Model Fire Safety Plan - Two Stage Evacuation

Section I - General Information

1.1 General Building Information

This section should contain a general description of the building and should include as much information as possible, such as: building height, type of ownership and control (leased, owned), age of building, major occupancy types (office, residential, mercantile), construction type (brick, concrete block, poured concrete), fire safety features (automatic sprinklers, fire alarm system, emergency power and lighting, fire fighters elevators, smoke control, refuge areas, Fire Emergency Organization), building area, and number of employees.

The ABC building is a seven-story masonry and steel structure located 1 km East of the Carlisle Drive, Winding Avenue intersection in Ottawa, Ontario. It is situated on the North side of Winding Avenue and contains offices. The building is operational 24 hours per day, and during core working hours the building may contain upwards to 200 people. The building is fully protected by Fire Alarm and Sprinkler systems.

1.2 Fire Protection Services Authority

Fire Protection Services has the authority to review the Fire Safety Plan and may require or recommend changes to the procedures. Moreover, Fire Protection Services has the authority to determine the method of evacuation (total, voice-controlled, etc).

1.3 Fire Department's Authority

In the event of an alarm, the responding Fire Department is in charge. Only the officer-in-charge of the Fire Department can authorize the fire alarm system to be reset and the occupants to re-enter the building.

1.4 Fire Department Response

Make sure to properly specify the location where the Fire Department will be met in the case of an emergency.

Where a municipal Fire Department has requested a specially formatted document for the fire emergency responders, a copy of this document must be available to the responding officer upon his arrival at the building. A copy of the document should also be attached as an appendix to the Fire Safety Plan.

The Fire Department will normally go to the front doors at 16 Winding Avenue where an assigned building representative will meet them. The Fire Department will require information about the emergency, access keys/combinations, drawings, and will need to be directed to emergency services such as the fire service elevator, central control facility, etc.

1.5 Fire Protection Equipment

List the equipment and provide brief explanation of type and coverage.

This building contains the following fire protection equipment:

  • Fire Alarm System;
  • Smoke Detectors;
  • Sprinkler System;
  • Incipient Fire Detector System (paper file space only); and
  • Fixed suppression systems (for the kitchen and computer areas).

This building contains the following fire fighting equipment:

  • Standpipe and Hose Cabinets; and
  • Fire Extinguishers.

This building contains the following equipment for safe evacuation:

  • Emergency Lighting;
  • Exit Signs;
  • Voice Communication System;
  • Public Address System located at the Front Desk;
  • Megaphone located at the Front Desk;
  • Traffic Control Signs, Vests and Flashlights;
  • Maps and Floor Plans;
  • Hardhats for all Emergency Team Members;
  • First Aid Kits; and
  • Wheelchair.

1.6 Building Core Hours

Change the core hours to reflect those of your building.

The Fire Emergency Organization is not usually on duty either outside of the hours listed above, or on weekends and statutory holidays. When parts of the building are operating outside these hours, develop procedures to provide coverage, as per Fire Orders, and include them in the Fire Safety Plan.

The Fire Emergency Organization is normally on duty during the building core working hours, which are from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. During some periods of the core working hours of operation, it may be possible that not all Emergency Wardens will be present.

1.7 Evacuation Drill Requirements

For more information, reference section 4 of the Treasury Board Standard for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Emergency Organizations.

The following are exceptions to the minimum annual evacuation drill requirement:

Non-residential schools (attended by children)
A minimum of 6 drills each year, held at irregular intervals: 3 drills in the fall term starting shortly after the school opening, and 3 drills between January and June;

Non-residential schools (adult)
At least 2 drills each year: 1 drill in the fall and 1 drill in the spring;

Residential schools (attended by children)
At least 1 drill per month;

Residential schools (adult)
One drill per course session, resulting in at least 1 drill every 3 months;

Daycare Centres
One drill per month;

Hospitals
One drill per month involving permanent staff on all shifts, and patients to the maximum extent possible taking into consideration their medical condition;

Passenger terminals
One drill routine to be held at least every 3 months, which may be conducted on a zone basis and may include passengers;

Correctional Institutions
1 drill every 3 months involving permanent staff on all shifts, and inmates where possible;

High buildings within the scope of subsection 3.2.6 of the National Building Code of Canada
Designated staff drills every 2 months, a total evacuation drill once yearly, and 1 drill every 3 months involving groups of adjoining floors.

Participation:

All occupants shall participate in evacuation drills unless specifically exempted by the Chief Fire Emergency Warden. The mobility-impaired shall participate as much as is reasonably practical.

Requirements:

At least one evacuation drill involving all occupants shall be conducted annually in all Government of Canada occupied areas of buildings. Private sector occupants shall be encouraged to participate to the maximum extent possible.

A False Alarm is not an evacuation drill.

1.8 Pre-Planning Fire Drills

For more information, reference section 4 of the Treasury Board Standard for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Emergency Organizations.

People who shall be notified of the fire drill are listed in Appendix A, as well as the timeline in which they should be contacted. The Property Manager and the municipal Fire Department should be invited to attend the fire drill, and if they deem it necessary, a meeting to pre-plan the drill will be arranged.

A debriefing session of the Fire Emergency Organization shall be held after carrying out the fire drill.

1.9 Occupant Training

Specify the frequency at which all occupants will be reminded of their responsibility in case of a fire, as well as how frequently the Fire Emergency Organization will meet. The minimum in both cases is annually.

Building occupants will be instructed on their responsibilities both as individuals, and as members of a group for helping to ensure their own safety and the safety of others in the building. A copy of the one-page Fire Orders, included in Appendix B, will be issued to all new employees. Their Floor Emergency Warden or supervisor will brief them on the following points:

  • The location of fire extinguishers and safety equipment in their work area;
  • The fire prevention steps appropriate to their work environment; and
  • The procedures for evacuating mobility-impaired persons.

Remind all occupants annually of:

  • The location and contents of the posted Fire Orders;
  • The location of fire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment in their work area; and
  • The fire prevention steps appropriate to their work environment.

The Fire Emergency Organization shall meet annually, and following any change in the Emergency Evacuation Plan or Procedures.

1.10 Temporary Shelter

If applicable, specify the location(s) that will provide temporary shelter to occupants in the case of an evacuation. The person having control of the temporary shelter must be consulted prior to including them in the Fire Safety Plan to ensure they are willing and able to provide the facility in event of an emergency or drill, as well as to check about schedules, after hours etc.

Arrangements have been made with Building 123, 10 Winding Avenue, to provide shelter for building occupants if required at the time of an evacuation. If necessary, the building occupants may enter the front entrance of Building 123 and remain in the lobby until further notice.

1.11 First-Aid Posts

If applicable, specify and describe the location(s) of the temporary first-aid post.

Where a Health Canada Nursing Staff or Health Unit or other such resource is specified in the plan, consultation with these individuals is recommended. Often, health resources in Federal buildings are unable to provide or are not mandated to provide the emergency services expected of them. Local Fire Departments and Ambulance Services should be consulted as to the desirability of a First Aid Post and its location. Sometimes, the First-Aid Post is provided only at a central area where medical and First-Aid resources can be contacted.

In the event of an alarm, a temporary first-aid post will be established at Building 123, 10 Winding Avenue or at Building 456, 18 Winding Avenue, if the first location is not accessible. In either case, the first aid post will be located inside the main entrance of the building, and nursing staff will be available to help those occupants with minor injuries or concerns.

1.12 Floor and Stairwell Identification

Systems other than alphanumeric should be described as appropriate. Some Fire Departments like to have the stairwell having access to the roof identified so they can make use of it for smoke evacuation.

An Alpha-Numeric sign is used to identify stairwells. To illustrate: a seventh floor door leading to a stairwell (e.g., stairwell "C") would display a sign reading "7-C" on both its sides.

1.13 Accessible (Cross-over) Floors

For more information, reference the National Building Code of Canada and the National Fire Code of Canada.

This section is applicable to buildings of more than 6 storeys in height. An occupant of the building will not have to go up or down more than two flights of stairs to reach a crossover floor, that is, a floor which has no locking device preventing entry onto the floor. This means that there are a maximum 3 storeys in a row which are allowed to be locked.

The accessible floors should be clearly identified in your plan. If all floors are accessible, this should be stated in the last sentence as: All floors are accessible. The Fire Emergency Organization should verify that these routes are maintained.

On an accessible floor, you can leave one stairwell and get to another stairwell located elsewhere on the floor. Accessible floors are the 2nd and 6th floors of the building. These floors are identified as being accessible in the stairwell identification.

1.14 Reporting Fires

For more information, reference the Treasury Board's Policy on Fire Protection, Investigation and Reporting.

Consult with the local office of Fire Protection Services regarding the need for a building inspection after a fire.

Treasury Board's Policy on Fire Protection, Investigation and Reporting (Chapter-2-5) dictates the provisions for the reporting of fires in the Federal Government. This policy states that departments must:

(a) within 12 hours of a fire's occurrence, advise Fire Protection Services of the Labour program of HRSDC, through the applicable local office, of every fire:

  • Involving a death or fire injury;
  • Of suspicious origin;
  • Causing a loss of $250,000 or more;
  • Causing a significant interruption of essential federal services;
  • Necessitating immediate action to prevent a recurrence; or
  • Involving a prestige or heritage building.

(b) within 14 days of a fire's occurrence or an alarm, using the relevant report form prescribed by Fire Protection Services:

  • Conduct a preliminary examination of the fire and submit a report to the applicable local Fire Protection Services office;
  • Submit a fire casualty report for every fire death or injury;
  • Submit reports of any formal fire investigations undertaken subsequent to the preliminary examination stage; and
  • Investigate and record fire alarms not triggered by fire.

Section II - Evacuation Method

For more information, reference section 3 of the Treasury Board Standard for Fire Alarm Systems and Treasury Board Standard for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Emergency Organizations.

2.1 Evacuation for Buildings Equipped with a Two-stage Fire Alarm System

The Fire Alarm System will sound for 60 seconds with an evacuation signal (120 strokes per minute). This signal will sound on the alarm floor and the floors above and below it. The occupants of these floors will leave immediately. All other floors will receive an alert signal (20 strokes per minute). This indicates that the occupants should stand by for voice communication instructions or for the evacuation signal.

The Emergency Console Operator under the direction of the Chief Fire Emergency Warden and/or municipal Fire Chief will direct occupants of the uppermost floors to leave the building next. The building will be evacuated in groups of two or three floors at a time. Only enough time will be left between groups to ensure that the stairs do not become congested.

The evacuation will continue until all building occupants have been directed to leave or until the Warden in charge of the Fire Department directs other procedures. These may include:

  • Directing remaining occupants to stay in place on their floors;
  • Directing evacuating persons to use only a certain exit stairway;
  • Directing all remaining occupants to exit immediately; or
  • Other directions as necessary.

Either the Fire Department officer-in-charge or, at his direction, the Emergency Console Operator, may make these announcements.

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Date Modified:
2011-08-31