10 Exchange Place
Fire Safety Plan Training
Topics
• Fire Prevention
• Building Systems
• Fire Teams
– General Responsibilities
– Emergency Response
• Fire Drills
• Fire Alarm Procedures
• Warden Phone Operations
• Use of Stairs vs. Elevators
• Persons with Disabilities
• Building Evacuation
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Fire Prevention
Goals
• Life Safety
– The primary goal of fire safety efforts is to protect building
occupants from injury and to prevent loss of life.
• Property Protection
– The secondary goal of fire safety is to prevent property
damage.
• Protection of Operations
– By preventing fires and limiting damage we can assure that
work operations will continue.
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Fire Prevention
Strategy
• A fire must have three things to ignite and maintain
combustion:
– Fuel
– Heat
– Oxygen
• If all three are not present in sufficient quantities a
fire will not ignite or a fire will not be able to sustain
combustion.
• The basic strategy of fire prevention is to control or
isolate sources of fuel and heat in order to prevent
combustion.
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Fire Prevention
Housekeeping
• Good housekeeping habits are an important part of
a safe workplace.
– To reduce amounts of flammable and combustible
materials.
– To reduce ignition hazards.
– To ensure safe emergency evacuation of occupants.
– To allow for quick emergency response.
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Fire Prevention
Housekeeping Guidelines
• Work areas, aisles, walkways, stairways, and
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equipment should be kept clear.
Never block aisles, fire exits, emergency equipment,
or alarm pull stations with equipment or materials.
Avoid build up of combustible trash and waste such
as paper, wood, cardboard, etc.
Keep use and storage of flammables and
combustibles to a minimum.
Clean up all spills such as grease, oil, or water
immediately. A delay could result in accidents.
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Fire Prevention
Electrical Issues
• Faulty electrical equipment or misuse of equipment
can produce heat and sparks that serve as ignition
sources in the presence of flammable and
combustible materials.
• Examples of common ignition hazards:
– overloading circuits
– use of unapproved electrical devices
– damaged or worn wiring
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Fire Prevention
Compartmentalization
• Buildings are designed to prevent fire, heat, and
smoke from spreading beyond locations of
origination. Building elements such as fire walls, fire
dampers, and fire doors, are designed to seal off
one location from the next. This system is called
compartmentalization.
• Compartmentalization increases the safety of
evacuating building occupants because smoke and
fire are not able to escape into exit passageways.
• Containment of fire and smoke reduces property
damage and prevents small fires from growing into
large fires.
• In order for compartmentalization efforts to be
effective fire barriers must be maintained.
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Building Systems
• Notification
• Suppression
• Communication
• Emergency Generator
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Building Systems
Notification
• Building Systems used to notify the Fire Command
Station of a smoke or fire condition:
– Smoke Detectors
– Water Flow Detectors
– Manual Pull Stations
• Fire Exit signs are always illuminated to show fire
egress path
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Building Systems
Notification
• In event of an activation of a notification device:
– Strobes/speakers will be activated on the floor of alarm and
the floor above and floor below
– Alarm will be transmitted to Fire Command Station and
Central Monitoring Station
– A smoke detector in the elevator bank will recall all
elevators in that bank to the lowest floor
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Building Systems
Suppression
• Building Systems used to suppress a smoke or fire
condition:
– Sprinklers
– Specialty Suppression Systems
– Fire Extinguishers
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Building Systems
Suppression
• Sprinklers:
– Each sprinkler head will activate upon reaching a certain
temperature and disperse water
• Fire Extinguishers
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Building Systems
Communication
• Building Systems used to communicate during a
smoke or fire condition:
– Public Address System
– Fire Warden Phones
– Telephones – for critical communication only
– Radios – for use by Fire Response Team
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Building Systems
Communication
• Public Address System
– Communication to the 3 effected floors only and in
stairwells during alarm activation
– Communication to the entire building during a building wide
event
– Note: Strobes are activated for any announcement over the
PA System
• Fire Warden Phones
– Communication between the Fire Command Station and an
individual Fire Team member
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Building Systems
Emergency Generator
• The building has an emergency generator to provide
electrical power to critical fire/life safety systems in
the event of a power failure
– fire alarm system
– fire suppression system
– emergency lighting
– elevators – recall to lowest floor and operation of a limited
number in each bank
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Fire Teams
• The Fire Teams are comprised of Tenant personnel
and Building personnel:
– Fire Warden Teams – Tenant
• Fire Wardens
• Deputy Fire Wardens
• Male and Female Searchers
– Fire Response Team – Building
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Fire Teams
Fire Warden Teams
• Fire Wardens | Deputy Fire Wardens |
Male and Female Searchers
• responsibilities include:
– fire prevention
– reporting on emergency conditions
– initiating floor searches
– coordinating evacuation as necessary
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Fire Teams
Fire Warden Teams
• All tenants shall provide responsible and dependable
employees available for designation as Fire
Wardens, Deputy Wardens, and Male and Female
Searchers.
• Each tenant on each floor of the building shall be
under the direction of a designated Fire Warden for
the evacuation of the occupants in the event of a
fire. He/She shall be assisted by Deputy Fire
Wardens. A Deputy Fire Warden shall be provided
for each tenant. Tenants on multiple floors will
provide a Fire Warden and Deputy Fire Warden for
each floor.
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Fire Teams
Fire Warden Teams
• You are part of the Fire Safety Plan in action
• The main objective of this entire plan is the safe and
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efficient evacuation of all personnel during a fire
emergency or other situation, which warrants
evacuation.
When dealing with people, be prepared to deal with
situations that have not been addressed in our
preparation.
It is your responsibility to handle situations of a
sensitive and dangerous nature with poise and
confidence.
Knowing this plan will help you prepare for an actual
emergency.
This knowledge will enable you to perform your
duties with confidence, in turn the staff will have
confidence in you.
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Fire Warden
General Responsibilities
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Sign in at the lobby desk on a daily basis. In your absence the
Deputy Fire Warden must sign in. Please note that emails or
phone calls are not acceptable.
Ensure that Deputy Wardens and you report obstructed hallways
or inoperable exit doors to the FSD. Report any fire / life safety
system deficiencies immediately, such as exit light burnt out,
inaudible speakers, strobes that do not activate, missing fire
extinguishers, etc.
Advise the Fire Safety Director of all individuals with physical
disabilities.
Ensure that all organizational charts are accurate and that all fire
extinguishers are accounted for.
Assign your Male and Female Searchers a specific part of your
area of the floor to search, with all sections covered. Make sure
rest rooms and other divided rooms get searched. Remember,
during an emergency it is permissible to enter a restroom of the
opposite sex after announcing your intentions and stating that an
emergency is in progress.
Notify the Fire Safety Director regarding changes in Warden and
Searcher assignments. The Deputy Warden acts as Fire Warden
when he/she is absent.
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Deputy Fire Warden
General Responsibilities
• Sign in at the lobby desk on a daily basis when the
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Fire Warden is absent and act as Fire Warden in
his/her absence.
Report all fire hazards to your Fire Warden.
Check all exit doors on your floor to ensure that
they are not obstructed or inoperable.
Inform your Fire Warden if you are going to be
absent so that he/she can appoint a replacement.
Coordinate the reporting of persons with physical
disabilities to your Fire Warden.
Provide the Fire Warden with a report on all floor
diagrams and signs, which require replacement or
repair.
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Male and Female Searchers
General Responsibilities
• Review with the Fire Warden which specific areas of
the floor you will need to search during an
emergency to ensure all sections of the floor are
covered.
• Inform your Fire Warden if you are going to be
absent so that he/she can appoint a replacement.
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Fire Warden Team
Emergency Response Summary
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In the event of fire, or fire alarm, the Fire Warden shall determine the
location of the fire, and direct the evacuation of the floor in
accordance with the directions received and the following guidelines:
– In the event of an actual fire or smoke condition, confirm that an
alarm has been transmitted. If not, activate manual pull station.
– The most critical areas for immediate evacuation are the fire floor
and the floors immediately above and below. Evacuation from all
floors shall be instituted when instructions from the Fire Command
Station or conditions indicates such action. Evacuation should be
via uncontaminated stairs. He/She shall try to avoid the stair
being used by the Fire Department.
– Fire Wardens and their Deputies and Searchers shall see that all
occupants are notified of the fire, and they proceed immediately to
execute the Fire Safety Plan.
– Evacuation shall be via the stairs to a minimum of 5 floors below
the exited floor.
– The Fire Warden on the fire floor, as soon as practicable, notify the
Fire Command Station of the particulars using the Warden Phones.
– In the event that stairways serving the fire area are unusable due
to contamination or cut-off by fire and/or smoke, Fire Warden shall
direct the occupants to the nearest usable stairway.
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Fire Warden
Emergency Response
• Be sure to wear your Fire Warden vest when
responding to an emergency so that you are easily
identified.
• Upon receiving information regarding an emergency,
contact Deputy Fire Wardens and Male/Female
Searchers and investigate the information received.
• Proceed immediately to nearest designated stairwell.
• Inform Fire Command Station of any fire or smoke
conditions via the warden phone.
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Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Verify that all employees are near the stairwells and
are prepared to evacuate.
– Fire Wardens shall use their Deputy Warden and Male and
Female Searchers to ensure that all occupants of the area
have been informed of the situation and are proceeding to
the evacuation stairwell.
– The most critical areas of evacuation are the fire floor and
the floors above and below the fire floor.
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Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Await further instructions from the Fire Safety
Director via public address announcement and/or
warden phone.
– In the event of an actual fire or smoke condition, evacuation
of the floor may begin immediately.
– Confirm that the stairwell door is not warm to the touch
before opening.
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Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Instruct personnel of the appropriate reentry floor
(minimum of 5 floors down).
• Assist egress in an orderly fashion and ensure that
all disabled and mobility-impaired persons receive
any necessary assistance.
– Evacuation should be conducted via uncontaminated stairs.
The Fire Wardens shall avoid stairs being utilized by the Fire
Department. This is why communication with the Fire
Command Station is critical.
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Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Assure that all occupants on the floor have been
evacuated.
– The Fire Warden shall also be aware of any entrapped
persons and any people who need assistance in evacuating.
This information will be relayed to the Fire Command
Station immediately.
• After an all clear announcement from the Fire Safety
Director, the Fire Warden shall assist individuals to
re-enter the space and report to the Fire Safety
Director any problems encountered during the
evacuation.
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Deputy Fire Warden
Emergency Response
• In the event of a fire or a fire alarm in your area,
the Deputy Fire Warden shall ascertain the location
of the fire and direct the evacuation of the floor in
accordance with directions received by the Fire
Safety Director.
• Be sure to wear your Deputy Warden vest when
responding to an emergency so that you are easily
identified.
• Proceed immediately to nearest designated stairwell.
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Deputy Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Confirm that Male and Female Searchers have
performed their searches of their designated areas.
• Assist Fire Warden in the performance of his/her
duties or assume duties of Fire Warden in his/her
absence.
– Maintain communications with your Warden at all times.
• Verify that all employees within their designated
areas are near the stairwells and are prepared to
evacuate.
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Deputy Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Await further instructions from the Fire Safety
Director via public address announcement and/or
warden phone.
– In the event of an actual fire or smoke condition, evacuation
of the floor may begin immediately.
– Confirm that the stairwell door is not warm to the touch
before opening.
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Deputy Fire Warden
Emergency Response
continued
• Instruct personnel of the appropriate reentry floors
(minimum of 5 floors down).
• Assist egress in an orderly fashion and ensure that
all disabled and mobility-impaired persons receive
any necessary assistance.
• Assure that all occupants on the floor have been
evacuated. If someone is known to be on fire floor,
advise Fire Command Station immediately.
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Male and Female Searchers
Emergency Response
• Perform a search of their designated areas including
rest rooms and other divided rooms to confirm all
individuals have vacated.
– Remember, during an emergency it is permissible to enter a
restroom of the opposite sex after announcing your
intentions and stating that an emergency is in progress.
• Proceed to nearest designated stairwell.
• Advise Deputy Fire Warden that designated areas
are vacant or if there are any entrapped persons
and any people who need assistance in evacuating.
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Occupants Instructions
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If you discover a Fire:
– Rescue anyone in immediate danger.
– Confine the fire by closing but not locking doors.
– Pull the Manual Fire Alarm Station in your area located next to the
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exit stairwells.
Alert your Fire Warden.
Fire Warden will immediately implement Emergency Response
Procedures and instruct all personnel to begin evacuation of the
floor via the stairs to a re-entry floor a minimum of 5 floors down.
DO NOT USE ELEVATORS. If you are in an elevator when the
alarm sounds the elevator may automatically descend to the Lobby
Level.
When safe to do so, call the building Fire Command Station via the
Fire Warden Phone. Tell the operator your floor and the location of
the Fire. Describe if possible the fire, it’s type and severity.
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Occupants Instructions
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If you hear the Fire Alarm:
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Remain calm. Listen for instructions over the Public Address System.
Proceed immediately to nearest designated stairwell. Close doors but do
not lock them. Take only essential belongings with you. Keep your hands
free.
Feel doors before opening them. Do not open any that are hot.
Follow the instruction of your Fire Warden/Deputy Fire Warden. You may
be asked to inspect the area or help others.
Await direction from the Fire Warden and/or via public address
announcements.
Evacuation should be via uncontaminated stairs. Avoid the stair being
used by the Fire Department. Proceed down the stairs staying to the right
DO NOT USE ELEVATORS. If you are in an elevator when the alarm
sounds the elevator may automatically descend to the Lobby Level.
If you are disabled, await help from designated aides, or wait near the exit
stairwell doors for assistance in evacuation.
Evacuation shall be via the stairs to a re-entry floor a minimum of 5 floors
down.
• If evacuation of the building is required – once outside the building,
the Fire Warden shall gather the occupants to a safe distance, at a
minimum 200 feet from the building.
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Fire Drills
• Fire drills will be conducted twice a year
• Most important training aid
• Opportunity to observe problems and evaluate
performance and procedures
• Fire Safety Director will be available to speak with
the group at conclusion of the drill
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Fire Drills
Drill Procedures
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Fire Wardens will be notified approximately one week in
advance of a scheduled fire drill.
Fire Warden Team members should walk through the route to
be taken during the drill to become familiar with the activity to
be performed.
When the fire evacuation signal is heard, Fire Wardens should
immediately proceed to the Warden phone at the stairwell to
report information and receive instructions.
Deputy Fire Wardens and Male and Female Searchers should
proceed to respond in accordance with their designated duties
and areas of responsibility. This is the perfect time to ensure
that designated floor search areas are covered thoroughly.
All occupants of the floor (as instructed by the Deputy Fire
Wardens) should assemble at the designated stair.
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Fire Drills
Drill Procedures
continued
• During the drill, when everyone is assembled by the
stair, Wardens should review the following
information with floor occupants:
– The locations of the designated stairwell, the alternate
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stairwell, and warden phones.
Identify the location of fire extinguishers.
Inform all individuals not to use elevators.
The location and use of manual pull stations.
The location of area smoke detectors.
Inform all individuals of the appropriate re-entry floors
(minimum of 5 floors down).
Advise of gate between levels 8 and P6 – push bar to open.
General fire response procedures.
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Fire Drills
Educating Employees
• The successful completion of a real evacuation and
conducting fire drills is assisted by educating
building occupants on how to perform during an
emergency.
• It is your responsibility to make sure that all staff
knows where they are in relation to evacuation
routes, what to do in a real emergency, and how to
conduct themselves during an emergency.
• Always remember that panic caused by a lack of
organization and control during an emergency can
cause injuries, which are not directly related to fire,
smoke, heat, or other life threatening conditions.
• Educating employees on our procedures can
alleviate these concerns.
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Fire Drills
Educating Employees
continued
• You can also educate the staff by displaying good fire
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prevention habits yourself and by your knowledge of the
emergency evacuation plan.
Be prepared to answer any questions that employees
may ask.
The Fire Safety Director is always available to answer any
questions or concerns, which are brought forth by
occupants of the building.
It is recommended that Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire
Wardens periodically tour their space to introduce
yourselves to the staff as Warden team members and as
the person(s) in charge during an emergency.
This will open up a forum for questions to be answered
and help promote communication and education on a
regular basis.
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Fire Alarm Procedures
• When a Fire Alarm is activated the security officer at
the Console desk will immediately acknowledge the
alarm and then will notify the Fire Safety Director
and Fire Response Team of the condition. The
officer will make a preliminary announcement to the
building indicating that an alarm has been received
and building personnel are investigating.
• The Fire Safety Director will immediately respond to
the Fire Command Station and assume control of
the situation.
• The Fire Response Team will report to the source of
the alarm and provide information to the Fire
Command Station.
• Building occupants will proceed to the nearest fire
exit on their floor and prepare for evacuation.
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Fire Alarm Procedures
continued
• Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire Wardens will proceed
immediately to nearest designated stairwell and
verify that all employees within their designated
areas are near the stairwells and prepared to
evacuate. Fire Warden will inform Fire Command
Station of any fire or smoke conditions via the
warden phone.
• The Male and Female Searchers will perform a
search of their designated areas including rest
rooms to confirm all individuals have vacated.
• The Fire Safety Director will verify that all Fire
Response Team personnel are informed and
performing their individual duties.
• The Fire Safety Director will gather information from
Fire Response Team and Fire Warden in alarm area
regarding source of alarm and current situation.
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Fire Alarm Procedures
continued
• The Fire Safety Director will continue to make
announcements to the building while the
investigation is still being conducted.
• Await the arrival of the Fire Department and provide
them with an assessment of the situation. Let the
fire department take over.
• If it is determined by the Fire Department that the
alarm is a false one, then announcements to the
affected floors indicating such will be made.
• Security Officers will communicate the situation with
the Fire Wardens who have gathered outside.
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Warden Phone Operations
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The Warden telephone is equipped with instructions on the proper
operation of the unit. To call the Fire Command Station, open the
cover, pick up the phone, and pull the white knob. When
activated the phone sends an audible signal to the fire command
station.
The Warden telephone is to be used to report an emergency to
the Fire Command Station. If it were used for any other purpose,
it would cause a response, which would not be necessary.
Once you have activated the phone, stay on the line until the Fire
Command Station responds, then report your information.
Deputy Fire Wardens should also be familiar with this procedure
so that they can fulfill this vital function in your absence.
During an alarm situation, the PA system and warden phones
should be used for communication. If the warden phones can not
be used for any reason, the Fire Command Station can be
contacted by telephone at 201.451.9170. Due to the importance
of communicating critical information, we require that tenants not
on an alarm floor abstain from calling the building only to inquire
about the situation.
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Use of Stairs vs. Elevators
• First and foremost, evacuation should always be
conducted via stairwells, never use the elevators
unless you are instructed to do so by the Fire
Department.
• In the event that stairwells serving the fire floor are
unusable due to smoke or other conditions, you and
the Fire Safety Director shall determine an alternate
route in your discussions on the Warden phone.
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Person with Disabilities
• The following procedures is for any person with a
disability or any other condition that would need
assistance in proceeding down a stairway and evacuating
the property and may be temporary in nature (e.g.
broken leg).
• Upon notification of a person with a disability, the Fire
Safety Director will meet with the individual and
determine at least 3 persons who will aid the individual in
evacuating the building. These 3 aides will receive
additional training in responding to the emergency while
providing assistance to the disabled individual.
• During a fire alarm condition, these aides will assist the
person with a disability by following the normal response
procedures if at all possible and to maneuver down the
stairs to the re-entry floor.
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Person with Disabilities
continued
• If this person is unable to be assisted down the
stairs, the following procedures should be followed:
– Proceed to Stairway A (North-East side of building)
and wait outside the stairwell in the corridor.
• Stairway A was selected by the Fire Department due to
it’s proximity by the Freight Elevator
• If conditions do not allow waiting in the corridor, wait
inside this stairwell.
– Notify the Fire Command Station via the Warden
Phone that there is a person with a disability requiring
assistance from the Fire Department, advising of the
location.
– Continue to listen for announcements via the PA
system, as the Fire Department may communicate
further directions.
– Wait for the Fire Department for assistance.
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Building Evacuation
There may be an emergency situation which is not a fire or
smoke situation, but will require an evacuation of the building.
• This type of situation would require the immediate evacuation
of the occupants of the building due to a threat where
remaining in the building poses a greater threat than being
outside.
– An example would be the terrorist attacks that occurred on
9/11. (In instances where the evacuation does not need to
be immediate, these procedures should not be followed.)
– Also, in instances where information regarding the threat is
unknown, the evacuation should be considered voluntary
since evacuating the occupants may place them in greater
danger.
• An announcement will be made to all floors that we are
conducting a voluntary evacuation and to proceed down the
stairs to exit the building.
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Building Evacuation
Fire Warden Team Response
• Follow procedures for an actual fire condition excluding
communication with the Fire Command Station as the
evacuation has already been determined.
• The Fire Warden Phones are to be used ONLY FOR
CRITICAL COMMUNICATION.
• Do not use these phones to find out more information
regarding the emergency. Remember during a building
wide evacuation that there are 44 warden phones (2 per
floor) that are available on the floors and only 1 phone at
the Fire Command Station. If occupants use these for
non-essential communication, a critical call may be
missed.
• Please note special procedures during a non-fire situation
allow for personnel with physical disabilities to use the
freight elevator. Only personnel that are registered in
advance with the building and are on the “Listing of
Persons with Disabilities” will be picked up.
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