University of Bradford

Ensure you know your various means of escape from fire, before you need to use them

Fire evacuation drills

Policy

In compliance with current fire safety legislation and good working practice, the University requires that fire evacuation drills are carried out in all of its occupied buildings at least once every twelve months.

The University wishes to adopt all other reasonably practicable means to ensure that staff may rapidly evacuate to a place of ultimate safety in the event of fire.

Purpose of fire evacuation drills

To allow the building occupants to learn or be reminded of the:
(i) sound of the alarm;
(ii) location of fire exit routes;
(iii) location of the fire assembly point; and
(iv) fire action procedures;
to identify any areas where the alarm is not sufficiently audible;
to ensure that all fire exit routes are available and free from obstruction;
to assess the speed and efficiency with which a building can be evacuated; and
to comply with the statutory requirement to carry out fire evacuation drills.

Drill procedure

The Director of Building (academic, social buildings and retail areas) or Warden / Residence Manager (residential buildings) will determine the frequency, date and time of the drill.

The Director of Building / Warden / Residence Manager may supervise the drill themselves or appoint a Fire Drill Supervisor. If requested, staff from the Safety Office will train Fire Drill Supervisors in the performance of their duties.

The procedures may be adapted to harmonise with local arrangements at St Luke’s Campus and Tremough Campus.

Special arrangements exist for the Academic Services Computer Suite, Laver Building.

Duties of the Fire Drill Supervisor

Academic, social buildings and retail areas

The Fire Drill Supervisor will:

Inform Estate Patrol (Ext 3999) of the date, time and place of the drill. This will prevent the Fire Service being called unnecessarily.
Request a member of Buildings and Estate Division maintenance staff to activate and reset the alarm
The request must be made to Building and Estate Division (on Ext 4552) with a minimum of three working days before the date of the drill, preferably sooner. The B&E staff member should be booked to arrive at least ten minutes before the time arranged for the drill, to accommodate last minute arrangements.
Appoint staff (usually building porters) to control entrances to the building to prevent people entering or re-entering the building during the drill.
Appoint staff to search the building to ensure that all staff have heard the alarm and are in the process of evacuation.

In all cases other than fire drills (when prior notice will have been given) staff must not search the building, this is a task for the fire service.

Time the evacuation from the activation of the alarm until the last person leaves the building. Total evacuation should occur in under three minutes.
Remind the assembled evacuees of the correct method of raising the alarm for their particular building and, if necessary, advise them not to use lifts.
On completion of the drill, instruct the maintenance staff member to reset the alarm, permit occupants to re-enter the building and inform Estate Patrol. Occupants must not re-enter the building until instructed to do so by the Fire Drill Supervisor. Check with Estate Patrol that, if applicable, a “Fire Alert” was received and the signal recorded on the emergency control printer, Northcote House.
Ensure that the necessary details are entered in the building Fire Log Book normally located in a metal cabinet near the main entrance (otherwise the porters will advise).
Complete a Fire Evacuation Drill Report Form. The report must be kept for at least five years.

Residential buildings

The Fire Drill Supervisor will:

Inform Estate Patrol (Ext 3999) of the date, time and place of the drill. This will prevent the Fire Service being called unnecessarily.
Appoint staff to man entrances to the building to prevent people entering or re-entering the building during the drill.
Appoint staff to search the building to ensure that all staff have heard the alarm and are in the process of evacuation.

In all cases other than fire drills (when prior notice will have been given) staff must not search the building, this is a task for the fire service.

Activate the alarm from the fire alarm control panel or an alarm call point.
Time the evacuation from the activation of the alarm until the last person leaves the building.
Remind the assembled evacuees of the correct method of raising the alarm for their particular building and, if necessary, advise them not to use lifts.
On completion of the drill, deactivate the alarm, permit occupants to re-enter the building and inform Estate Patrol. Occupants must not re-enter the building until instructed to do so. If applicable check with Estate Patrol that a “Fire Alert” signal was printed on the emergency control printer, Northcote House.
Enter the necessary details in the building Fire Log Book located in a metal cabinet near the main entrance.
Complete a Fire Evacuation Drill Report Form. The report must be kept for at least five years.