UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY
Subject : Health and Safety at workplace
Submitted to: Dr. Naveed Ramzan

Submitted by: Fareeha Adrees (2021-CH-17)

M.Haris Mehmood (2021-CH-18)

Our topic for presentation is Emergency planning for fire

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
CONTENTS:

 Introduction
 Fire evacuation strategy
 Action on discovering a fire
 Action on hearing the fire alarm
 Calling the fire brigade
 Identification of key escape routes
 Places of assembly and roll call
 Firefighting equipment provided
 Training required
 Personal Emergence Evacuation Plan
 Liaison with emergency services

Introduction:
A fire emergency plan (FEP) is a written document which includes the action to be
taken by all staff in the event of fire and the arrangements for calling the fire brigade.
It can include any relevant information in relation to the FEP.

General Fire Notice For small premises this could take the form of a simple fire action
sign posted in positions where staff and relevant persons can read it and become
familiar with its contents.

Staff Fire Notice High fire risks or large premises will need more detailed emergency
evacuation plan which takes account of the findings of the fire risk assessment, the
staff significantly at risk and their location. In addition, notices giving clear and
concise instructions of the routine to be followed in case of fire should be
prominently displayed.

Fire evacuation strategy:

You need to consider how you will arrange the evacuation of the premises in the light
of your risk assessment and the other fire precautions you have or intend to put in
place.
Simultaneous Evacuation

In most premises, the evacuation in case of fire will simply be by means of everyone
reacting to the warning signal given when a fire is discovered, then making their way,
by the means of escape, to a place of safety away from the premises. This is known
as a simultaneous evacuation and will normally be initiated by the sounding of the
general alarm over the fire warning system.

Vertical Phased Evacuation:

In some larger complex premises, the emergency arrangements are designed to
allow people who are not at immediate risk from a fire to delay starting their
evacuation. It may be appropriate to start the evacuation by initially evacuating only
the area closest to the fire and warning other people to stand by. This is normally
done by immediately evacuating the floor where the fire is located and the floor
above. The other floors are then evacuated one by one to avoid congestion on the
escape routes. The rest of the people are then evacuated if it is necessary to do so.
The fire warning system should be capable of giving two distinctly different signals
(warning and evacuation) or give appropriate voice messages. Horizontal phased
evacuation in hospitals and care homes: the floor maybe divided into a number of
fire resisting compartments and the occupants are moved from the compartment
involved in fire to the adjacent compartment and if necessary moved again.
Depending onto the fire situation it may eventually be necessary to consider vertical
evacuation. Because of the extra time this type of evacuation takes, other fire
precautions maybe be required. These include:

 voice alarm systems

 fire control points
 compartmentation of the premises using fire-resisting construction
 sprinklers in buildings where the top floor is 30 metres or more above ground
level

Staff Alarm Evacuation (Silent Alarm):

In some cases it may not be appropriate for a general alarm to start immediate
evacuation (Cinemas and Theatres). This could be because of the number of
members of the public present and the need for the staff to put pre-arranged plans
for the safe evacuation of the premises into action. In such circumstances a staff
alarm can be given (by fire records, personal pagers, discreet sounders or a coded
phrase on a public address system etc). Following the staff alarm, a more general
alarm signal can be given and a simultaneous or phased evacuation started. The
general alarm may be activated automatically if manual initiation has not taken place
within a pre-determined time.
Action on hearing the fire alarm:
On discovering a fire, it is the duty of every person to sound the nearest fire alarm
immediately. The plan should include the method of raising the alarm in the case of
fire. The plan should instruct all personnel upon hearing the fire alarm to act in
accordance with the agreed FEP strategy and if a fire warden’s scheme is in force,
they, on hearing the alarm, should proceed to pre-determined positions to assist
members of the public and staff to leave the building by the nearest safe route. Lifts
and escalators should not be used due to possible electrical failure unless they are
part of a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. Personnel should not re-enter the
building with the possible exception of the Fire Team.

Calling the fire brigade:

The Fire Service should also be informed immediately, either by switchboard
operator or person discovering fire, dependant on conditions:

 Work Time – Switchboard operator to be familiar with the emergency

evacuation plan, also should ensure necessary extensions switched through
when switchboard is unattended.
 Other Times – Remainder of Staff (Cleaners, caretakers etc) also to be familiar
with procedure. In any case the most senior official should ensure that Fire
Service has been called.

Identification of key escape routes:

In premises where members of the public or persons unfamiliar with layout of the
premises are present there should be means available to identify the key escape
routes. They could include schematic drawings and most importantly emergency
escape and exit signs.

An Example Fire Escape Plan

The duties and responsibilities of Fire Wardens/Marshals:
A senior official in each building [Chief Fire Warden] should be given the
responsibility of maintaining a high standard of fire precautions and the overall
responsibility for the action in the event of fire. He/she should have a nominated
deputy. Evacuation fire wardens should be appointed for each room/department/floor
as applicable and each warden should have a nominated deputy. Fire
Wardens/Marshals should be responsible for

 Fire routine and evacuation drill procedure

 Ensuring personnel know location of fire alarm points
 Ensuring regular use of primary and secondary escape routes
 The close-down procedure
 Procedure for nominated staff to assist employees and members of the public
to nearest exits

A senior fire warden/marshall should be made responsible for ensuring that notices
are correctly sited, the fire emergency evacuation plan is properly distributed and
understood by all.

Assembly points and roll call:

Personnel should assemble at a pre-determined assembly point.

1. Pre-determined assembly points should be arranged and a roll-call of staff to

be taken. The person who is in charge of the assembly point should report to
the person who as been nominated the fire service liaison person indicating all
persons accounted for or whose missing and where they were last seen.
2. Another consideration when selecting the location for an assembly point is to
fully understand the fire emergence evacuation plan. Calculate the number of
staff that would need to assemble and if it is a multi-occupied building you
need to co-operate with the other occupants.
3. It is also very important to be familiar with the surrounding topography.
4. The assembly point should be far enough away from the building not to put
staff in danger of radiated heat and falling debris. Give ample room so you do
not interfere with fire fighting operations and do not jeopardise the actions of
the fire service.
5. Be close enough to ensure that the nominated person who is in charge of the
assembly point can communicate with the nominated fire liaison person who
should be located near the main entrance. This could be simple talking to him
direct or the use of runners or electronic communications (pack sets, mobile
phone)
6. The area chosen should be larger enough to accommodate all the staff, if this
cannot be found you may have to consider additional sites. Open areas are
ideal like pedestrian areas, car parks could also be considered but be aware of
the dangers.
Firefighting equipment provided:
A nominated fire team, if available, or any trained competent person should, where
possible, attack fire with appropriate equipment, however, fire fighting is always
secondary to life safety.

Training required:
The emergency evacuation plan should be the subject of frequent training so that all
employees are familiar with its contents and there should be regular evacuation
drills. You are required to carry out this fire training and it is recommended that you
keep a record of the results of that training. This will assist you if you are ever
required to prove your actions in the future. Drills should be carried out using
varying escape routes assuming the normal evacuation route is not available.

Personal Emergency Plan (PEP):

In order to assist disabled or sensory-impaired people to escape from fire it may be
necessary for staff to be trained in the correct procedures to cope with this
eventuality. Advice on the specific needs of disabled and sensory-impaired people
can be obtained from organizations representing the various groups. The address
and telephone number of these organizations can be found in the telephone
directory, listed under the appropriate disability. You must take account not only of
the people in your premises (employed or otherwise) who may be able to make their
own escape, but also those who may need assistance to escape, e.g. by having
adequate staffing levels, especially in premises providing treatment or care.

Liaison with emergency services:

You should prepare all the necessary contacts with external emergency services and
make them familiar with your fire action plan. As mentioned earlier there should be a
senior person nominated to meet the fire and rescue service when they arrived to
provide them with any information they require. She/he should have an intimate
knowledge of the premises and be in contact with the person conducting the roll call
at the assembly point.

Thank you