Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By David .J. Minnery
Controller/Duty holder of sheltered housing premises [Scotland] have produced a Fire/Emergency evacuation plan that advises elderly residents to remain in their flats if not immediately affected by a fire [apparently advised by the Fire & Rescue Service]. No specific legislation covers sheltered housing, although care homes are covered by seperate legislation, but tenants/residents can only access their homes through communal areas, corridors etc. No sprinkler systems installed.
There are some obvious questions that require to be addressed:-
1. How do people, particularly elderly and often infirm people know if they are affected by any particular fire when the alarm sounds?
2. An emergency evacuation plan should not rely upon the attendance or intervention of Fire & Rescue Services to make it operable/work.
Controller/Duty holder insists emergency evacuation plan is adequate, I would be grateful for any advice and assistance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By David .J. Minnery
Does anyone really think that an emergency evacuation plan that advises not to evacuate is suitable and sufficient?
I had hoped for and would welcome some responses in relation to the evacuation plan advice
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Colin Reeves
Not my area of expertise. However, I believe it depends to an extent on the risks. Two scenarios:
1. passenger ship, fire alarm at 0745 "Oh, it's just Simon having a shower again, better check anyway"
2. Tanker, fire alarm "Oh s**t, lets get out quick"
How safe is the building - what fire resistance are the walls, how much combustible material is there, is mains gas fitted etc
Colin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Alan Haynes
My Mother-in-Law [God Bless her!] lives in 'warden assisted' accommodation. Her Evacuation Plan is that residents stay in their rooms when the alarm sounds, and they will be advised/assisted if they need to leave. They are contactable in their rooms by an intercom/tannoy system
It does make sense to me that it could be best for people to know where the residents are [in their room] rather than having to sweep the building [communal areas such as toilets, lounges, laundromat, waste bin storage etc].
However, when dealing with the elderly and frail, any system is only as good as those that apply its use.
[Of course - when the alarm goes off at my M-in-L's accommodation, most residents go out of their rooms to see whats happening].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ashley Wood
To prepare an evacuation plan you need to consider several aspects. Structural integrity of the building and its construction, passive elements available i.e fire doors, active elements available i.e fire detection system, staff availability (day and night), mobility of residents, travel distance for the fire service (rural or urban location).
Stay put policies are fine providing you have a good level of passive protection and the building construction is sound, high level of detection throughout building and the fire service can respond within a reasonable time scale.
The 2 worst case scenarios I can envisage are residents wandering around and unaccounted for. This would require fire fighters to risk their lives in what may be a pointless search and rescue entry, and the second case would be a stay put policy where it could take the fire service at least 30-45 mins to reach the location (these do exist in the UK), and a building that is old with wooden floors etc.
As a side, if you do operate a stay put policy ask the residents to go to the window, that way the fire service can see that they are in and can reach them easily with a ladder if need be.
Its always difficult with staff reductions and the lack of 'sleeping' scheme wardens/staff. What ever you do decide, discuss it with your friendly FPO and agree the strategy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By David .J. Minnery
Thanks to those who have responded, my apologies I should have mentioned that no staff/wardens are present after 4.00pm, the buildings are mostly more than 11 years old with no compartmentation or safe havens, higher than just ground level, no sprinkler systems, the fire and emergency procedure plan names wardens as responsible/trained persons but not present 16 - 20 hours out of 24. Emergency attendance time average is 7 minutes assuming no difficulties are encountered.
Tenants/residents themselves are raising concerns about advice to stay in their homes.
New build sheltered housing requirement for sprinkler systems & building regulations require safe havens/waiting areas but it is not retrospective.
Evacuation advice to remain in homes was given by Fire & Rescue services WITHOUT inspection of the properties involved or knowledge of materials used in construction etc.
With no specific legislation applying, it looks like some elderly persons have been left without adequate protection, over 250 persons in my own particular area alone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.