FARNHAM BAPTIST CHURCH Fire Evacuation Plan This document was first adopted by the Church Meeting on: 24 January 2012. Document reviewed by Charity Trustees at their February meeting each year in preparation of the annual review by the Church membership at the ACM. Page 1 of 6
Fire Evacuation Plan Revision History Version number Date Changes Issued by Fire Evacuation Plan v1 21 st October 2011 Creation of new document for A. Binmore & P. Beacham consideration by Charity Trustees Fire Evacuation Plan v1.1 30 th October 2011 Section 5 changes to the new document for consideration by Charity Trustees Page numbers added A. Binmore & P. Beacham Fire Evacuation Plan v1 13 th December 2011 Considered by the Charity Trustees and recommended for immediate implementation Overseen by A. Binmore and P. Beacham Page 2 of 6
Fire Evacuation Plan 1) Personnel: Chief Fire Marshall: Chief Fire Marshall: Deputy Chief Fire Marshall: Deputy Chief Fire Marshall: Fire Marshall: Fire Officers: Group Leaders and Helpers: Andrew Binmore Peter Beacham Jonathan Shulver Philip Sweeting David Palmer Stewards and Charity Trustees Persons responsible on the day Page 3 of 6 Weekday activities: The person responsible (Acting Chief Fire Marshall) will be the most senior employee of the church. If no employees are present, then the Group Leader or a member of the church will assume the responsibilities with the Helpers assisting. 2) Personnel Roles: Chief Fire Marshall: In the event of a fire, fire alarm activation or suspected fire: a) Check the fire panel, determine the location of the fire b) When source has been investigated, call the fire brigade if required or supervise the putting out of the fire with aid of fire extinguishers c) Manage, supervise, oversee the evacuation process d) Ensure that the building is fully evacuated e) Record time taken to fully evacuate f) Liaise with the fire brigade officer on arrival remain as the focal point for the fire brigade g) Discuss with the fire brigade the all clear to be allowed back into the building. h) Communicate the all clear to the assembled persons at the Fire RendezVous Point (FRVP) i) Oversee the safe return to the building j) Record the whole incident with observations, shortfalls, problems encountered on a report to be lodged with the Health and Safety records Deputy Fire Marshalls: During weekdays: take on the responsibility of the Chief Fire Marshall as detailed above. At all other times: a) Assist in the evacuation process b) Assist with clearing the building of persons c) Take responsibility at the fire point ensuring that people remain calm d) Report to the Chief Fire Marshall that the building is clear Fire Marshall: In the event of a fire, a fire alarm activation or suspected fire: a) Check the Fire officers are in place in their correct coloured sector - see plan for sectors b) Check with each Fire officer that their colour sectors have been evacuated by physically checking and determining that the sector is empty c) Report to the Deputy Fire Marshall or the Chief Fire Marshall that all the colour sectors have been checked and are clear.
Fire Officers: Two Fire Officers are to be allocated to each colour sector. In Red and Blue, sectors three Fire Officers are to be allocated. a) Go to the allocated colour sector and evacuate people via the designated fire exit routes b) One Fire officer to then direct and accompany evacuees to the FRVP, giving priority to the less able persons and any disabled persons c) Report to the Fire Marshall that their coloured sector is clear and has been checked as soon as possible d) Stay with evacuees until dismissal e) Return to the building giving assistance to evacuees when advised by the Chief Fire Marshall or the Deputy Fire Marshall Group Leaders/Helpers: When the fire alarm is sounded: a) Shepherd the group together b) Ensure all are present ensuring that none have gone to the toilet or another area of the building. If there are members of the group that have gone to other parts of the building inform the Fire Officer immediately on their arrival c) Leave all personal belongings/materials behind and evacuate the area via the designated routes or as directed by the Fire Officer/under the guidance of the Fire Officer 3) Procedures: In the event of a fire alarm being sounded during a service: a) The Service leader/preacher: i) Asks the congregation to stay where they are to allow the disabled to move out first. A Fire Officer will help direct them to a fire exit in an orderly manner ii) The remainder of the congregation are to follow the Fire Marshalls/Officers instructions. Persons to leave via the designated fire escape routes unless directed by the Chief Fire Officer or the Fire Marshall to take another route b) Group Leaders: i) Explain to the group what the noise/alarm is ii) Gather the group and helpers together, carry out a head count ensuring all are present iii) Determine where any missing persons are iv) Commence evacuation immediately on arrival of the Fire Officer v) Evacuate via the designated fire escape route, unless otherwise directed by the Fire Officer vi) Do not use the lift from the first floor, ask the fire officer for any extra assistance required to transport any disabled persons vii) Carefully accompany evacuees to the FRVP at Borelli Gardens/UCA. viii) Extreme caution is to be taken when crossing the Church and Public car parks c) Chief Fire Marshall: i) Check the fire panel, determine the location of the fire or whether a false alarm ii) When source has been investigated, call the fire brigade if required or supervise the putting out of the fire with aid of fire extinguishers Page 4 of 6
iii) Manage, supervise, oversee the evacuation process, with the Fire Marshalls assess the situation iv) Ascertain from the Fire Marshalls that all sectors are clear and that the building is to fully empty v) Record time taken to full evacuate vi) Liaise with the fire brigade officer on their arrival remain as the focal point for the fire brigade vii) Discuss with the fire brigade the all clear to be allowed back into the building viii) Communicate the all clear to the assembled persons at the Fire RendezVous Point (FRVP) ix) Oversee the safe return to the building x) Record the whole incident with observations, shortfalls, problems encountered on a report to be lodged with the Health and Safety records d) Deputy Chief Fire Marshall: i) Follow the same procedure as for the Chief Fire Marshall in his absence ii) When the Chief Fire Marshall is present, be available to assist him as may be requested iii) During the week when the Chief Fire Marshall is more unlikely to be present, liaise and organise the Group Leaders and Helpers who will be solely responsible for the evacuation of their groups iv) Take a final Head count of all who are located at the FRVP and report it to the Chief Fire Marshall e) Fire Officers: i) On hearing the alarm call, Fire Officers will immediately move to their designated colour sector ii) On arrival assure persons, liaise with Group Leaders and Helpers, organise and assist the disabled persons to leave via the designated fire escape routes unless directed by the Chief Fire Officer or the Fire Marshall to take another route iii) Organise and assist the remaining persons to leave via the designated fire escape routes unless directed by the Chief Fire Officer or the Fire Marshall to take another route iv) White sector Fire Officers are to check that the male, female and disabled toilets are clear v) Accompany evacuees to the FRVP taking especial care with people crossing the church and public car parks vi) Ensure ALL go to the FRVP where a final head count will take place vii) Receive reports from the Fire Marshalls on progress being made in clearing the building viii) Receive the final report from Fire Marshall of each coloured sector that all evacuees have cleared from their particular coloured sector f) Fire Marshalls: i) Check that all coloured sectors are manned by the appropriate number of Fire Officers (3 each for Red and Blue, 2 each for the Yellow and Green sectors) ii) If insufficient Fire Officers then draft in the Deputy Chief Fire Marshalls to make up the complement iii) Check with the Fire Officers that their sectors have been cleared and checked. Try to do this as the coloured sectors leave the site en route to the FRVP iv) Report to the Chief Fire Marshall that the building has been cleared, checked and all have been accounted for. Page 5 of 6
4) Training: a) All new Stewards and Deacons will be given one copy of the Fire Evacuation Plan and be required to attend a half morning training session and their presence will be recorded in the H&S file b) All Fire Personnel will be required to attend a half morning training session refresher course and their presence will be recorded in the H&S file c) The training will include discussing the following: i) The Evacuation Plan and general evacuation principles ii) Familiarisation with the location of all types of fire extinguishers used for various types of fire, including a practical use session to release some extinguishers iii) Fire fighting the do s and the do not s iv) Matters relating to the lift v) Evacuation of disabled persons vi) The Fire Control panel vii) A Practice run viii) Recording of the training and those first trained, taking the course as a refresher course /an update/reminder course 5) Reviews: a) A practice Fire Drill* will be carried out on an annual basis and comments, observations, time taken to totally evacuate the building will be recorded. This information will be filed in the \health and Safety file. b) In the event of a real Fire Drill*, or a Fire Drill* Practice, a review will be undertaken by the Health and Safety Officer once the Drill has taken place. Any recommendations brought forward to the Charity Trustees for inclusion/consideration will be discussed at the next available Charity Trustee s meeting. Anything that is agreed by the Charity Trustees will be implemented as soon as possible thereafter. The next available Church meeting will be advised of any changes that have been implemented to the Fire Drill*. The Charity Trustees will decide if the changes agreed will require additional training of Fire Marshalls/Officers/Group Leaders and Helpers or if the changes can be communicated via a letter. c) The Fire Evacuation Plan will be fully reviewed by the Charity Trustees on an annual basis prior to the Annual Church Meeting. At such times as necessary in the light of changes, alterations to the buildings and or changes in legislation a review will be immediately implemented by the Health and Safety officer. If any named persons in section A (of this document) becomes unavailable to carry out their duties, a substitute will be considered by the Charity Trustees. On agreement with the Charity Trustees and the person concerned, their name will be brought before the next Church Meeting for approval. NOTES: * Fire Drill is the implementation of the Fire Evacuation Plan. Page 6 of 6