Evacuation Plan ForHorlock/Constantine Houses

Plan updated on: 16/4/15Building Control Point:Reception

Alarm

The signal for an evacuation is the sounding of the fire alarm – this can be a siren, vocal alarm or deaf alert system. Areas under the control of contractors may use air horns if they have disconnected from the alarm system.

The alarm can be activated manually by pushing a manual call-point (red units) or automatically by smoke or heat detection.

If you discover a fire before the alarm has activated automatically proceed to the nearest manual call point and press itfirmly to sound the alarm. Please be aware there may be a delay of several seconds between pressing this and the alarm sounding. Once you have done this please leave the building via the nearest escape route and inform the Building Controller, one of the Deputies or a Fire Warden of the location of the fire.

The fire alarm is tested weekly usually before 8.30am. The alarm will sound sporadically during this period for around ten seconds at a time. If the alarm is continuous (ie for more than 20 seconds) please evacuate the building as if it were a genuine alarm.

Evacuation procedure for staff and students

Upon hearing the alarm ALL staff, students and visitors must:

  • Immediately make their way out of the building in an orderly manner by the nearest escape route.
  • Notuse the lifts.
  • Try to close doors as they leave.
  • Upon leaving the building, make their way to the assembly point

Outside houses

  • Inform the Building Controller, Deputy or Fire Warden of any fire or smoke they may have noticed (building controllers, deputies and fire wardens are identifiable by their high visibility waist coats).
  • Inform the building controller, deputy or fire warden of the floor and stairwell of any refuge points that are being occupied.
  • Cooperate with fire wardens, members of the fire service and other emergency services.
  • Keep away from the building until given the all clear by either a fire warden or the building controller.
  • Only re-enter the building when told to do so by the Building Controller or a Fire Warden. Alarms will be silenced to allow a search to take place safely, this is not a signal to re-enter the building.
  • If you are unable to leave the building owing to mobility impairment, refuge points are located

Not applicable

  • Please note – you will not be evacuated from a refuge point unless a fire is confirmed

Duties of the Building / Deputy Building Controller (orange waistcoat)

The building controller is to make their way to the building control point. As fire wardens leave the building the building controller should send them to the various fire exits to ensure no one re-enters the building before the all clear has been given. If two way radios have been provided these can be used to communicate with the fire wardens.

Any information regarding the location of possible fires should be communicated with the Building Controller or Deputy who will relay this to the Fire Service.The building controller should liaise with the fire service if they attend and give as much information as possible.

TrainedBuilding search teams from Security should be in contact with the building controller at all times. Before entering the building they should notify the building controller of the zone they are to inspect and its location.

Only the building controller may give the all clear to re-enter the building. Fire wardens should not allow anyone to re-enter the building unless they have be told to do so by the building controller.

Duties of Fire Wardens (yellow waistcoats)

As well as leaving the building it is the duty of fire wardens to encourage and guide others out of the building and check their designated area is clear.

Upon leaving the building fire wardens should:

  • Report to the Building controller that their area has been cleared.
  • Report any signs of fire they may have noticed.
  • Give locations of any persons remaining in the building in refuge points or anyone who has refused to leave.
  • Assist with the management of persons outside the building.

Fire wardens must not go into rooms or open doors to check they are clear as this may help spread or reignite a fire. Once outside the building fire wardens are required to assist with managing the situation and assist the building controller or fire service keep people away from the building.

HS&W1