Fire Alarms and Fire Escapes

Fire alarms and fire escape routes are all about getting people out of a burning building unharmed and by their own unaided efforts.  The main feature of a good system of alarm and escape is time.  Time to enable the occupants to get to a place of safety outside the building before the heat, smoke and toxic fumes have the chance to take effect.

10.1     Alarms

You should be able to hear fire alarms in all parts of the building.  Special arrangements must be made for employees, who work in noisy areas that may affect their hearing or for people with a hearing impairment, by for example, the provision of a flashing beacon or vibrating pager. 

Fire call points should be visible and easily accessible.  They should never be obstructed e.g. with furniture, curtains etc.

10.2     Refuge Areas

A refuge is a place of reasonable safety in which disabled people can wait either for an evacuation lift or for assistance up or down stairs.  Depending on the design and fire resistance of the building, a refuge could be a lobby, corridor, stairway, or a similar place which is sufficiently protected from any fire risk and provided with its own means of escape.

An area identified as a 'safe refuge' must be located within an identified fire –resisting structure and must be clearly signed and indicate how long it can be considered as safe.  If you are unsure, whether the area is fire-protected then you must presume that it is not and other advice must be sought from Property Services. 

The Refuge Area must only be used as a meeting point until sufficient help from trained staff arrives to ensure an individual’s safe evacuation.  This is not the responsibility of the Fire and Rescue Service.  Under no circumstances should anyone be left unattended in this area.

10.3     Escape Routes and Fire Exits

Escape routes should be appropriately signed to avoid any confusion on the route that should be taken.  Emergency lighting should be available to ensure escape routes are adequately lit.  The routes should be as short as possible and never obstructed.  Stairs and under stair areas should never be used as storage space.

Final fire exit doors should be appropriately signed to indicate how they should be opened and should never be blocked or covered over with curtains.  Fire exits must be easily opened, without the use of a key.  Where security is of major importance specialist advice can be sought from the Health and Safety Team.

External fire escapes including external staircases must be regularly inspected and maintained in a good condition.  External staircase should be provided with a non-slip surface to reduce the risk of slip, trip or fall injuries.

10.4      What about the Fire and Rescue Service?

The Fire and Rescue Service should be called to every suspected fire unless arrangements have been made with them that the fire panel will be checked first.  This check should not delay the evacuation from the building.  The Fire and Rescue Service advise that they would rather turn out to a false alarm than have needless loss of life or property damage caused by a delay in summoning assistance.