| Advice for carrying out Fire Drills | | | | and inform all staff of their duty to |
| | | | participate |
| Fire drills should be carried out to check | | | | |
| that staff understand the emergency fire | | | | - Ensure that any equipment which is in use, |
| action plan, to ensure that staff are | | | | such as cookers, can be made safe by |
| familiar with operation of the emergency fire | | | | isolating or turning off controls, where |
| action plan, to evaluate effectiveness of the | | | | appropriate |
| plan and to identify any weakness in the | | | | |
| evacuation strategy. | | | | - In larger premises, nominate observers that |
| | | | can assess the appropriateness of actions and |
| The frequency of fire drills for each | | | | identify problems |
| building will be different and should reflect | | | | |
| the level of risk. Fire drills should take | | | | - Inform visitors if they are present |
| place at least once a year. Where there is | | | | |
| more than one escape route, the fire drills | | | | A roll call should be carried out as soon as |
| should assume conditions in which one or more | | | | possible at the designated assembly point(s) |
| than one escape route are obstructed by | | | | and note any persons who are unaccounted for. |
| smoke. In offices, a fire drill should | | | | In a fire evacuation this information would |
| involve occupant evacuation and should | | | | need to be passed to the fire and rescue |
| commence on operation of the fire alarm. In | | | | service on arrival. The results of the fire |
| shops, fire drills should involve rehearsal | | | | drill should be recorded and stored with the |
| for evacuation and will normally be scheduled | | | | fire risk assessment. |
| when there are no or few shoppers in the | | | | |
| premises. | | | | Throughout the fire drill, the person in |
| | | | charge and any nominated observers should pay |
| Where there is a possibility that someone may | | | | particular attention to: |
| misinterpret the fire drill and call the Fire | | | | |
| and Rescue Service, it may be appropriate to | | | | - Inappropriate actions such as stopping to |
| inform the fire and rescue service prior to | | | | collect personal items, such as jackets and |
| the commencement and on conclusion of a drill | | | | handbags |
| in order to alert them to the exercise and so | | | | |
| prevent their unnecessary attendance. If the | | | | - Difficulties experienced by people with |
| fire alarm system is connected to a remote | | | | disabilities |
| alarm receiving centre, inform the receiving | | | | |
| centre to ensure that the fire and rescue | | | | - Communication difficulties with regard to |
| service is not inadvertently called out to | | | | the roll call and establishing that everyone |
| the premises, and inform the receiving centre | | | | is accounted for |
| when the fire drill has been completed. | | | | |
| | | | - The use of the nearest available fire |
| Within each building the fire drill | | | | escape routes as opposed to frequently used |
| evacuation should involve all occupants | | | | routes |
| except those having a designated role such as | | | | |
| the need to ensure the security of the | | | | - Difficulties with the opening of doors and |
| premises, the safety of the occupants or | | | | fire escape routes being blocked |
| where equipment or processes cannot be closed | | | | |
| down. | | | | - Doors not being closed as people leave |
| | | | rooms to prevent smoke and fire spread |
| When carrying out the fire drill it may be | | | | |
| useful to: | | | | The significant findings of any fire drill |
| | | | should be recorded with the fire risk |
| - Circulate details concerning the fire drill | | | | assessment and reviewed regularly. |