Means of escape for disabled people

Means of escape for disabled people

Reference: BS5588 part 8.  Code of practice for means of escape for disabled people.

INTRODUCTION

Guidance on means of escape for disabled persons is contained in the above reference, it is intended primarily for new buildings and recognises that in the case of an existing building compliance with the code is not always possible, however, it recommends that alternative ways of meeting the objectives of the code should be sought. 

The code of practice stresses that management procedures are an essential part of arrangements for evacuating disabled persons. 

These instruction details the minimum requirements needed to comply with BS5588.To ensure maximum efficiency in the evacuation procedures as listed in the building fire orders, it is essential that all members of staff are aware of the location of any disabled person using their department’s facilities.


HEARING AND VISION IMPAIRED PERSONS

In the event of an emergency, the members of staff on duty must organise personal assistants for those members of the public with hearing and vision difficulties. The evacuation procedure and means of escape are the same as for able-bodied persons.


WHEELCHAIR USERS

As in para.3, sufficient assistants must be organised by Department Administrators to help those persons using manual or powered wheelchairs. 

The means of escape will differ in each department, but will necessitate the move to a safe refuge. A refuge is defined as:

An area that is both separated from a fire, by fire resisting construction and                        provided with a safe route to a storey exit; thus constituting a temporarily safe space for disabled persons to await assistance for their evacuation.

Examples of refuges include an enclosure such as a protected lobby, protected corridor or stairway, and spaces in the open air, such as balconies, that are remote from the fire and provided with a means of escape.

An EVAC CHAIR is available for the evacuation of wheelchair users. This is located at reception and should only be used by trained personnel. Training can be provided by the Facilities Manager upon request.

SOCIAL SCIENCES LIBRARY

GROUND FLOOR. Depending on the location of the fire the means of escape on the ground floor is:

  1. Through the main access/egress doors 
  2. Any of the three fire exits on the northern aspect of the library, accessed via the Graduate work rooms.
  3. The marked fire exit between the discussion rooms.           


ALL DEPARTMENTS

Depending on the location of the fire the means of escape is:

PHASE 1

  1. The stairway on the South aspect (next to the lift)
  2. The stairway on the west aspect (end of the corridor)

PHASE 2

  1. The two protected stairways on the north side of the building
  2. The protected stairway on the east of the building (facing the river).
  3. The protected stairway on the west of the building (facing the St Cross      Building).

    

The primary escape route is the protected stairwells, located on each side of each floor.  Mobility impaired persons should make their way to the nearest or safest marked fire exit. Once a person is in the refuge, they should locate the refuge sign and press the marked alarm button.  This will alert the building staff at the main reception desk, who will attend with an ‘Evac’ Chair and assist in their evacuation.   In the event that the alarm button fails and there is no response within 3 minutes (the time it takes to empty the building), the department designated assistant should stay with the disabled person or alert the Building Supervisor /the Fire Service.   All stairwells/refuges will be checked by building staff at some stage during the evacuation.


CENTRAL LECTURE ROOMS

 The building porters will assist in the evacuation of the central lecture rooms.  There are four means of escape from the foyer and all exits are signed.


SUMMARY

There cannot be a plan of action for every eventuality, but by forward thinking, flexibility and training, all members of staff should feel confident that they could evacuate non-ambulant persons safely.  The key to success is organising assistants and knowing all the means of escape.

The lifts should not be used once the alarm has been sounded, as there is no secondary power supply. Wheelchair users must be taken to the safe refuges on Fire exit landings.  The safety of disabled persons and their evacuation from danger must override concern regarding manual handling issues.

The Evac chair is located at the building reception desk.