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Education

8.5.14 Means of Escape

See fact sheet 6.15 Means of Escape.

If a school is made more accessible to users, it is necessary to ensure that those users can be safely evacuated in the event of fire. Some disabled staff and pupils will need assistance in order to vacate the building in an emergency and suitable physical arrangements and management arrangements must be in place to achieve this.

An evacuation strategy must be put in place, with responsibility allocated to individual members of staff for the assisted evacuation of people with disabilities. Such staff must be given appropriate training.

Fire alarm systems should be visual and audible in order to alert people with hearing difficulties. Alternatively, vibrating pagers can be provided to alert individual pupils or staff.

As a general rule, electrically operated facilities such as lifts, stairlifts etc should not be used in the event of fire. As a result, some disabled staff or pupils may require assistance to vacate the building in the event of fire.

A refuge large enough to accommodate a wheelchair should be provided on all stairways. This will allow a wheelchair user to get to place of fire safety until assistance is available. Such refuges must be provided with an evacuation chair and should have an intercom to allow two-way communication.

For disabled staff and pupils who will regularly use the same buildings and work with the same group of people a Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP) should be produced in consultation with the individual affected. A PEEP is a personal evacuation plan that is tailored to meet the requirements of the individual and taking into account the specific working environment. The PEEP will include details of escape routes, assistance required and how that assistance will be provided. If assistance is to be provided, it must be ensured that training is provided.

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