501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Building Evacuation
Procedures
September 2014
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
What Happens During an Alarm
Ø  Any fire alarm device once engaged will trigger
pre-signal warnings throughout the building
including a series of elongated tones and flashing
strobe lights.
Ø  The intent is to provide a warning to all building
occupants and prepare all for a possible
evacuation based upon further instructions.
Ø  A pre-recorded message will broadcast throughout
the building. The message will be repeated three
times.
Ø  Typically, the floor in alarm and the floors directly
above and below will be the only ones required to
evacuate.
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Pre-Signal Recorded Message
“May I have your attention please, the signal tone
you have just heard indicated a report of an
emergency in this building.
If your floor evacuation signal sounds after this
message, walk to the nearest stairwell and exit
the building.
While the report is being verified, occupants on
other floors should await further instructions.”
When To Evacuate
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Ø  After the pre-signal, alarms will continue to
sound only on the floors needing to evacuate.
Ø  Strobe light strobes will continue to flash
throughout the building for the duration of the
alarm until the Boston Fire Department
determines the building is safe.
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Why Evacuate?
Although rare, the building may be evacuated for a
variety of reasons and so we all must be prepared
to exit the building in a calm and orderly manner.
Some of the reasons to evacuate include the
following:
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü
Fire Emergencies
Facility Emergency
Bomb Threat
Work Place Violence
Public Disturbance
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
How to Prepare
Ø  Each office should appoint a Floor Warden and
alternate to manage the evacuation process
including:
Ø  Designate, in advance, which nearest stairwell
individuals employees should use;
Ø  Lead and direct the evacuation;
Ø  Establish a checkpoint at least one block away,
where all employees can meet and be accounted
for. Provide location information to Management
Office.
Ø  Maintain an updated list of all Persons Needing
Assistance (“PNA”) to the Management Office.
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Persons Needing Assistance
v  PNAs are unable to depart the building via the
stairwells due to short or long term physical
limitations.
v  During an evacuation, all PNA’s should travel to
the freight elevator lobby and await the Boston
Fire Department who will transport employees to
the ground level and then outside.
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Do’s and Don'ts
DO
Remain calm
Be quiet and orderly
Exit via the building stairwells in single file
Keep to right in the stairwells to leave room for
emergency personnel
ü  Use stair handrails
ü  Convene with other company employees in a predetermined location at least a city block distance
away.
ü  Wait until the Boston Fire Department gives the
“all clear” to return into the building.
ü
ü
ü
ü
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
Do’s and Don'ts
DON’T
ü Use Cell phones while evacuating including for
phone calls and/or texting
ü Bring food or beverages into the stairwell
ü Run
ü Carry anything other than what‘s absolutely
essential
ü Remain at your desk during the alarm
ü Return to your work area
ü Go against evacuation traffic flow
ü Take time to pack-up lap-tops (leave them)
ü Use the elevators
How Will I know when it is
safe to re-enter the building?
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
v  Once the Boston Fire Department deems the
building safe, the District Chief will give the “all
clear” allowing the building to be re-occupied. A
related message will be played over our PA
system.
v  Members of the Management Team will tour a one
block radius (unless we are specifically aware of
other meeting locations) to inform tenants that it is
safe to re-enter the building.
Pre-Emergency Checklist
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
ü  Fire Wardens assigned and trained.
ü  Current list of PNAs provided to the
Management Office.
ü  Escape route planned – stairwells
designated.
ü  Meeting Point Established – employees
know where to meet and information
provided to Management Office.
Thank You
501 BOYLSTON STREET LIFE SAFETY TRAINING
For more information please contact the
Management Office or refer to the 101 Arch
Street Tenant Handbook http://
101archstreet.info/main.cfm?sid=introduction