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