Emergency Evacuation. Made Simple EVACUATION STRATEGIES - PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS EXPLAINED Alan Oliver
TagEvac is the trusted, proven and safe way to manage evacuation of your building. Using intuitive information panels, staff and emergency services can tell instantly which areas have been cleared. TagEvac uses the universally recognised sweep system that reduces human error and speeds up checking. The result is an organised evacuation for your staff and a reliable overview for the emergency services.
Grenfell Tower fire 14 June 2017
As an industry we have failed This was a tragedy waiting to happen We must ensure this never happens again
A Year is a Long Time in Politics You should all be proud of the long term downward trend of fire incidents and fatalities over the last decade which recently reached historically low levels. Buildings are safer, families and communities are more secure Brandon Lewis, Fire Minister
Opening Address what can we do to effect positive change? Paul Sullivan, Head of Commercial Property, AVIVA Insurance
Positive Announcement ABI funding for new research into: External Cladding in REAL WORLD conditions The performance of sprinklers in HMO s and The effectiveness of detection and associated evacuation procedures What can WE do to effect positive change?
Fire Evacuation Options Arguably there are 4 main generic fire evacuation options available: Stay Put / Defend in Place Progressive Horizontal (Phased) Evacuation Staged Evacuation (occupants to be evacuated out of the building in stages, by zone) Full Simultaneous, Total Evacuation (Get out, stay out) Choice should be relevant to the overall fire strategy of the building, based on a number of factors including its size, use and the number and type of occupants:
Reasons for Stay Put Policy False alarms Congestion Relative Safety Lack of holistic systems Designed compartmentation Image courtesy of Lorient UK
Lakanal House 3 rd July 2009 Non-compliant passive / structural fire protection Poor fire safety management arrangements
Traditional Build Approved Document B was developed for easy and forgiving masonry construction..
Modern Build.. with modern methods of construction the room for error is small if not microscopic. Dr Jim Glockling. Director of RISCAuthority & Technical Director of the Fire Protection Association
Structural movement in a fire
Structural movement in a fire
Unfinished Walls
The Wrong Products
The Wrong Products
Right Product Poor Workmanship
Lakanal House Fire Inquest Panels put into Lakanal House had 4 ½ minutes fire resistance... Fire Fighters had expected them to last for one hour. BBC News, 27 th Feb 2013
Fire Protection Terms intumescent EURO CLASS A1 FIRE RESISTANCE E30 EN STANDARDS TEST STANDARDS BRITISH Limited combustibility NON COMBUSTIBLE fire integrity STANDARDS indicative test fire rated ignitability fire performance full scale fire testing class O spread of flame EI60
Mythical Creature? 130A FIRESTOPPING SYSTEM TO INDIVIDUAL SERVICES, PENETRATIONS TO SMALLER SERVICE PENETRATIONS THROUGH FIRE RESISTING WALLS AND FLOORS Fire Resistance: as drawings 150 157 Penetration Seal: Intumescent Foam as clause 335 Size: To match wall or floor thickness Capping Sealant: Submit proposals Colour: Submit proposals
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation The Principle of Progressive Horizontal Evacuation of patients is considered essential in health buildings. In the case of a fire in one area, the Patients are evacuated to an adjoining area on the same level designed to protect its occupants from the danger of fire and Smoke
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation Why it is essential
Fires in Hospitals
Yarls Wood Detention Centre Fire February 2002
Risk Assessments in Flats Type 1 common parts only Type 2 common parts only (destructive) Type 3 common parts and flats (non-destructive) Type 4 common parts and flats (destructive)
Missing Section of Wall
Evacuation Management & Training Example taken from actual university evacuation procedure: On hearing an alarm you should: Call security on 07xx 35xxxx to advise of the fire alarm don t assume someone else has done so Leave the building by the nearest available fire escape route Not delay your escape, but if you can turn off equipment / close doors and windows as you leave then do so Not use the lifts Help people with disabilities, who need to be assisted by volunteers or nominated personnel; details will be available in their Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEPS) Go to the assembly area and await instructions
Evacuation Management & Training On exiting the building you should: Report any missing colleagues to your fire warden Report any disabled persons left at refuge points Remain at assembly point until advised, as if you wander off as it may be assumed you are trapped in the building
Left to Your Imagination?
Hotel in Kensington Oct 2017
Station Nightclub Fire Feb 2003
Solutions Going back to basics The fire brigade normally only need to satisfy themselves with 2 questions: Is there a fire and if so where is it? Is everybody out of the building? A sweep evacuation method is often the most suitable way this can be ascertained.
Solutions
Complex Site-Specific Issues Lack of assembly point? Dispersal strategy? Invacuation? Traders dispensation? Conflicting strategies with other occupiers of building?
Back to Basics Is there a need to revisit the Emergency Evacuation Plan? Is there a training need to deal with these issues?
Evacuation Equipment Do you have the evacuation equipment you require? Photo courtesy of Spectrum Healthcare
Solutions?
Thank You Any Questions?