GIDELINES FOR FIRE DRILL AND EVACUATION
PROCEDURES
FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
(ABOVE 15 m IN HEIGHT)
E-1 INTRODUCTION
In case of fire in a high rise
building, safe evacuation of its occupants may present serious
problems unless a plan for orderly and systematic evacuation is
prepared in advance and all occupants are well drilled in the
operation of such plan. These guidelines are intended to assist
them in this task.
E-2 ALARMS
Any person discovering fire, heat
or smoke shall immediately report such condition to the fire brigade,
unless he has personal knowledge that such a report has been made.
No person shall make, issue, post or maintain any regulation or
order, written or verbal, that would require any person to take
any unnecessary delaying action prior to reporting such condition
to the fire brigade.
E-3 DRILLS
- E-3.1 – Fire drills shall
be conducted, in accordance with the Fire Safety Plan, at least
once every three months for existing buildings during the first
two years. Thereafter, fire drills shall be conducted at least
once every six months.
- E-3.2 – All occupants
of the building shall participate in the fire drill. However,
occupants of the building, other than building service employees,
are not required to leave the floor or use the exits during
the drill.
- E-3.3 – A written record
of such drills shall be kept on the premises for a three years
period and shall be readily available for fire brigade inspection.
E-4 SIGNS AND PLANS
E-4.1 – Sign at
Lift Landings
Signs shall be posted and maintained in a conspicuous place on
every floor at or near the lift landing in accordance with the
requirements, indicating that in case of fire, occupants shall
use the stairs unless instructed otherwise. The sign shall contain
a diagram showing the location of the stairways except that such
diagram may be omitted, provided signs containing such diagram
are posted in conspicuous places on the respective floor.
A sign shall read “IN CASE OF FIRE, USE STAIRS UNLESS INSTRUCTED
OTHER WISE”. The lettering shall be at least 12.5 mm block
letters and white background. Such lettering shall be properly
spaced in provided good legibility. The sign shall be at least
250 mm x 300 mm, where the diagram is also incorporated in it
and 62.5 mm x 250 mm where the diagram is omitted. In the latter
case, the diagram sign shall be at least 200 mm x 300 mm. The
sign shall be located directly above a call-button and squarely
attached to the wall or partition. The top of the sign shall not
be above 2 m from the floor level.
E-4.2 – Floor Numbering Signs
A sign shall be posted and maintained within each stair enclosure
on every floor, indicating the number of the floor, in accordance
with the requirements given below.
The numerals shall be of bold type and at least 75 mm high. The
numerals and background shall be in contrasting colures. The sign
shall be securely attached to the stair side of the door.
E-4.3 – Stair and Elevator Identification Sign
Each stairway and each elevator back shall be identified by an
alphabetical letter. Sign identification shall be posted and maintained
at each elevator landing and on the side of the stairway door
from which egress is to be made, in accordance with the requirements
given below:
The lettering on the sign shall be at least 75 mm high, of bold
type and of contrastsing colure from the background. Such signs
shall be securely attached.
E-4.4 – Stair Re-entry Signs
A sign shall be posted and maintained on each floor within each
stairway and on the occupancy side of the stairway where required,
indicating whether re-entry is provided into the building and
the floor where such re-entry provided, in accordance with the
requirements given below:
The lettering and numerals of the signs shall be at least 12.5
mm high of bold type. The lettering and background shall be of
contrasting colures and the signs shall be securely attached approximately
1.5 m above the floor level.
E-4.5 – Fire command station shall be provided with floor
pan of the building and other pertinent information relative to
the service equipment of the building.
E-5 FIRE SAFETY PLAN
- E-5.1 – A format for
the Fire Safety Plan shall be as given in E-8
- E-5.2 – The applicable
parts of the approved Fire Safety Plan shall be distributed
to all tenants of the building by the building management when
the Fire Safety Plan has been approved by the Fire Authority.
- E-5.3 – The applicable
parts of the approved Fire Safety Plan shall then be distributed
by the tenants to all their employees and by the building management
to all their building employees.
- E-5.4 – Where the owner
of the building is also an occupant of the building, he shall
be responsible for the observance of rules and the Fire Safety
Plan in the same manner as a tenant.
- E-5.5 – In the event
there are changes from conditions existing at the time the Fire
Safety Plan for the building was approved, and the changes are
such so as to require amending the Fire Safety Plan, within
30 days after such changes, an amended Fire Safety Plan shall
be submitted to the fire brigade for approval.
E-6 FIRE COMMAND STATION
A Fire Command Station shall be
established in the lobby of the building on the entrance floor.
Such command station shall be adequately illuminated.
E-7 COMMUNICATIONS AND
FIRE ALARM
A mean of communication and fire
alarm for use during fire emergencies shall be provided and maintained
by the owner or person in charge of the building/
E-8 FIRE SAFETY PLAN FORMAT
- E-8.1 – Building Address
Street and Pin Code Number---------------------------
Telephone Number ---------------------------------------
- E-8.2 – Purpose and
Objective
- E-8.2.1 – Purpose
To establish method of systematic, safe and orderly evacuation
of an are or building by its occupants in case of fire or
other emergency, in the least possible time, to a safe area
by the nearest safe means for aggress; also the use of such
available fire appliances (including sounding of alarms)
as may have been provided for controlling or extinguishing
fire and safeguarding of human life.
- E-8.2.2 – Objective
To provide proper education as a part of conforming employee
indoctrination and through a continuing written programmed
for all occupants, to ensure prompt reporting of fire, the
response of fire alarms as designated, and the immediate
initiation of fire safety procedures to safeguard life and
contain fire until the arrival of the fire brigade.
- E-8.3 – Fire Safety
Director
a) Name
b) Regularly assigned employment – Title
c) Regularly assigned location
d) How is he notified when at regular location?
e) How is he notified when not at regular location?
f) Normal working hours
g) Duties of Fire Safety Director (see E-9.1)
- E-8.4 – Deputy Fire
Safety Director
a) Name
b) Regularly assigned employment – Title
c) Regularly assigned location
d) How is he notified when at regular location?
e) How is he notified when not at regular location?
f) Normal working hours.
g) Duties of Deputy Fire Safety Director (see E-9)
- E-8.5 – Fire Wardens
and Deputy Fire Wardens
a) Are their names on Organization Charts for each floor and/or
tenancy?
b) Submit typical completed Organization Chart for Fire Drill
and Evacuation
Assignment.
c) Duties of Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire Wardens (see E-9.3).
- E-8.6 – Building Evacuation
Supervisor
a) Name
b) Regularly assigned employment – Title
c) Regularly assigned location
d) How is the notified when at regular location?
e) How is he notified when not at regular location?
f) Normal working hours
g) Duties of Building Evacuation Supervisor (see E-9.4)
- E-8.7 – Fire Party
a) Submit a completed Organization Chart for Fire parties naming
person in
charge, and his title in the building.
b) Indicate standards of selection from building employees based
on background
and availability.
c) How are they notified?
d) How are they notified when they are not at their regular
locations?
e) Means of responding.
f) Duties of each ember of Fire Party (see E-9.5)
- E-8.8 – Occupants Instructions
Distribution of instructions to all tenants, tenants’
employees and building employees of (see E-9.6).
- E-8.9 – Evacuation Drill
a) Frequency of drills
b) How conducted?
c) Participation: Who participated? How?
d) Controls and supervision
e) Recording of details of drills
- E-8.10 – Fire Command
Station
a) Location
b) Requirements
1) Adequate illumination
2) Adequate communication to mechanical equipment room and elevator
control room on each floor.
3) Copy of Fire Safety Plan
4) Copy of Building Information Form
5) Representative floor plans showing location of signs, floor
remote station
communications, etc.
- E-8.11 – Signs
a) Signs at elevator landings, Floor diagrams
b) Floor numbering
c) Stairway identification
d) Elevator identification
e) Stair re-entry
- E-8.12 – Fire Prevention
and Fire Protection Programmer (see E-9.7).
- E-8.13 – Building Information
Form (see E-9.8)
- E-8.14 – Representative
Floor Plan (see E-9.9).
- E-8.15 – Fire Safety
Plan Prepared by (see E-9.10).
E-9 DUTIES
- E-9.1 – Fire Safety
Director’s Duties
- E-9.1.1 – Be familiar
with the written Fire Safety Plan providing for fire drill and
evacuation procedure in accordance with orders on the subject.
- E-9.1.2 – Select qualified
building service employees for a Fire Party and organize, train
and supervise such Fire Brigade.
- E-9.1.3 – Be responsible
for the availability and state of readiness of the Fire Party.
- E-9.1.4 – Conduct fire
and evacuation drills.
- E-9.1.5 – Be responsible
for the designation and training of a Fire Warden for each floor,
and sufficient Deputy Fire Wardens for each leniency in accordance
with orders on the subject.
- E-9.1.6 – Be responsible
for a daily check for the availability of the Fire Wardens,
and see that up-to-date organization charts are posted.
NOTE – If the number of Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire Wardens
in the building is such that it is impractical to individually
contact each one daily, a suggested method to satisfy the requirements
is to make provisions for the Fire Warden, or a Deputy Fire
Warden in the absence of the Fire Warden, to notify the Fire
Safety Director when the Fire Warden or required number of Deputy
Fire Warden are not available. In order to determine the compliance
by the Fire Warden and Deputy Fire Wardens, when this method
is used, the Fire Safety Director shall make a spot check of
several different floors each day.
- E-9.1.7 – Notify the owner or some other
person having charge of the building when any designated individual
is neglecting his responsibilities contained in Fire Safety
Plan. The owner or the other person in-charge of the building
shall bring the matter to the attention of the fire employing
the individual. If the firm fails to correct the condition,
the Fire Department shall be notified by the owner/person in-charge
of the building.
- E-9.1.8 – In the event of fire, shall
report to the Fire Command Station to supervise, provide for
and coordinate:
a) ‘Ensure that the Fire Department has been notified
of any fire alarm.
b) Manning of the Fire Command Station.
c) Direction of evacuating procedures as provided in the Fire
Safety Plan.
d) Reports on conditions on fire floor for information of Fire
Department on their arrival.
e) Advise the Fire Department Officer in-charge in the operation
of the Fire Command Station.
- E-9.1.9 – Be responsible for the training
and activities of the Building Evacuation Supervisor.
- E-9.2 – Deputy Fire Safety Director’s
Duties
- E-9.2.1 – Subordinate to the Fire Safety
Director.
- E-9.2.2 – Perform duties of Fire Safety
Director in his absence.
- E-9.3 – Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire
Wardens Duties
The tenant or tenants of each floor shall,
upon request of the owner or person in charge of buildings,
make responsible and dependable employees available for designation
by the Fire Safety Director as Fire Warden and Deputy Fire Warden.
- E-9.3.1 – Each floor of a building shall
be under the direction of a designated Fire Warden for the evacuation
of occupants in the event of fire. He shall be assisted in his
duties by the Deputy Fire Warden. A Deputy Fire Warden shall
be provided for each tenancy. When the floor area of a tenancy
exceeds 700 m2 of occupicable space, a Deputy Fire Warden shall
be assigned for each 700 m2 or part thereof.
- E-9.3.2 – Each Fire Warden and Deputy
Fire Warden shall be familiar with the Fire Safety Plan, the
location of exits and the location and operation of any available
fire alarm system.
- E-9.3.3 – In the event of fire, or fire
alarm the Fire Warden shall ascertain the location of the fire
and direct evacuation of the floor in accordance with directions
received and the following guidelines;
a) The most critical areas for immediate evacuation are the
fire floor and floors immediately above.
Evacuation from the other floors shall be instituted when instructions
from the Fire Command Station or conditions indicate such action.
Evacuation shall be via uncontaminated stairs. The Fire Warden
shall try to avoid stairs being used by the Fire Department.
If this is not possible, he shall try to attract the attention
of the Fire Department Personnel before such personnel open
the door to the fire floor.
b) Evacuation to two or more levels below the fire floor is
generally adequate. He shall keep the Fire Command Station informed
regarding his location.
c) Fire Wardens and their Deputies shall see that all occupants
are notified of the fire, and that they proceed immediately
to execute the Fire Safety Plan.
d) The Fire Warden on the fire floor shall, as soon as practicable,
notify the Fire Command Station of the particulars.
e) Fire Warden on floors above the fire shall, after executing
the Fire Safety Plan, notify the Fire Command Station of the
means being used for evacuation and any other particulars.
f) In the event that stairways serving fire floor and/or floors
above are unusable due to contamination or cut off by fire and/or
smoke or that several floors above fire involve large numbers
of occupants who must be evacuated consideration may be given
to using evacuation of the floor in accordance with the following:
1) If the elevators servicing his floor also service the fire
floor, they shall not be used. However, elevators may be used
if there is more than one bank of elevators, and he is informed
from the Fire Command Station that one bank is unaffected by
the fire.
2) If elevators do not service the fire floor and their shafts
have no openings on the fire floor, they may be used, unless
directed otherwise.
3) Elevators manned by trained building personnel or firemen
may also be used.
4) In the absence of a serviceable elevator, the Fire Warden
shall select the safety stairway to use for evacuation on the
basis of the location of the fire and any information received
from the Fire Command Station. The Fire Warden shall check the
environment in the stairs prior to entry for evacuation. If
it is affected by smoke, alternative stair shall be selected,
and the Fire command Station notified.
5) The Fire Warden shall keep the Fire Command Station informed
of the means being employed for evacuation by the occupants
of his floor.
g) Ensure that an alarm has been transmitted.
- E-9.3.4 – Organization Chart for Fire
Drill and Evacuation Assignment
A chart designating employees and their assignments shall be
prepared and posted in each in a conspicuous place in each tenancy
and on each floor of a tenancy that occupies more than one floor
and a copy shall be in the possession of the Fire Safety Director.
- E-9.3.5 – Keep available an updated
listing of all personnel with physical disabilities who cannot
use stairs unaided. Make arrangements to have these occupants
assisted in moving down the stairs to two or more levels before
fire floor. If it is necessary to move such occupants to a still
lower level during the fire, move them down the stair to the
uppermost floor served by an uninvolved elevator bank and them
remove them the street floor by elevator. Where assistance is
required for such evacuations notify Fire Safety Director.
- E-9.3.6 – Provide for Fire Warden Identification
during the drills and fires, such as using armband etc.
- E-9.3.7 – Ensure that all persons on
the floor are notified of fire and all are evacuated to safe
areas. A search must be conducted to ensure all are out. Personnel
assigned as searchers can promptly and efficiently perform this
duty.
- E-9.3.8 – Check availability of applicable
personnel on Organization Chart and provide for a substitute
when the position on a chart is not covered.
- E-9.3.9 – After evacuation perform a
head count to ensure that all regular occupants known to have
occupied the floor have been evacuated.
- E-9.3.10 – When alarm is received, the
Fire Warden shall remain at a selected position in the vicinity
of the communication station on the floor, in order to maintain
communication with the Fire Command Station and to receive and
give instructions.
- E-9.4 – Building Evacuation Supervisor’s
Duties
A building Evacuation Supervisor is required at all times other
than normal working or business hours when there are occupants
in the building and there is no Fire Safety Director on duty
in the building.
- E-9.4.1 – He should be capable of directing
the evacuation of the occupants as provided by the Fire Safety
Plan.
- E-9.4.2 – During fire emergencies, the
primary responsibility of the Building Evacuation
Supervisor shall be to man the Fire Command Station, and the
direction and execution of the evacuation as provided in the
Fire Safety Plan. The Building Evacuation Supervisor’s
training and related activities shall be under the direction
of the Fire Safety Director in accordance with these rules,
and the Fire Safety Plan. Such activities shall be subject to
Fire Department control.
- E-9.5 – Fire Party Duties
Occupants of an alarm for fire the Fire Party shall:
a) Report to the floor below the fire to assist in evacuation
and provide information to the Fire Command Station.
b) After evacuations of fire floor, endeavor to control speed
of fire by closing doors, etc.
c) Attempt to control the fire until arrival of the Fire Department,
if the fire is small and condition do not pose a personal threat.
d) Leave one member on the floor below the fire to direct the
Fire Department to the fire location and to inform them of conditions
e) On arrival of the Fire Department, the Fire Party shall report
to the Fire Command Station for additional instructions.
f) Have a member designated as runner, who shall know the location
of the nearest telephone, and be instructed in its use. Such
member shall immediately upon receipt of information that there
is a fire or evidence of fire, go to the telephone, transmit
an alarm and await the arrival of the Fire Department and direct
such department to the fire.
NOTE – A chart designating employees and their assignments
shall be prepared.
- E-9.6 – Occupant’s Instructions
a) The applicable parts of the approved Fire Safety Plan shall
be distributed to all tenants of the building by the building
management when the Fire Safety Plan has been approved by the
Fire Commissioner.
b) The applicable parts of the approved Fire Safety Plan shall
then be distributed by the tenants to all their employees and
by the building management to all their building employees.
c) All occupants of the building shall participate and cooperate
in carrying out the provisions of the Fire Safety Plan.
- E-9.7 – Fire Prevention and Fire Protection
Program.
a) A plan for periodic formal inspections of each floor area,
including exit facilities, fire extinguishers and house keeping
shall be developed. A copy of such plan be submitted.
b) Provision shall be made for the monthly testing of communication
and alarm systems.
- E-9.8 – Building Information Form
It shall include the following information:
• Building address ---------------- Pin Code-----------
• Owner or person in-charge of building – Name,
Address and Telephone Number
• Fire Safety Director and Deputy Fire Safety Director’s
Name and Telephone Numbers.
• Certificate of occupancy. Location where posted, or
duplicate attached.
• Height, area, class of construction.
• Number, type and location of fire stairs and/or fire
towers.
• Number, type and location of horizontal exits or other
areas of refuge.
• Number, type, location and operation of elevators and
escalators.
• Interior fire alarms, or alarms to central stations.
• Communications systems and /or walkie talkie, telephones,
etc.
• Standpipe system: size and location of risers, gravity
or pressure tank, fire pump, location of Siamese connections,
name of employee with certificate of qualification and number
of certificate.
• Sprinkler system: name of employee with Certificate
of Fitness and certificate number. Primary and secondary water
supply, fire pump and areas protected.
• Special extinguishing system, if any components and
operation.
• Average number of persons normally employed in building.
Daytime and night time.
• Average number of handicapped people in building. Location.
Daytime and night time.
• Number of persons normally visiting the building. Daytime
and nigh time
• Service equipment such as :
1) Electric power, primary, auxiliary;
2) Lighting, normal, emergency, type and location;
3) Heating, type, fuel, location of heating unit;
4) Ventilation – with fixed windows, emergency means of
exhausting heat and
smoke;
5) Air-Conditioning Systems - Brief description of the system,
including ducts
& floors serviced;
6) Refuse storage and disposal;
7) Fire fighting equipment and appliances, other than standpipe
and sprinkler
system; and
8) Other pertinent building equipment.
• Alternation and repair operations, if any and the protective
and preventive measures necessary to safeguard such operations
with attention to torch operations.
• Storage and use of flammable solids, liquids and/or
gases.
• Special occupancies in the building and the proper protection
and maintenance thereof. Places of public assembly, studios,
and theatrical occupancies.
- E-9.9 - Representative Floor Plan
A floor plan, representative of the majority or the majority
or the floor designs of the entire building, shall be at the
Command Post, in the main lobby, under the authority of the
Fire Safety Director. One copy of a representative floor plan
shall be submitted to the Fire Department with the Fire Safety
plan.
- E-9.10 – Fire Safety Plan
In planning, evaluate the individual floor layouts, the population
of floors, the number and kinds of exits, the zoning of the
floor by area and occupants. Determine the movement of traffic
by the most expeditious route to an appropriate exit and alternative
route for each zone, since under fire conditions one or more
exits may not be usable. This format is to be used in the preparation
of the Fire Safety Plan. Nothing contained in this Fire Safety
Plan format is to be construed as all inclusive. All rules and
other requirements are to be fully complied with.
- E-9.11 – Personal Fire Instruction Card
All the occupants of the building shall be given a Personal
Fire Instruction Card giving the details of the floor plan and
exit routes along with the instruction to be followed in the
event of fire. A typical Personal Fire Instruction Card shall
be as follows:
PERSONAL FIRE
INSTRUCTION CARD
SEAL
NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION
ADDRESS OF THE ORGANIZARION
NAME: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESIGNATION: -------------------------------------------------------------------
FLOOR NO: -----------------------------------------------------------------
DATE: ------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRE WARDEN INSTRUCTIONS
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Two push button fire alarm boxes are provided per floor. You
should read the
operating instructions.
2. You should read the operating instructions on the body of the
fire extinguishers
provided on you floor.
3. The nearest exit from your table.
4. Your assembly point on ground floor (check with your Fire/Deputy
Fire Warden)
5. FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION YOU SHOULD REPORT TO YOUR FIRE
DEPUTY FIRE WARDEN.
a) If any exit door/route is obstructed by loose materials, foods,
boxes, etc.
b) If any staircase door, lift lobby door does not close automatically,
or does not close
completely.
c) If any push button fire alarm point, or fire extinguishers
is obstructed, damaged or
apparently out of order.
IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE
1. Break the glass of the nearest push button fore alarm and push
the button.
2. Attack the fire with extinguishers provided on your floor.
Take guidance from your Wardens.
3. Evacuate if your Warden asks you to do so.
IF YOU HEAR EVACUATION
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Leave the floor immediately by the south/north staircase.
2. Report to your Warden, at your predetermined assembly point
outside the building.
3. Do not try to use lifts.
4. Do not go to cloakroom.
5. Do not run or shout.
6. Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
7. Keep the lift lobby and staircase door shut.
YOUR ASSEMBLY POINT IS |
