Plans for Evacuation in the Case of Fire

PLANS FOR EVACUATION IN THE CASE OF FIRE

Minimum Standards – Specified Buildings

General Fire Regulations 2000 require the occupier of a specified building (Refer to definition in Attachment 1) to submit to the Chief Officer of the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), for approval, an Evacuation Plan (EP) for the evacuation of the building in the case of fire. It should be noted that non-specified buildings do not require formal approval of fire evacuation plans but occupiers should adopt these standards if TFS endorsement is required.

The following information prescribes the minimum standard acceptable for EP approval by the Chief Officer. Specific requirements for the development of emergency control organisation and procedures for buildings structures and workplaces are detailed in Australian Standards AS 3745 (and where applicable AS 4083 - Health Care Facilities) and in all cases the relevant sections of this standard must be adequately addressed.

Additional information relating to other threats or emergencies can be attached to the plan, but Chief Officer approval is limited to the sections involved with evacuation in the case of fire only.

Prior to submitting an EP for approval, each of the following categories will need to be considered, and where relevant, suitably addressed in your plan and adopting a worst case scenario methodology:

Plan requirements

Each of the following areas are to be addressed to the degree necessary in the EP:

· The purpose and scope of the plan is clearly stated;

· The format of the plan is logical and easy to follow;

· The plan clearly identifies all buildings, structures or workplaces to which it relates;

· The plan is relevant to the type, size and occupancy of the building/s covered by the plan;

· The plan takes into consideration the range of hours the building is occupied and the various ways the building is utilised; and

· The plan provides for individual identification for the people who will manage the evacuation (eg. Chief Warden, Area or Floor Warden, Wardens etc.).

Plan development

These Minimum Standards are generic in nature and apply to all types of buildings, so it is important to ensure that when developing your plan you capture only those aspects that are relevant to the your specific circumstances. For example, a small single story child care centre that has 1 or 2 staff may only require a Chief Warden and that person would undertake all tasks, where a multi story building may require a Chief Warden, Deputy Chief Warden/s, Area/Floor Warden/s, Warden/s and possibly others such as Communication Officers and Runners.

When developing your plan, each of the following matters must be considered:

· Formation of an Emergency Planning Committee;

· The number of Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) personnel required to manage or conduct an evacuation must be identified and their roles and responsibilities clearly stated (For more information refer to Attachment 2);

· Staffing levels, shift arrangements and hours of use (where applicable). Also to be considered are circumstances where a building or part of a building is used for different purposes out of normal business hours (eg. a school’s gym is used in the evening by a local basketball team);

· Strategies for providing assistance to persons with disabilities must be prepared and tested; and

· All tenants in a multi-tenancy building such as a shopping complex or mixed retail building, are to be made aware of their responsibilities within the evacuation plan and be involved in training and ongoing practice evacuations.

· Evacuation routes and exits relating to the building/s must to be assessed for the likely effects that an emergency may have on them, then choosing the most appropriate route/s;

· Suitable assembly area/s for building occupants.

Warden identification

During an evacuation, it is particularly beneficial if each ECO member managing an emergency (ie. Chief Warden, Deputy Chief Warden, Area/Floor Wardens and Wardens [whichever combination is relevant]), regardless of numbers are easily recognised by the building occupants and the responding Brigade. All Wardens should therefore be appropriately identified and the plan must specify the method used to identify each “type” of Warden. Accepted methods of identification include helmets, caps, tabards and vests. The preferred method may also be inscribed with the wearer’s official title (eg. Chief Warden) if appropriate.

The following colours shall be used for Warden identification:

· White – for Chief Warden and Deputy Chief Warden.

· Yellow – for Area/Floor Warden.

· Red – for Warden.

Raising the alarm

An appropriate method is to be used to warn the occupants of an alarm of fire and may be in the form of a siren, whistle, PA, fire alarm or warning system etc. The method selected is to be clearly identified in the plan.

Floor plans and diagrams

The use of floor plans or diagrams to provide information about the building layout, evacuation routes, emergency exits and the location of portable fire fighting equipment is optional.

If used, floor plans or diagrams should not be cluttered with irrelevant information and should be limited to the following features:

· The location of approved exits to be used in the event of an evacuation are to be clearly marked in green with the word ‘EXIT’. Preferred paths of travel to exits may also be defined by using directional arrows or other like methods;

· Location of portable fire fighting equipment;

· Location of the assembly area/s; and

· An appropriate legend that identifies all relevant information detailed on the plan or diagrams.

Emergency action guides

An Emergency Action Guide is used as a prompt for occupants who have been asked to evacuate or are confronted with fire/smoke in a building. They are particularly useful in providing specific advice to visitors or others who may be unfamiliar to the surroundings.

Emergency Action Guides should provide clear and simple instructions about the actions one should take to raise an alarm or to evacuate a building and should be posted in prominent locations around the building/s such as common areas, sleeping areas and toilets. Two examples are attached for your information and use.

Alternatives to a total evacuation

In some instances in buildings such as hospitals, aged care facilities and multi story buildings, a lateral or horizontal evacuation into a smoke or fire compartment or from one compartment to another may be used as an alternative to a total evacuation, particularly in the first instance.

Where an alternative to a total evacuation is proposed, it is the responsibility of the owner or occupier of the building to provide the following evidence at the time the plan is submitted for approval:

· Fire and smoke separation/compartmentation complies with the intent of the Building Code of Australia;

· An appropriate communication system is in place to direct occupants within the building such as an Emergency Warning Intercommunication System (or EWIS) or a PA system; and

· Each Warden has received appropriate training and are considered competent to undertake the allocated tasks.

Where the above evidence is unsuitable or not provided, the TFS Chief Officer will not support any alternative to a total evacuation.

Use of emergency warning systems in evacuations

Evacuation plans must contain clear and specific operating procedures where the building incorporates an occupant or emergency warning system and the system is intended to be used by the ECO to manage an evacuation. In such cases the system must be fitted with a PA and controllable alert/evacuation tones.

Where it is not intended to use the installed system to manage an evacuation, the alert signal shall be set to ‘0’ seconds which causes the system to go directly into evacuation mode upon the activation of a fire alarm.

Assembly area

Where appropriate, at least one designated assembly area should be identified and all building occupants need to be made aware of the location/s.

When selecting a site, the safety of all evacuees should be of prime importance, therefore the assembly area needs to be sufficiently remote from the building to provide both a safe haven for building occupants and clear access for emergency services.

Approval process

Once the plan has been formulated, it should be forwarded to the TFS. If the plan meets the intent of these standards and those of AS 3745, in-principle approval will be granted. Final approval will be subject to a successful practice being conducted which must be done in accordance with the in-principally approved plan. This final practice will be assessed for suitability by an officer of the Tasmania Fire Service.

Before applying to conduct the final practice, you must first ensure that all wardens are made aware of their responsibilities and are competent to undertake the nominated tasks. It is strongly recommended you conduct one or more informal practice sessions beforehand.

For further information on evacuation planning, please call TFS Building Safety on 6230 8600 or visit our web site at www.fire.tas.gov.au then ‘fire safety and you’ then ‘in your business’.

Attachment 1

"Specified building" (as defined in the General Fire Regulations) means any of the following:

(a) a building capable of accommodating more than 200 persons, as estimated or determined in accordance with Table D1.13 of the BCA;

(b) a special fire hazard building within the meaning of the Building Regulations 2004;

(c) a building which in the opinion of the Chief Officer presents or contains a special fire hazard as determined in accordance with established risk analysis and fire engineering principles;

(d) a building providing residential accommodation as part of an educational institution;

(e) a building providing residential accommodation for medical, psychiatric or geriatric care;

(f) a school;

(g) a detention centre;

(h) a healthcare building;

(i) an early childhood centre;

(j) a residential aged care building;

(k) a hostel, boarding house, guesthouse, lodging house, backpacker accommodation or a residential part of a hotel or motel, other than a Class 1b building as defined in the BCA or accommodation used by management.

Attachment 2

Roles and responsibilities

Each Warden shall have clearly defined duties and responsibilities relevant to the requirements of the building, structure or workplace. The following schedule of duties and responsibilities are typically those identified for the various wardens in AS 3745 but may be varied to suit your specific situation/s.

Chief Warden

On becoming aware of an emergency, the Chief Warden shall take the following actions:

1. Ascertain the nature of the emergency and determine appropriate action;

2. Ensure that the Tasmania Fire Service has been notified (dial 000);

Note: 000 is only to be used in emergencies and should not be dialed in practice situations

3. Ensure that Floor or Area Wardens are advised of the situation;

4. If necessary, initiate evacuation and control entry to the affected areas;

5. Ensure the progress of the evacuation and any action taken is recorded in an incident log;

6. Brief TFS personnel upon arrival on the type, scope and location of the emergency and the status of the evacuation, and thereafter assist the Senior TFS Officer as required.

Deputy Chief Warden

The Deputy Chief Warden shall assume the responsibilities normally carried out by the Chief Warden if the Chief Warden is unavailable, and at other times, assist as required.

Floor or Area Wardens

On hearing an alarm or on becoming aware of an emergency, the Floor or Area Wardens shall take the following actions:

1. Implement the emergency procedures for their floor or area;

2. Ensure that the Tasmania Fire Service has been notified (dial 000);

Note: 000 is only to be used in emergencies and should not be dialed in practice situations

3. Direct Wardens to check the floor or area for any abnormal situation;

4. Commence evacuation if the circumstances on their floor or area warrant it;

5. Communicate with the chief warden by whatever means available and act on instructions;

6. Advise the Chief Warden as soon as possible of the circumstances and action taken;

7. Co-opt persons as required to assist a Warden during an emergency;

8. Confirm that Warden activities have been completed and report back to the Chief Warden.

Wardens

Persons selected as Wardens may be required to carry out a number of activities, including:

1. Act as Floor or Area Wardens;

2. Ensure that the Tasmania Fire Service has been notified (dial 000);

Note: 000 is only to be used in emergencies and should not be dialed in practice situations

3. Operate the Emergency Warning Intercommunication System;

4. Check to ensure fire doors and smoke doors are properly closed;

5. Search the floor or area to ensure all persons have evacuated;

6. Ensure orderly flow of persons into protected areas, e.g. stairwells;

7. Assist persons with disabilities;

8. Act as leader of groups moving to nominated assembly areas;

9. Report to the floor or Area Warden on completion of required activities.

Communications Officer/s

The Communications Officer, on becoming aware of an emergency, shall take the following actions:

1. Ascertain the nature and location of the emergency;

2. Confirm that the Tasmania Fire Service has been notified (dial 000);

Note: 000 is only to be used in emergencies and should not be dialed in practice situations

3. Communicate with Wardens either by the Emergency Warning Intercommunication System or other means;

4. Transmit and record instructions and information between the Chief Warden, Floor Wardens and building occupants;

5. Maintain an incident log;

6. Act as directed by the Chief Warden.

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Version 6 – Sept 08