Emergency procedures
Should there be an emergency, people need to know what to do. In the simplest form, a 'fire action' poster can be displayed. Procedures may also need to outline actions for specific people, such as:
- Fire / evacuation marshals;
- Group leaders, such as Sunday School leaders, who need to take charge of the group that they have;
- The person nominated to call the emergency services; and
- People that need to do certain things to shut down equipment, such as organs and catering equipment.
In Churches and Places of Worship, the procedures need to take account of the public who cannot be expected to know the procedures or the evacuation signal – a PA announcement or voice alarm system may be needed to get the message across to those who are unfamiliar with the premises.
Procedures need to be understood, so people need to be given instruction and training in what to do in a fire, and practice fire drills are a good way to rehearse what to do.
Providing Assistance
Some people will need to be assisted out of the premises because they may not be able to respond to, or understand, the alarm by themselves. A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is a way to provide assistance for a person who needs it, such as an employee or volunteer. It is complied for an individual and with the input from the individual. It is followed when ever there is a need to evacuate the premises.
As Churches and Places of Worship are often used by the Public, it may be necessary to have a number of Generic Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs) to provide for those situations when a visitor needs assistance.
Anyone who needs to provide assistance to others needs to have sufficient instruction or training for them to carry out their tasks. This is especially important when using evacuation aids, such as evacuation chairs.
Maintenance, Tests and Inspections
All fire safety equipment needs to be checked and maintained to make sure that it will work when it is needed. Some examples are:
- Fire exits – open the door weekly and check it opens and verify that the exit routes are free from obstruction.
- Internal fire doors – check the smoke/fire (intumescent) seals and verify self-closing doors close properly each month. A more detailed inspection can be carried out by a competent person every six months.
- Fire extinguishers – visually inspect the extinguisher every month and arrange for a service company to maintain the equipment annually.
- Fire alarms – test the alarm each week by operating a call point chosen in sequence and have a competent company maintain the system every six months.
- Emergency lighting – check the lights work each month by simulating a power cut, and get a competent service company to test the system for the full duration of the fittings, commonly 3 hours, annually.
- Boilers and heat-producing appliances - these need to be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's guidance, often annually.
Records of these checks should be kept. This may be in the form of a log book for some items, and service companies will usually issue certificates for alarm system servicing, extinguisher maintenance and similar activities.
Training
Nominate competent people to assist with fire safety, such as fire marshals who can do some of the routine checks, assist people to evacuate the premises in an emergency, and verify that everyone is safely outside if there is a fire. The term 'competent' means that the person should have received training, have some experience and posses sufficient knowledge to do the job safely.
Fire safety training should be included in induction packages for all new employees and volunteers. Fire drills are useful to cement that knowledge.
Fire Drills
Rehearsal fire drills are useful so that people become familiar with what they need to do if there is a real fire in the building.
For many workplaces, a drill every six months is usually recommended. When choosing how often to hold fire drills, consider the events and activities that take place, and try to make sure that drills cover as many 'regulars' as possible, without being excessive (because having too many drills will lead to apathy). However, groups such as 'Mums and Tots' may need more frequent drills, especially when the group members change regularly.
Summoning the Fire and Rescue Service
Clear procedures are needed for the emergency services to be called in a fire. Even if the fire detection and alarm system has a link to an Alarm Receiving Centre, or is otherwise monitored by the Fire Service or a third party, it should not be assumed that the link has operated. An emergency call should be made using the '999' system.
When the emergency services arrive, there should be someone appointed to liaise with them. They will be interested in where the fire is, if everyone has been accounted for and if there are any significant hazards on the premises that they need to be aware of (such as a store of gas bottles for heating appliances).
Information for the Fire and Rescue Service
If there is a fire alarm system, ensure that there is a 'zone map' next to the panel. This plan could also show any significant hazards, such as the location of boilers and electricity or gas shut-off valves.
Larger premises and complex sites would benefit from having more information available, including details of fire hydrants and similar fire safety systems or equipment. This information can be kept in a folder that is retained in a clearly marked cabinet near the entrance.
Further Guidance
The Department for Communities and Local Government has provided a series of fire safety guides. Of interest to most Churches and Places of Worship will be the guide covering Small and Medium Places of Assembly and the guide covering Large Places of Assembly. There is also a guide on Means of Escape for Disabled People.
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