OK, my first post so be gentle with a noobie

Does anyone have a view on phased building evacuation ... dividing a building into zones and commencing evacuation in the zones closest to the alarm trigger??

I am considering the human behaviour factors rather than fire safety issues per~se. In a building of 5 floors holding some 2500 people our alarm is phased and when it triggered today the staff that were being evacuated reached the lower floors where they were not, the alarms were sounding differently on those floors. Confusion reigned with staff stopping their evacuation.

And dont start me on the senior managers that were going UP the stairs against the evacuation flow and the staff carrying their cups of coffee out.

SO glad it isn't me that signs off the building and fire risk assessments.

Martyn

Hi Martyn and welcome to the forum.

Phased evacuation is becoming increasingly common, especially in high rise, high occupancy buildings. Apart from the usual requirements to provide and maintain additional fire protection, (e.g. Each floor constructed as a compartment floor, automatic fire detection and alarm systems and smoke control measures etc), it is critical to have a good communications system: suitably trained fire marshals and a senior Fire Marshal (including deputies for both), and, just as important, regular fire drills.

Management often want to rely on technology and assume that everyone will know what to do when the alarm(s) sound. As you rightly pointed out, the "human factors" are equally important and must not be ignored.

Good luck with your endeavours!

PH2