ITS FIRE SAFETY
EVACUATION PROCEDURE- ITS MAIN BUILDING
(Adapted from “The Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulation 2006,
Part 1(Regulation 6)”)
This Evacuation Procedure is put in place for safe, prompt, and efficient evacuation of the
building’s occupants in the event of a fire emergency requiring evacuation.
Building Name: Information Technology Services (PN460)
Street Address: Riddett Rd, Massey University (Turitea), Palmerston North
If Fire is Discovered
In all cases - If smoke or fire is discovered, warn others by shouting FIRE, FIRE, set off the
nearest fire alarm if possible, evacuate the building and telephone the Fire Service, “111”,
from a safe place.
On the alarm going off, the Building Warden or designate may also ring the Fire Service. Do
not assume that this has been done. Many calls are better than none!
If Warned of Fire
If warned of fire by someone shouting FIRE, FIRE or by the fire alarm ringing evacuate the
building by the nearest exit closing all doors behind you and assemble at the outside place
of safety – the car park at the back of the ITS Building.
Only attempt to put the fire out if it’s safe to do so, and you are confident in using appropriate
fire extinguishing equipment.
If Smoke is Present
Get below the smoke level. If necessary, drop to your hands and knees and crawl away from
the smoke. Smoke rises, so there should be an air space at the base of the smoke (initially).
On Vacating the Building
Gather at the assembly point – the car park at the back of ITS (Note: Lab Team Building –
please see Lab Team Building Fire Action plan; PD Hut – please see the HD Hut Fire Action
Plan).
1. Wardens
The Building Warden is currently Rebecca Zentveld. The Building Warden oversees
and co-ordinates evacuations where applicable and conveys information to the Fire
Officer in charge of the first arriving fire appliance.
The Floors Wardens for the ITS main building, Turitea are:
•
Ground Floor:
o John Hayes or Ashby Howitt (whoever is present) – Operations Rm 1.25
o Support Team Member – Open Plan Area Ground Floor
• First Floor:
o Nancy Taneja – Open Plan Area
o Niki Heywood – Open Plan Area
Note: Separate procedures are in place for the Lab Team Building and the PD Hut. These
buildings are not covered by the ITS alarm system.
Note: A member from the ITS Service Desk will stand guard at the front of the ITS building to
stop people from entering the building while the alarm is sounding.
When present, Floor Wardens will oversee and co-ordinate evacuations from this
building.
ITS Floor Wardens wear high visibility Orange vests, while the ITS Building Warden
wears a high visibility Yellow vest, with Building Warden written on the back.
The identification ensures Wardens are easily identified by the Fire Officer in charge of
the first arriving fire appliance and are easily located by other Wardens, staff members or
other persons.
If the Building or Floor Warden is absent, you must still proceed to the Assembly Point
on the alarm ringing or on the call of Fire, Fire.
Note: If you are acting as a Warden, please ensure you wear an appropriate vest (see
the Building Warden if you require a vest).
2. Floor Warden Duties
On discovering fire or being warned of a fire:
a. Shout FIRE, FIRE to warn others. Activate the nearest Fire Alarm (break glass with a
solid object (not a body part) and flick the switch) if necessary. Note: The glass cover
can cause injury if broken with a body part.
b. Wear your identification – high visibility orange vest.
c. Ensure occupants are evacuating the building to the outside place of safety closing
all doors behind them. Disabled persons are assisted as much as possible but may
need to be left in the designated areas.
d. Ensure the New Zealand Fire Service has been called by dialling 111. This is
normally done by the Building Warden, but too many calls are preferred to
none.
Details to be given are:
Service Required: Fire
Location: Palmerston North, Massey University main site (Turitea),
Riddett Rd, ITS Building
Nearest intersection: Riddett Rd and University Avenue
For Lab Team Building or PD Hut details, see the appropriate Fire Action plan.
e. If anyone remains in the building note their location and note if any disabled persons
remain.
f. Congregate on the grassed area or car park at the back of ITS. The Building Warden
will be by the Fire Alarm Panel ready to meet the Fire Service on its arrival.
Advise the Building Warden IMMEDIATELY if any persons remain in the building and
their location.
The Building Warden will advise the officer in charge of the first arriving fire appliance
on the following matters:
The location of the fire or emergency event if known
The state of the evacuation
The location of any persons with disabilities
If you discovered the fire, remain with the Building Warden until the Fire Officer in
charge has been briefed.
3. Display of Notices
In the main ITS building, Evacuation Procedure Notices are displayed by the fire alarms
explaining the procedure and routes to be followed in an evacuation. All exits are
indicated by exit signs along the means of escape.
Notices are also supplied to staff for reference or display in their offices, if they so wish.
Appropriate signage is displayed in the Lab Team building and the PD Hut
4. Fire Alarms
Fire alarms are located at the entrances to the main ITS building on Level 1 (ground
floor) and at the top of the stairs on Level 2 (nearer the tea-room and by the exit to the
back stairway).
5. Means of Escape
Means of Escape are the egress (exit) routes throughout a building to a place of safety
outside. The Means of Escape are to be checked regularly by the Building Warden to
ensure that:
a. They are kept clear of obstacles at all times.
b. Exit doors are not locked, barred or blocked so as to prevent occupants from
leaving the building when the building is occupied.
c. Smoke control and fire stop doors are not kept open by methods other than
hold open devices that comply with the Building Code (e.g. automatic
magnetic catches).
d. Stairways and passageways which are designed specifically for means of
escape from fire are not used as places of storage or places where refuse is
allowed to accumulate.
e. Flammable cleaning liquid or material or any other flammable-like liquid or
material is not stored near or within any part of the building used as a means
of escape from fire, and is in non-combustible containers with close / fitting
lids.
6. Persons with Disability
In a building where, in a fire emergency, any occupants or visitors are unable to use the
building’s means of escape to evacuate (e.g. people with a disability that prevents them
walking down stairs), these people are to gather by one of the fire exit doors. Such
occupants or visitors on the first floor are to gather in the stairway at the back entrance to
ITS. This area is fireproof for up to 1 hour.
If the back stairway cannot be reached, persons with a disability who are unable to reach the
back stairway should go behind a smoke stop door (i.e. positioned the other side to smoke
or fire).
If you have a disability which may prevent you leaving the building, or you receive
visitors who may be unable to leave the building promptly if there is an emergency,
please advise Building Warden.
Building Warden will manage a Building Assistance Register to ensure incapacitated
persons are managed accordingly. If you suffer from a temporary disability that could affect
your egress, please advise Building Warden. And please advise Building Warden once you
have recovered.
7. The Outside Place of Safety (Assembly Point)
The car park at the back of the ITS Building (Note: For evacuations from the Lab Team
Building or the PD Hut, gather at the road kerb behind the Lab Team Building.)
Location of People with Disabilities who could not be Evacuated: By the fire exit / smoke
stop doors, in the first floor stairway.
8. Hours of Operation of this Procedure
This procedure operates during normal working hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday Friday)
9. Fire - Fighting Equipment Available
Hand–held multi-purpose fire extinguishers are located throughout the building. Only operate
an extinguisher if you are confident in its use.
10. Lab Team Building / PD Hut
Please familiarise yourself with the Fire Action notice displayed in the building. A copy has
been circulated to the normal occupants of this building.