupants safe within the property or allow them to get to a place of safety in or out of the building. Every premise that is not a private home requires one under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 law. A good strategy will be one that has been carefully considered and has taken into account all factors, hence why they are recommended based on the findings of a fire risk assessment.
In larger more complex properties, a fire evacuation strategy will form part of a Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan (FEEP) which looks at the escape plan for the property in more detail. However, in smaller less complex premises a general fire action notice is admissible.
Why do I need a Fire Evacuation Strategy?
Other than it being a legal requirement; all properties differ from one another, in age, size, design, construction, location and occupancy. For this reason, each building poses a different threat from fire. So, what may be suitable for one property may not be for another. That's why different strategies have been developed to counteract the various challenges each individual premise presents.
What are the different Strategies & When should they be Implemented?
Simultanesous Evacuation
A simultaneous evacuation is an immediate evacuation of all occupants within the premises. It's what most people probably think of when hearing the term evacuation. The strategy is most commonly used for commercial spaces such as; offices, shops, factories, etc...
It requires some form of detection and a form of alarm to notify other occupants. Depending on the size and occupancy of the property, this may not be mechanical or automated, it can be as simple as shouting "FIRE, FIRE, FIRE". In medium to large sized properties, a basic alarm system is commonly found. Fire wardens and trained staff are useful in coordinating the evacuation and ensuring everyone has vacated the property.
Phased Evacuation
Phased evacuation is another example of total evacuation, however, as the name suggests it takes place in stages. These phased intervals can stagger the evacuation horizontally or vertically depending on the layout and construction of the property, most importantly the fire-resisting construction. This method is commonly used where properties need to evacuate all occupants instantaneously, but the means of escape will not allow for the entire population to safely simultaneously evacuate. Therefore the phased evacuation will prioritize the escape of the persons most at risk by allowing them to exit the premises first, followed by the remaining phases.
Careful consideration must go into the planning of these stages to ensure the correct people are being prioritized as well as to make sure the strategy is adaptable and remains functional dependent on the different potential locations of fire. Subsequently, this should be strategically planned by a competent person.
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation or PHE as it can be referred to is a strategy formed for premises where it is impracticable to move the occupants out of the building simultaneously. Unlike phased evacuation where this is often a result of the limitations posed by the buildings' means of escape; PHE is implemented where the impracticability lies with the inability or difficulty in moving the occupants. For example; elderly occupants within care homes or patients within care facilities or hospitals.
Therefore, rather than attempting to move occupants out of the premises, well-trained, readily available, able staff will move the occupants to a place of relative safety within the building away from danger and in zones protected by fire-resisting construction. Again, good planning is required to ensure occupants can be moved to protected areas where the gradual evacuation can continue, or until the fire has been dealt with.
Stay-put / Defend in Place
A stay-put policy may seem contrary to the principles of a fire evacuation strategy, however, the approach is justifiable.
Stay-put policies are predominantly used for residential properties and have been the preferred policy in recent times for purpose-built blocks of flats that have the compartmentation to support the strategy. Since the introduction of Building Regulations, most purpose-built residential blocks are designed to support a stay-put policy. The reason being, in a block operating a stay-put policy, the majority of occupants may not be required to evacuate in the event of a fire unless for one of two reasons:
The compartment/flat they are residing in becomes affected by the fire i.e no longer containing fire and/or smoke sufficiently.
They were not in a flat or fire-resisting compartment at the time of discovering the fire.
The fact most occupants may not be required to do anything is partly the reason this strategy is favorable for these types of buildings, as it is not reliant on the occupants being able to conduct a safe and swift evacuation which can require lots of resources where large numbers of occupants are involved, and may not always be practical. It also removes the need for things such as fire alarms, fire drills and regular training. It does however require good communication of information between the Responsible Person and the occupants.
For the policy to be effective the construction and most importantly the compartmentation of the building is paramount. The foundation of the policy is built on being able to contain fires at the source. That's why fire-resisting construction must be well maintained and inspected regularly for voids, cavities, and service penetrations which could compromise the effectiveness of the design. The internal and external linings of the building are also more crucial than ever in preventing fire spread around the property. Hence the recent amendment that the external fabric of the property must be a consideration for assessors when conducting a fire risk assessment.
Two-Staged / Delayed / Staff Evacuation
This strategy notifies staff of a potential fire prior to the general population being alerted. This allows the staff to do the following:
Prepare for a stewarded evacuation, and/or
Investigate the source and identify if the threat is false or not. If false, the alarm can then be canceled prior to the occupants being disturbed, or if the threat is real, a stewarded evacuation can ensue.
This strategy works well within buildings that are likely to be highly densely populated with persons unfamiliar with the premises, such as; sports stadiums, cinemas, shopping centers, etc...
The delay in the alarm works well in these venues as it prevents panic amongst the occupants, avoids unnecessary disturbance from false alarms, and allows staff to get to their stations and perform a controlled evacuation in the event that a real threat is posed.
The strategy requires; well-trained staff, a quality automatic detection and alarm system preferably with a tannoy system, and a well-managed and drilled evacuation process. Usually, the main alarm will sound if staff confirm the presence of fire, or if additional detectors are activated, or if the alarm has not been canceled after a pre-determined time elapses.
Who is Responsible for Implementing, Managing & Enforcing the Strategy?
The person responsible for ensuring a suitable strategy is in place, managed, and enforced is the 'Responsible Person" as defined under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 - as is the case with the majority of the requirements of this legislation. This tends to be the property owner or, the employer where they have control of the premises.
However, while the Responsible Person may be accountable for all of the above, they may not be suitably trained, experienced, or knowledgeable enough to complete this alone. Hence why "Competent Persons" are required to assist the Responsible Person where they do have the skillset to ensure the appropriate preventative and protective measures are implemented. There's no specific requirement for a competent person, only that they should have the appropriate level of experience, training and knowledge to advise on the matter. Often this is a fire safety consultant or managing agent.
How to Implement the Correct Strategy & Stay Compliant?
Following completion of the risk assessment and with all available information provided, the Competent Person should be able to make a judgment on the most appropriate strategy taking into consideration all factors. All that remains now is to successfully implement the strategy and continually manage and review the policy.
The next steps will of course vary depending on the strategy and premises but the overriding principles remain. These are:
Staff - Provide staff with the necessary training, skills and information relevant to the strategy and premises. Some may be required to assist with the evacuation and therefore will need specialist training i.e fire warden training. Ensure any new staff or temporary staff are being inducted and refresher training is completed with all staff at appropriate intervals.
Communication - The requirements of the occupants needs to be communicated via appropriate channels so they are aware of their responsibilities. This again will vary dependent on the premises but the most common means is via signage and Fire Action Notices. These should be displayed at all entrances and exits and other significant locations e.g storey exits or with fire alarm call-points and other fire safety equipment. Where there are more complex or unique requirements, a short verbal induction may be necessary and in residential premises, direct written communication is recommended.
Property - The building itself is massively important to the policy as discussed earlier, so it's vital the features of the building that allow the strategy to be effective remain in good condition. These include the fire-resisting construction (walls, floors/ceilings, doors, fire stopping, cavity barriers), fire safety equipment and means of escape.
Management - A ongoing and robust management system will be the only assurance the Responsible Person has that their responsibilities are being upheld later down the line. Not only should all of the above be revisited and updated continually, but there should response to change. For example; property use change, property layout change, type of occupancy, level of occupancy, frequency of use, etc...
Things to be aware of...
Make arrangements to assist persons with disabilities or sensory impairments for them to safely escape the fire. Staff may need additional training for these eventualities, especially if there are known occupants with these requirements or it's highly likely they may be present. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP's) can be developed where the needs of specific people can be planned ahead or a General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) may be more suitable for premises where the occupants are not known. Advice on the specific needs of disabled and sensory-impaired people can be obtained from organizations representing their various groups.
Consideration should also be made to liaise with the emergency services, preferably a senior person nominated to meet the fire and rescue service when they arrived to provide them with any information they require. She/he should have an intimate knowledge of the premises and be in contact with the person conducting the roll call at the assembly point.
Athena Fire Consultancy