Building evacuation - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:09, 23 October 2025

2025-10-23T07:09:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:09, 23 October 2025
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	Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.		Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.
		+
		+	NB [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-small-and-medium-places-of-assembly Fire safety risk assessment: small and medium places of assembly], published by HM government in 2006 and updated in 2024, defines phased evacuation as: ‘A system of evacuation in which different parts of the premises are evacuated in a controlled sequence of phases, those parts of the premises expected to be at greatest risk being evacuated first.’

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

Designing Buildings at 08:12, 18 November 2024

2024-11-18T08:12:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:12, 18 November 2024
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	* Unprotected escape route.		* Unprotected escape route.

−	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]] [[Category:Building_safety]]

Designing Buildings at 08:11, 18 November 2024

2024-11-18T08:11:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:11, 18 November 2024
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	* Safe room.		* Safe room.
	* Simultaneous evacuation.		* Simultaneous evacuation.
		+	* Simultaneous evacuation strategy
	* Stay put.		* Stay put.
	* Unprotected escape route.		* Unprotected escape route.

	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]		[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]

Designing Buildings at 09:41, 15 August 2023

2023-08-15T09:41:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:41, 15 August 2023
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	* Responsible person.		* Responsible person.
	* Safe room.		* Safe room.
		+	* Simultaneous evacuation.
		+	* Stay put.
	* Unprotected escape route.		* Unprotected escape route.

	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]		[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]

Editor at 20:27, 27 January 2022

2022-01-27T20:27:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:27, 27 January 2022
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	Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.		Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Emergency lighting.		* Emergency lighting.
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	* Protected stairway.		* Protected stairway.
	* Responsible person.		* Responsible person.
		+	* Safe room.
	* Unprotected escape route.		* Unprotected escape route.

	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]		[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]

Designing Buildings at 09:40, 20 November 2020

2020-11-20T09:40:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:40, 20 November 2020
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		+	[https://ifss-coalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IFSS-CP-1st-edition.pdf International Fire Safety Standards: Common Principles, Safe Buildings Save Lives, First Edition], published by the International Fire Safety Standards Coalition in 2020 defines evacuation as: ‘The procedures and processes used to enable people to leave a Building.’
		+
	Building evacuation is the process of making sure everyone inside a building gets out safely and in a timely and controlled manner in the event of an emergency, such as fire. Buildings commonly use equipment such as fire alarms, exit signage, emergency lighting and emergency escape routes to facilitate evacuations.		Building evacuation is the process of making sure everyone inside a building gets out safely and in a timely and controlled manner in the event of an emergency, such as fire. Buildings commonly use equipment such as fire alarms, exit signage, emergency lighting and emergency escape routes to facilitate evacuations.

Editor at 17:04, 14 October 2020

2020-10-14T17:04:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:04, 14 October 2020
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	* Fire marshal.		* Fire marshal.
	* Means of escape.		* Means of escape.
		+	* Place of safety.
	* Protected escape route.		* Protected escape route.
	* Protected stairway.		* Protected stairway.

Editor at 19:50, 7 October 2020

2020-10-07T19:50:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 7 October 2020
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	Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.		Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Emergency lighting.		* Emergency lighting.
	* Escape route.		* Escape route.
		+	* Evacuation chair.
	* Evacuating vulnerable and dependent people from buildings in an emergency FB 52.		* Evacuating vulnerable and dependent people from buildings in an emergency FB 52.
	* Fire compartment.		* Fire compartment.
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	* Unprotected escape route.		* Unprotected escape route.

−	[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Public_procedures]]

Designing Buildings at 12:40, 15 December 2017

2017-12-15T12:40:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:40, 15 December 2017
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	The approved document defines an escape route as ‘that part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit’ where a final exit is ‘The termination of an escape route from a building giving direct access to a street, passageway, walkway or open space and sited to ensure the rapid dispersal of persons from the vicinity of a building so that they are no longer in danger from fire and/or smoke.’		The approved document defines an escape route as ‘that part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit’ where a final exit is ‘The termination of an escape route from a building giving direct access to a street, passageway, walkway or open space and sited to ensure the rapid dispersal of persons from the vicinity of a building so that they are no longer in danger from fire and/or smoke.’
−
−	~~An escape route is a route '...forming that part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit.'~~

	Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.		Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.

Designing Buildings at 12:39, 15 December 2017

2017-12-15T12:39:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:39, 15 December 2017
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−	Building evacuation is the ~~essential~~ process of making sure everyone inside a building ~~is able to get~~ out safely in the event of an emergency, such as fire~~, hurricane or earthquake~~. Buildings commonly use equipment such as fire alarms, exit signage ~~and~~ emergency lighting ~~to facilitate evacuations. Special~~ emergency ~~exits or fire escapes may also be provided as alternative~~ escape routes.	+	Building evacuation is the process of making sure everyone inside a building gets out safely and in a timely and controlled manner in the event of an emergency, such as fire. Buildings commonly use equipment such as fire alarms, exit signage, emergency lighting and emergency escape routes to facilitate evacuations.

	In 1994, John Abrahams investigated building evacuation strategies and found that the independent variables were the building’s complexity and the mobility of the individuals. The strategy changes from ‘fast egress’ to ‘slow egress’ as the complexity increases and mobility decreases. At the end of this scale is the strategy of ‘moving to a safe place inside the building’ where help can reach the individuals. In most buildings, these ‘Safe Havens’ will be in the stairwell, and in areas with a particular risk of earthquakes, buildings may incorporate them on each floor.		In 1994, John Abrahams investigated building evacuation strategies and found that the independent variables were the building’s complexity and the mobility of the individuals. The strategy changes from ‘fast egress’ to ‘slow egress’ as the complexity increases and mobility decreases. At the end of this scale is the strategy of ‘moving to a safe place inside the building’ where help can reach the individuals. In most buildings, these ‘Safe Havens’ will be in the stairwell, and in areas with a particular risk of earthquakes, buildings may incorporate them on each floor.

−	A simultaneous evacuation is where building occupants react to the alarm and ~~following~~ the designated means of escape ~~route~~ to the place of safety away from the building. This may not be suitable or practicable for larger or more complex buildings due to the risks of congestion at escape routes. These buildings may be designed so that evacuation is initially limited to those nearest the hazard, before being extended if necessary to others. This type of phased evacuation strategy requires different alarm signals – a warning and an evacuation signal.	+	A simultaneous evacuation is where building occupants react to the alarm and follow the designated means of escape to the place of safety away from the building. This may not be suitable or practicable for larger or more complex buildings due to the risks of congestion at escape routes. These buildings may be designed so that evacuation is initially limited to those nearest the hazard, before being extended if necessary to others. This type of phased evacuation strategy requires different alarm signals – a warning and an evacuation signal.

−	Complex buildings with occupants who may be immobile, such as hospitals and care homes, may be ~~designed~~ into different fire compartments to allow slower evacuation times. Public buildings such as cinemas and theatres may have a staff alarm which enables pre-arranged evacuation plans to be put into action.	+	Complex or large buildings, or those with occupants who may be immobile, such as hospitals and care homes, may be sub-divided into different fire compartments to allow slower evacuation times. Public buildings such as cinemas and theatres may have a staff alarm which enables pre-arranged evacuation plans to be put into action.

	The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that owners of premises other than private dwellings appoint a responsible person who takes reasonable steps to make sure people can safely escape if there is a fire.		The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that owners of premises other than private dwellings appoint a responsible person who takes reasonable steps to make sure people can safely escape if there is a fire.

	A fire marshal, also known as a fire warden, is an individual who is allocated, or who volunteers, to take on fire safety responsibilities for their organisation. In the event of an emergency, they must helping evacuate people from the building to assembly points, ensure they have a list of those who are normally present in the building, as well as the signing-in book, and carry out a roll-call to ensure everyone has left the building safely.		A fire marshal, also known as a fire warden, is an individual who is allocated, or who volunteers, to take on fire safety responsibilities for their organisation. In the event of an emergency, they must helping evacuate people from the building to assembly points, ensure they have a list of those who are normally present in the building, as well as the signing-in book, and carry out a roll-call to ensure everyone has left the building safely.
		+
		+	Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 2, Buildings other than dwellinghouses, defines means of escape’ as:
		+
		+	‘Structural means whereby [in the event of fire] a safe route or routes is or are provided for persons to travel from any point in a building to a place of safety.’
		+
		+	The approved document defines an escape route as ‘that part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit’ where a final exit is ‘The termination of an escape route from a building giving direct access to a street, passageway, walkway or open space and sited to ensure the rapid dispersal of persons from the vicinity of a building so that they are no longer in danger from fire and/or smoke.’
		+
		+	An escape route is a route '...forming that part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit.'
		+
		+	Escape routes may involve protected corridors, lobbies or stairways which are protected from fire in adjoining accommodation by fire-resisting construction.

	= Find out more =		= Find out more =