Fire and Evacuation Planning Elements: Phase 1

Fire codes require that fire safety and evacuation plans be developed for a variety of occupancies. Through our research and education, we identified the following elements that needed to be included in an office plan.

• Preferred and alternative means of notifying employees of a fire or emergency.
• Preferred and alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department or designated emergency response organization. (i.e. who calls 9-1-1?)
• Floor plans that include escape routes as well as locations of manual fire alarm boxes and portable fire extinguishers.
• Placement of these floor plans throughout the building or otherwise access of these plans for employees.
• Floor plans that include the locations of all employees and pets that occupy the building.
• Identification and assignment of employees responsible for the evacuation of other employees and pets. Procedures and protocols for these employees to follow in case of a fire.
• Protocol for pets left behind by their owners. (Trupanion has a ‘pet buddy’ assigned to every pet. If the pet owner is unable to evacuate their pet, the pet buddy assumes the responsibility for evacuating that pet.)
• Procedures for accounting for employees and pets after the evacuation has been completed.
• Identification and assignment of employees responsible for emergency medical aid for other employees and pets.
• A list of major fire hazards associated within the building.
• Schedule for testing the evacuation plan.