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Phased Evacuation & Mobility Impaired Persons
Rank: Super forum user 
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In a double knock type fire alarm system, it is usual practice for mobility impaired persons to evacuate (or begin to) immediately upon the single knock. That makes complete sense.
During phased evacuation it is possible that some floors/areas will not be aware of a fire alarm actuation in it's initial stages. Indeed, if the actuation turns out to be an unwanted signal & the system is reset, those on 'silent' floors/areas may never become aware. So what happens to mobility impaired persons in those 'silent' locations?
So how can that risk be managed? Yes, the provision of fire alarm linked pagers to those identified at risk by their PEEP is one way. This method is expensive to install & maintain and may lead to to various HR issues, both from the mobility impaired person ("I am not carrying that thing around") to peers "How come she's warned of a fire and we are not?"
There's also the issue of overcrowding as others on that floor/area simply follow the mobility impaired persons out of the building despite no fire alarm signal to do so.
So has anyone any experience of this and if so, is there another way to manage this situation?
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Rank: Forum user 
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Hi Messyshaw.
I've not encountered this before but give me a chance at answering?
"During phased evacuation it is possible that some floors/areas will not be aware of a fire alarm actuation in it's initial stages."
That's fine - surely the second knock involves some kind of sounder or visible flashing light?
"Indeed, if the actuation turns out to be an unwanted signal & the system is reset, those on 'silent' floors/areas may never become aware. So what happens to mobility impaired persons in those 'silent' locations?"
Forgive me if I'm missing the obvious. If the first knock is activated and reset due to it being unwanted, surely the mobility impaired persons don't need to do anything? Or if they have started to evacuate, they simply make their way back to their workstation.
I wouldn't worry about the overcrowding issue - your fire exit routes should be wide enough for the expected volume of people. I'd suggest that perhaps the mobility impaired person's colleagues are unlikely to follow them out, and merely continue working until the second knock system activates.
It sounds like the issue you have is ensuring your colleague has enough time to evacuate following the activation of the second knock. It may be worth simply timing their egress from the building - might this allow you to consider the risk in more detail? Can I also suggest you give your mobility impaired colleague a telephone call to her desk phone / mobile to warn them (her?) of the alarm. This may be more cost effective than a pager system.
I hope that helps. Apologies if the suggestions I've made have already been tried.
A
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Messy
One issue i can see with evacuating the mobility impaired on the first knock would be that they may block the escape routes on the stairs or at least feel pressurised to rush if people are also descending behind them. i know on some staircases have refuge areas but i would say the vast majority don't. Some of this is going to come down to the level of impairment are they just not very steady on their feet, do they need assistance or even an evac chair. using the most extreme case if someone was to evacuate ahead of other employees and needed assistance and the use of an evac chair they could potential cause a bottle next on the staircase.
As part of the PEEP should it be used to identify what assistance they may need rather than looking at evacuating them early on what might often be a false alarm. also shouldn't there be suitable fire separation and compartmentation that would mean they could take as along as necessary to evacuate (within reason). my view would be that they should evacuate the same time as everyone else unless there are refuge areas on the staircase and consideration given to the size and number of floors and staircases would may have some reflection on the evacuation.
I would have thought ensuring anyone with mobility impairment gets the correct assistance as what was agreed on the PEEP's document was the main consideration as i can see this potentially failing leaving that person stranded.
The above is what i would be thinking on the situation.
Phil
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Rank: Forum user
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Shouldn't everyone be evacuating at the same time regardless of mobility? Shouldn't your evacuation routes and procedures allow for everyone to evacuate, at the same time, without the need to factor out those with mobility restrictions?
I know it would rightly annoy me if I had to up and leave every time someone burnt their toast in the morning...
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Rank: Super forum user
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I am referring to larger buildings and those with numerous staircases/lifts, where a double knock fire alarm may sound in parts of the building but not in other areas
The issue here is that there maybe mobility impaired persons in an area of the building which is 'silent' - ie the fire alarm is elsewhere in the premises and not effecting them.
During this time the lifts in that silent area remain functional and can be used by anybody. However, if the fire alarm goes to full evac, the lifts cannot be used and there is a likelihood that some poor soul will have to man-handle someone down stairs.
This manual handling issue could be avoided if the mobility impaired person made their way out by lift prior to any full evac situation. But how could they be informed that he alarm is actuating other than a pager?
Mick - There are plenty of examples of evacuation systems where people leave in a phased manner and some (as in the NHS) where people are allowed to move and stay in the building during a fire.
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Rank: Guest
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The Fire Risk Management Group is currently travelling through the United Kingdom running a "Safe Evacuation for all" series of seminars.
It was developed by the IOSH Ireland Fire Risk Management Section and delivered at an extremley successful event in Dublin last September and adopted by the IOSH FRMG to deliver to its UK membership.
Keep an eye on Connect for updates when they will be holding the next seminar on this topic.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ciaran
I would be very interested in attending such a seminar when/if it reaches the SE of England and would be privileged if the details could be posted here
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Rank: Super forum user
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That should read "obliged' and not "privileged"
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Rank: Guest
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Ahh, and there was me thinking that you'd be honoured to attend an event with an Irish origin ;0)
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