Government Issues New High-Rise Evacuation Guidelines for Fire and Rescue Services

The UK Home Office has released a new set of national guidelines to assist fire and rescue services in managing high-rise evacuations more effectively.

Published earlier this year, these guidelines are grounded in research and are designed to support operational practices during partial or full evacuations of high-rise residential buildings.

The government has specified nine key areas for fire and rescue services to consider:

• Building height and its impact on evacuation timing
• The use and availability of staircases during evacuation
• Comparing alarm systems with door-knocking methods
• Emergency evacuation techniques for residents
• Movement dynamics and considerations for vulnerable residents
• Strategies for evacuating residents requiring assistance
• Collecting and using information on vulnerable residents
• Understanding evacuee behaviour during emergencies
• Improving communication and information-sharing among residents

What these guidelines emphasise

These guidelines emphasise the importance of adapting to variable factors, such as the timing of evacuations and movement within buildings.

For example, the guidance advises against basing evacuation time estimates solely on travel distance, noting that “doubling the building height does not necessarily double the total evacuation time.”

It also highlights the advantages of having multiple staircases, stating that an unobstructed staircase dedicated to evacuation can significantly improve safety during fire incidents.

The guidelines respond to a recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1), which called on the government to create national guidance for evacuating high-rise residential buildings.

These recommendations include ensuring fire exit routes remain protected and establishing procedures to assist individuals unable to use stairs, such as those with disabilities, cognitive impairments, or young children.

The document underscores the need for extra care and support for vulnerable residents and the importance of understanding how residents behave during emergencies.

It should not be assumed that residents will automatically know what to do or follow signage in place,” the guidelines note, emphasising the need for clear instructions and clear evacuation plans.

Research and Testing Backing the Guidelines

The guidelines are informed by recent studies and operational testing:

• November 2022 Rapid Evidence Review Report: Examined evacuations in high-rise buildings.
• June 2023 Study by the University of Edinburgh: Investigated resident responses to fire incidents in high-rise settings.
• Research by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan): Included live operational testing with fire and rescue personnel and volunteers.

UCLan’s Testing Explained

UCLan conducted extensive tests, analysing various evacuation strategies in high-rise buildings. These tests included:

1. A simultaneous evacuation using an alert system in a single-staircase building.
2. Door-knocking alerts from bottom to top, without an alert system, in a single-staircase building.
3. Phased evacuation from the bottom up, using an alert system, above the fire in a single staircase.
4. Phased evacuation from the top down, using an alert system, above the fire in a single staircase.
5. A simultaneous evacuation using an alert system in a building with two staircases.

The Home Office derived key insights from these tests, exploring factors such as evacuation speed, congestion in stairwells, the impact of evacuees with impairments, and other considerations affecting high-rise evacuations.

These newly published guidelines, supported by rigorous research and testing, aim to enhance the safety and efficiency of high-rise evacuations, equipping fire and rescue services with the tools to navigate complex evacuation scenarios.

Enhancing High-Rise Evacuations with Evaccess

While the government’s new guidelines provide a vital framework for high-rise evacuations, implementing these strategies effectively requires the right tools, training, and planning.

That’s where Evaccess can play a pivotal role.

As specialists in evacuation solutions, Evaccess offers a comprehensive suite of services and products to support fire and rescue services, building managers, and organisations in meeting these guidelines.

 Evaccess often recommends devices that are simple to operate by a single person. In scenarios requiring movement between different levels, powered units are advised to minimise physical strain and enable individuals of all sizes to assist others in moving up and down stairs effectively.

Evaccess’s Evacuation Devices:

Evaccess’s lineup includes a variety of evacuation devices, such as stair climbers and evacuation chairs, each designed to meet specific safety needs during emergencies. Their stair climbers are portable, capable of transporting individuals in wheelchairs both up and down stairs with ease and can be operated by a single helper.

These devices focus on stability and ease of use, facilitating evacuations from various building levels, including basements. Additionally, Evaccess offers well-engineered evacuation chairs equipped with braking systems and powered features for easy operation, making them ideal for multi-story buildings where elevators are unusable during emergencies.

Featured Evacuation Products from Evaccess

The LG2004 T-Lift: This state-of-the-art model provides a revolutionary solution for evacuating individuals in wheelchairs. Capable of transporting both a person and their wheelchair up and down stairs, the T-Lift eliminates the need for physical lifting.

The Gecko: Tailored for adaptability, the Gecko excels in navigating a variety of staircases, including straight, spiral, and flared configurations. Its anti-tilt technology eases the load on operators while ensuring safety and stability, supporting up to 180 kg.

The Super-Trac TRE-70: The TRE-70 is a versatile powered stair climber designed to enhance accessibility and safety in multi-level buildings. It allows for the smooth transportation of individuals in wheelchairs over stairs, without the need for transfer from their chairs

Explore the full range of Evaccess products here: https://evaccess.uk/products/

The Evaccess Commitment

The Evaccess team is dedicated to supporting you by offering guidance and answering any queries. By choosing Evaccess, facilities managers can meet and exceed modern standards for safety and accessibility, promoting a culture of inclusivity and preparedness in building management.

Call Evaccess for advice and information.

https://evaccess.uk/

0121 444 3690

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