Keeping everyone on your property safe in case of an emergency is our mission at DynaFire. To that end, we want to share the updated “Evacuation Procedures For People With Disabilities” guidelines from the NFPA.

The National Fire Protection Association has released its latest guidelines for keeping those with disabilities safe in a workplace emergency. At DynaFire, we know that Fire & Life Safety only works if it works for everyone. Ensuring that those with health conditions or impairments can evacuate effectively and efficiently is the only way to have a complete evacuation procedure. Please review the full guide and share it with your staff. Here are some highlights.

Have A Plan

Be proactive about your evacuation plan. Don’t wait until there is an emergency to figure out what to do. Step one is to assemble a planning team. This team will develop the plan, create a practice schedule, and evaluate the procedures along the way.

Pro tip: Be sure to include those who identify as disabled on the team to get diverse inputs. 

Building occupants with disabilities can include but are not limited to individuals with hearing impairments, blindness or diminished vision, cognitive impairment, or mobility impairments. These individuals will be a valuable part of the team because they can give you their unique perspectives on their needs.

Round out your planning team with facility managers and owners, firefighting personnel, businesses and employers, and anyone else who is involved in Fire & Life Safety. (Raises hand!) Our team at DynaFire would love to help you formulate inclusive evacuation procedures for people with disabilities for your facility and ensure your fire protection systems meet the needs of all.

Emergency Evacuation Stages

As your planning team drafts your evacuation plan, keep in mind the following stages of an emergency evacuation and how to include disabled individuals in that plan.

Stage 1: Notification – Emergency notification systems should include audible fire alarms with bells, horns, or speakers. They should also include non-audible signals such as strobe lights or text displays for individuals who are deaf or have impaired hearing.

Stage 2: Finding the way to safety – All building occupants should know the quickest way to safety. This requires planning and practicing before there’s an emergency. Exits should be clearly marked and accessible to everyone. This means in addition to exit signs, your building should have raised, tactile exit markers including braille markers. There should also be directional cues leading to the exits for those with limited vision.

Stage 3: Proceeding to an exit – Also called “exit access,” this refers to the areas including doors, ramps, corridors, and stairs that lead to exits. Exit routes must be kept clear of obstructions at all times.

Stage 4: Evacuating the floors and building – Keeping everyone safe as they exit the building is a crucial part of your plan. A safe exit can include protected spaces such as enclosed stairwells that restrict smoke and fire. These stairwells also provide a clear path to the exit.

Part of your evacuation should include several areas of refuge. These areas should be available for individuals to wait in and be able to call for assistance. Areas of refuge should be clearly marked, have a two-way communication system with operating instructions, have plenty of space for wheelchairs that are not in the exit route, and have direct access to stairways.

One piece of equipment you should keep on hand for an emergency situation is an emergency stair travel device. Since elevator access is typically disabled during an emergency, you need a method for individuals who are physically unable to walk down the stairs to effectively exit the building.

Stage 5: Proceeding to a public way – Another way to say this is “getting out of the building.” The final stage of your evacuation plan is making sure everyone can get to an outside street, alley, or sidewalk. Your planning committee should examine any obstructions or impediments that would keep a disabled individual from effectively evacuating the building.

Planning Checklist

On the NFPA guide, you’ll see a checklist toward the bottom. Use this to make sure you’re not overlooking anything that would keep your evacuation procedures for people with disabilities plan from being effective.

Our team at DynaFire wants you and your staff to stay safe which is why we are here to answer any questions you have. We can also guide you and your team as you create your evacuation plan and design inclusive fire protection systems. Contact us today to get started!