Rank: Super forum user
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Can somebody (preferably an 'expert' please) clarify the duties (if any) of resident buidling managers within a high rise office block with different occupants on each floor in the event of a fire evacuation?
Individual employers within the building have there own evacuation procedures and fire marshalls / wardens but fire evacuations are always chaotic, with large numbers of people filling up the stairways and chatting between themselves, talking on mobiles etc.
The building management team do not seem to want to get involved with coordinating the evacuations and state that it is up to the occupants to organise but my view is that they must have a duty under para 22 of part 2 to the RRO - any suggestions?
Many thanks
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Rank: Forum user
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Not an expert (ex FRS) but..
In very high buildings, or high occupancy evacuations can be 'staged'.
One or more floors at a time. Beginning with floors above and immediately below the fire / emergency.
Modern buildings have excellent fire separation and can withstand extreme fires for long periods, however only where doors are kept closed etc etc.
In my experience the building managers have a duty to liaise with tenants to make suitable arrangements for mass evacuation.
Either staged, or simultaneous.
Evacuating a large or tall building is difficult and relies on good comms during an emergency and excellent pre- planning.
If it were me?
I'd be looking for a meeting with building management and tenant representatives to discuss the problems.
Present possible solutions and explain the obvious dangers inherent in a tall building.
I would also be looking from advice from the LOCAL fire service. They have standard operating procedures (High Rise SOP) they will follow when making a response.
Your evacuation plan will impact upon their standard response. (and it will be a standard response for ALL tall buildings, you won't change that!)
They must be part of your evacuation plans and will help the building managers and tenants formulate a workable plan.
I'm afraid this is not as simple as stating "it's your problem, sort it."
It's everyone's problem in that building. Including the building management staff. They must have an escape plan too?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thank you roshqse - you mirror my own thoughts which is reassuring!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hammer/ nail interface there I think roshqse!
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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Had experience in just this sort of situation. Each organisation is responsible for the control and evacuation of thier people in the event of an alarm sounding. Each employer must have plans and arrangements in place to ensure all his people evacuate as quickly and quietly as possible within certain predetermined timescales (such as say five minutes) and informing the building controller when all employees are clear of the building so he can report to the senior fire officer on the status of evacuation. This has the effect that only one person from each company feeds information to the building controller who in turn is the only person who advises the fire service. This works because each person understands the exact position at any one time thus reducing the risk of miscommunication. This system works well and has been tested on numerous occasions. It is simple and effective.
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Rank: Super forum user
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You hit the nail on the head. :)
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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All of the responsible persons in a multi occupied building have a legal obligation to coordinate and cooperate under Article 22 of the RRO.
The building management company - working on behalf of the owners - often are the responsible person (RP) for the common parts. So they need to carry out a FRA on the common parts only.
The other RPs complete their own FRA for their demise AND any other part of the premises their staff may occupy. This will always mean the common parts (stairs, corridors and lobbies) in the upper floors of a high rise.
So in effect, all RPs of upper floor occupancies and the building management company will be assessing the common parts. This will need some coordinating between RPs. For instance, I did a FRA of two floors of Centrepoint (a 34 storey office block in Westminster). It would have been impossible to complete the FRA without coordinating with the management company to discuss fire alarm provision, extinguishers and maintenance issue.
It's during that coordination that the emergency plan(s) need to be discussed. It makes sense for the building manager to lead this work as it's his area (the common parts) in decimonal's case, which are being blocked by reluctant, confused or slow evacuees
So talk to the building managers and if they refuse to play ball, contact your fire safety enforcement team
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Rank: New forum user
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In addition to these all the building Manager shall aware of the elderly and physically handicapped occupants who needs help during the evacuation process in case of a fire incident. If possible a random mock drill also can be conducted with the help of other occupants ( Quarterly/Half Yearly).
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