Evacuation Equipment Buying Guide

Introduction

UK businesses are required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to conduct fire risk assessments, implement fire safety measures, and ensure safe evacuation routes.

Additionally, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 mandate the establishment of emergency procedures and regular evacuation drills to ensure employee safety.

Non-compliance with these laws can result in substantial fines, potential imprisonment for serious breaches, business interruption through enforcement actions, and damage to the business's reputation. Effective evacuation procedures not only ensure legal compliance but also significantly enhance workplace safety and emergency preparedness.

Effective evacuation plans to ensure the safety of all personnel during fires, but also major incidents, which is an additional consideration for public premises as part of draft Martyn’s Law legislation.

An effective plan, properly implemented with the right products, minimizes panic, reduces the risk of injuries, and ensures a swift and orderly evacuation. Factors to consider within evacuation plans include:

Risk Assessment

Identify potential hazards and assess risks specific to your workplace.

Clear Evacuation Routes

Ensure multiple, unobstructed exits are available, clearly marked, and accessible.

Emergency Exits

Install illuminated and compliant exit signage.

Assembly Points

Designate safe areas outside the building for employees to gather.

Special Needs

Plan for the safe evacuation of disabled or mobility-impaired individuals, using tools like evacuation chairs.

Communication

Establish clear communication channels for alerting employees.

Training and Drills

Regularly train employees and conduct evacuation drills to ensure everyone is familiar with the plan.

Documentation and Review

Document the plan and review it regularly to ensure it remains effective and up-to-date.

Evacuation Chairs

Evacuation chairs are designed to assist in evacuating disabled or injured persons from multi-story buildings.

It’s important to remember that this may be necessary both upwards and downwards. When purchasing, you should consider ease of use, the number of personnel on site, weight capacity, and compliance with safety standards. Implementation involves training staff in their operation and regular maintenance checks.

Our range includes everything from lightweight basic transit chairs for light duty patient handling, to high specification evacuation chairs with powered assistance and 250kg capacities.

Evacuation chairs in the UK must adhere to several safety standards to ensure they are reliable and effective during emergencies. These include BS EN 1865-1:2018, which outlines requirements for patient handling equipment used in ambulances, BS 9999:2017, which provides fire safety guidance for buildings, and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, which mandate risk assessments and safety measures for manual handling tasks. Compliance with these standards ensures evacuation chairs are safe, durable, and ergonomic, facilitating efficient evacuation of individuals with mobility impairments.

Site Alarms

Providing evacuation and site alarms enhances safety by ensuring rapid communication of emergencies, facilitating timely evacuations, and reducing response times.

Businesses with large, complex, or dynamic environments such as construction sites, industrial facilities, warehouses, and outdoor event venues particularly benefit from these systems. Site alarms help ensure that all areas, including remote or temporary setups, are covered. This comprehensive alert system is crucial for maintaining safety in high-risk or large-scale operations, minimizing potential injuries and damage during emergencies.

Site alarms can also be linked so the alarm can be raised simultaneously across premises and worksites.

Our range of Evacuator site alarms are powdered by 9V batteries (included) for the ultimate convenience, but still emit a powerful 110db alarm and visual strobe system for effective evacuation.

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Evacuation Sledges & Chutes

Evacuation sledges and chutes provide rapid escape from high-rise buildings when elevators are unusable.

Key considerations include the suitability for different building heights, ease of deployment, and user training. Practical steps involve identifying strategic locations for these devices and conducting regular evacuation drills to ensure they form part of an effective evacuation plan.

Evacuation sledges and chutes are particularly important in environments where there may be immobile or bed-ridden casualties that need to be safely evacuated.

Exit Push Bars & Pads

Exit push bars and pads facilitate quick and easy door opening during an evacuation.

Businesses should ensure these devices are installed on all emergency exits, are clearly marked, and comply with safety regulations. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial to ensure they function correctly during an emergency.

Our range includes fire rated, CE marked solutions for single and double doors which are suitable for universal handling and members of the public who many not have been trained in a sites specific evacuation procedures, which is an important consideration. We offer a 10-year guarantee on all Exit Push Bars & Pads, manufactured in Britain to a high standard and built to withstand stressful conditions.

Choose from Panic Bolt and Panic Latch systems:

Panic bolt systems feature a sliding bolt that secures the door into a strike plate. When the horizontal bar is pushed, the bolt retracts, allowing the door to open quickly. These systems are ideal for high-security emergency exits in commercial and industrial settings where doors need to be securely bolted shut but still allow for swift evacuation.
Panic latch systems use a latch mechanism that retracts when a horizontal bar is pushed, making the door open easily. They are best suited for internal emergency exits where moderate security and rapid egress are necessary. These systems are commonly found in buildings needing quick and accessible exit routes.

Exit & Emergency Signage

Exit and emergency signage guide occupants to the nearest exits, even in low visibility conditions.

When selecting signage, businesses should consider visibility, luminescence, and compliance with safety standards. Signs should be strategically placed along evacuation routes, regularly checked for visibility, and updated as necessary.

UK businesses must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, requiring clear and visible exit signage to indicate escape routes. Signs must be illuminated and conform to British Standard BS 5499-4 for graphical symbols and color schemes. Most exit and evacuation signs are green with white symbols and text, as per the official colours required for safe condition signage.

Placement along established evacuation routes is essential. Using photoluminescent materials is recommended in areas with unreliable lighting. Compliance enhances safety and ensures clear exit and evacuation guidance for occupants during emergencies.

Furthermore, assembly point signage is crucial for directing employees and visitors to safe gathering areas during emergencies, ensuring orderly evacuation, and facilitating headcounts. Proper signage helps reduce confusion and panic, enhancing overall safety and efficiency in emergency response.

When purchasing assembly point signage, businesses should consider visibility, durability, and compliance with safety standards. Signs should be highly visible, even in low light conditions, to ensure they can be easily spotted during an emergency. They must be made from durable materials to withstand outdoor elements if placed outside. Choose from a range of outdoor materials and fixing options within our extensive range.

Why Buy From VSafety?

Meeting your fire safety obligations are an essential consideration for any organisation with premises, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to deal with us. Join the thousands of customers who have benefitted from our exceptional customer service, low prices, comprehensive range, and quality product guidance.

Speak to us! You can call our friendly team FREE on 0800 030 8010, chat to us online or email us at sales@vsafety.co.uk