Fire Safety and Evacuation Ltd
 
FIRE SAFETY
& EVACUATIONS LTD

Ph: 0508 891 112   Mb: 021 891 112
 Fire action signage, fire protection, building Warrant of Fitness

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are Evacuation Schemes and Procedures required?

Legislation that governs Fire Safety.

  • Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 2006
  • Fire Service Act
  • NZ Standard 9232 (Theatres and Auditoriums)
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Employment Act
  • ACC Auditing
  • the list goes on…….

The real reason for having an evacuation scheme -
If you find a fire, or hear the fire alarm, do you know exactly what to do?
What about the others in your building?

Remember:
Your confidence in your evacuation procedures will determine the life safety factor of those involved in an emergency in your building, not just your own but the lives of other occupants and the attending emergency response crews.

Whose responsibility is it to provide an Evacuation Scheme ?

It is the responsibility of the Building Owner to provide and maintain an Evacuation Scheme.

Fire Service Act (Section 21B)
(1) The owner of a relevant building must provide and maintain an evacuation scheme that is designed to enable evacuation from the scene of a fire safely and within a reasonable time,

Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 2006 owner, in relation to a building, means
(a) the person for the time being entitled to receive the rack rent for the building; or
(b) the person who would be entitled to receive the rack rent for the building if the building were let at a rack rent

What is the difference between an Evacuation Scheme and an Evacuation Procedure?

In a nut shell, buildings that require 'Schemes' are legally required to:

  • be approved by the NZ Fire Service and;
  • must conduct 6 monthly Trial Evacuations (Drills) or Training to maintain approval.

Buildings that only require a 'Procedure' are not! All the other requirements are all very similar.

What buildings require a Scheme?

Any Building which has the facilities for:

  • 10 or more persons working (unless the building has a compliant sprinkler system)
  • 5 or more persons sleeping (other than a household unit) in 3 or more units (unless the building has a compliant sprinkler system).
  • 100+ persons to gather in one area for any purpose.
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Storage or processing of Hazardous or Dangerous Goods.
  • Nursing or Geriatric Care
  • Specialised Care for Disabilities
  • Lawful Detention Facilities

Nearly all other buildings require a Procedure!
(Crown Buildings are exempt)

What is involved in a Scheme?

  • Documentation that must be approved by the NZ Fire Service.
  • Training for Wardens and tenants in the building on what is required of them as a part of the Evacuation Scheme (Wardens Training & Trial Evacuations).
  • Fire Action Notices must be displayed by all Fire Alarm Call Points and in Common Areas.
  • Wardens I.D & Tally Board (where applicable)
  • 6 monthly Trial Evacuations / Training Programmes conducted to maintain compliance.
  • Reports filled with the NZ Fire Service to confirm continued compliance.
  • Accommodation Buildings - Tenants Instructions for each apartment.

What is involved in a Procedure?

  • Documentation that must be approved by the NZ Fire Service.
  • Fire Action Notices must be displayed by all Fire Alarm Call Points and in Common Areas.
  • Reports filled with the NZ Fire Service.
  • Accommodation Buildings - Tenants Instructions for each apartment.

If I have a building that only requires a procedure, can I be forced to implement Trial Evacuations and Training by outside authorities (ACC, OSH, Education Dept & Dept of Health Etc)?

In some cases yes. Although the Fire Service Legislation is quite specific in which buildings are required to do what, other agencies may have their own policies for compliance. In the case of ACC, quite substantial discounts can be gained by ensuring compliance.

^ TOP OF PAGE