Fire Sector Federation publishes checklist for emergency evacuation

The Personal Emergency Evacuation General Residential Premises Guide recognises that evacuation procedures with the associated provision of routes of escape to a place of safety must be inherent in every building safety strategy.

Following a series of prompts, the questions posed in the checklist are designed to be interpreted by the fire risk assessor and used in discussions with clients to help decide what actions are appropriate for the building under review.

The checklist itself relates specifically to general residential buildings, which are usually unstaffed and usually operate a ‘Stay Put’-style, two-phase evacuation strategy.

Developed by the Fire Sector Federation in conjunction with members who work as fire risk assessors in the sector, the new guidance document takes the lead on this vital matter.

Critical component

Dennis Davis, executive officer at the Fire Sector Federation, informed Fire Safety Matters: “Assessment of evacuation procedures from a personal level to ensure the safe escape of every individual from a fire is a critical component of any fire risk assessment. We’ve worked closely with colleagues in the fire sector to develop the overview and checklist in order to support fire risk assessors in their audit and review of buildings. Some of the information may also help the ‘Responsible Person’. Such individuals have very specific duties when it comes to fire safety and we want to assist them in meeting their own responsibilities.”

Davis added: “The guide has no formal status, but we firmly believe that having a simple general checklist in place is going to be of real benefit for building owners and residents when it’s linked into a recordable process, discussions and assessments of evacuation during any audit and review procedure.”

*The publication is available as a free download by visiting the Fire Sector Federation’s website at https://www.firesectorfederation.co.uk/fire-risk-assessment/

The Fire Sector Federation seeks to help shape and give voice to – and exert an influence – future policy and strategy related to the UK’s fire sector. The Federation is a not-for-profit, non-Government organisation established to act as a forum for the benefit of its membership and to evolve as a central source of information on all aspects relating to fire safety.