stayput or evac?????

[Richard Earl]

hi  i hope some one can help? i have 2 very good clients who look after shelterd housing one has a large portfolio (250 +) homes and the other smaller.

one has done away with a long standing stay put policy in favor of evacuation, due to the RRO stating the fire rescue wont assisst in evac.
the other has favored the stay put policy, but is unsure if this is ok, she is conserned about if this is ok.

the one with the evac is having to install new fire doors and increes the fire zoneing to make them smaller and more managable to evac the area to a place of relivant saftey.

the other is troubled that if people stay put they may not get out, the alarm in one site is in corridors only and in the rooms are domestic smoke detection not linked to the main fire panel( i fear that not every one will now a fire is happening and not evac)

can anyone advise me which is best or do the one with a stay put policy need to carry out PEEP's on each client to assess their compatability in the housing scheme or if they need to be in care sites??

please help

thanks richard

[kurnal]

It all comes down to the design and construction, a stay put policy can only be considered if the compartmentation is in place, ventilation, control of common areas fire risk, travel distances, staircase protecton  so that persons in one flat are not at risk from a fire in another. If this is the case then there is no need for common areas alarm systems - detection in the flats only is then appropriate. The safety standards of the building is the first consideration and will inform subsequent decisions over other strategies, peeps may then become a factor to consider.

[dpjohno]

It is worth noting that the role of the F&RS has never included assistance with evacuations. Therefore it is all change but no change!

Best wishes, Dave

[nearlythere]

It is worth noting that the role of the F&RS has never included assistance with evacuations. Therefore it is all change but no change!

Best wishes, Dave

Dave. The role of the F&RS would include assistance with evacuation (to save life etc.) but an evacuation stragegy should not be dependant on the attendance and assistance of the F&RS.
Maybe that's what you meant?

[dpjohno]

Hi, the responsibility for safe evacuation belongs to the 'responsible person'. Of course, the attending crews will conduct rescues. Do not confuse rescues with evacuations. Tell me, how might a first attending crew of say five firefighters assist with the evacuation of a premises and commence fire-fighting operations at the same time? Impossible. Best wishes, Dave

[nearlythere]

Because the F&RS's first priority is to save life which, when in attendance, can include full involvement with evacuation and in a fire situation I cannot see the O/C not committing all availble resources to this before concerning himself with the fire.

Are you saying that the F&RS helping evacuate people from a building is secondary to firefighting?

[dpjohno]

Have you ever been to a fire? ;-)

[nearlythere]

Have you ever been to a fire? ;-)

I have been known to sit in the front n/s seat of a lorry at times dpjohno. In my days when the FB arrived priority was given to ensuring that people were accounted for and if so then do the fire fighting bit. Sometimes it needed both.
Have things changed since modernisation?

[dpjohno]

Blimey nearly There, I can hardly see you for the smoke! :-) You did not answer my 5 man/1 pump question. Best wishes, Dave

[nearlythere]

Blimey nearly There, I can hardly see you for the smoke! :-) You did not answer my 5 man/1 pump question. Best wishes, Dave

Dave. In my time "making up" was a sign of impending defeat. 

[dpjohno]

lol....let's discuss another hot topic soon!
Dave   
Take care

[wainy]

In response to the original question:

Unfortunately for your clients, there is no "one size fits all" strategy.

If your client is responsible for 250+ homes it is very unlikely the same strategy will be appropriate in every home.

The control measures (including evacuation), identified during the Risk assessment process, should be specific to the premises and dependent on the factors previously mentioned in Kurnals post.