It is always good to see this important topic getting more attention. I
work for the National Disability Authority here in Ireland and we have
recently released a new version of our guidance document on this topic -
Safe Evacuation For All. This is available at;
http://www.nda.ie/cntmgmtnew.nsf/0/290172FB120640DE8025784F003DAD5A?OpenDocument
This will give you useful guidance on some of the important considerations
for designers, the various types of evacuation equipment (including evac
chairs) and how to manage your own building. You will also find our older
publication on that page, along with proceedings from two conferences on
this issue.
It is indeed a 'hard sell' to persuade designers and developers on the
benefits of evacuation lifts. However, these really do offer substantial
benefits - and not just for wheelchair users. They are very useful for
people with vision loss, for many older people, for pregnant ladies, for a
parent pushing a buggy etc. There may even be other options - a sloping
site can present an opportunity for level exits to ground from multiple
levels.
In existing buildings, there are cases where using a standard lift (i.e.
non-evacuation lift) is less risky than the alternative ways of evacuating
some people. This is a big change, as we've all been trained for years with
the 'Do Not Use The Lifts' line. However, with careful planning, review by
a good fire engineer, and a dynamic risk assessment when an incident
occurs, it may make more sense to use the lift to get some people quickly
down (or up) to ground level.
In relation to evacuation chairs, there are indeed chairs that can
accommodate a powered wheelchair. This means that the wheelchair user can
remain in their own chair, with no need to transfer. This makes a huge
difference in terms of independence and dignity for the wheelchair user.
The downside is the cost of these powered evacuation chairs.
Hope this helps
Shane
Shane Hogan
Senior Standards Officer
National Disability Authority
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.nda.ie
Direct Line: 01-6080497
NDA eLearning Project - See http://tinyurl.com/6cba5f5
"Thomas, David"
<DThomas@AYLESBUR
YVALEDC.GOV.UK> To
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<ACCESSIBUILT@JIS
CMAIL.AC.UK> Subject
Evacuation from buildings with more
than 1 floor
08/04/2011 10:56
Please respond to
Accessibuilt list
<ACCESSIBUILT@JIS
CMAIL.AC.UK>
Hi All
A topical thought for you all.
(i) We are now quite a large procurer of construction work here in
Aylesbury and use external architects (who for this thread shall be
nameless) as designers. How many of you have experiences of using
architects and how do you find their knowledge of evacuation issues other
than “just get evac chairs”.
(ii) We have a policy of using evac chairs and have noted some weakness in
a Stategy basing all evacuation of anyone with any physical disability at
any time in an open plan "hot desk environment.
My question is how many of you have watertight evacuation policies and
personal evacuation plans, and on review, how many are fit for purpose?
My thoughts are:
That training should be practiced regularly, (typically) every 6 months
talking out each person for up to 2 hours per year.
That evac chairs should be serviced annually.
For someone with the ability to manoeuvre between a wheel chair and an evac
chair with trained users evac chairs are preferable to death and a
practical tool.
On review here at AVDC I have established the following weaknesses';
When the organisation has a flexi system and the helpers (identified in the
PEP) are not about there are problems - resulting in the person having to
work on the ground floor or from home is restricted to ground floor or
anywhere where level evacuation takes them to a point of safety.
That anyone with more severe disability who cannot transfer themselves
between both cannot be evacuated by evac chair and the above point applies.
This can include larger electric wheel chairs that can be heavy.
That sufficient evac chair users should be trained up to cover sickness /
leave / lunch / flexitime /meetings trips to loo and sandwich machines
etc .from preferably the sane floor- I have been told this can be up to 8
staff for full cover - and remember someone has to carry down the
wheelchair unless the employer stores one on the exit floor. If this is not
possible competent people from other floors from above should be available
- not from below as this means two way flow on staircases etc.
That the lift should be adapted so that it becomes the solution , not the
problem - this means 1 hour fire protection and independent power supply -
or that equal access should be afforded on the ground floor/floor with
level egress.
Thorough review of our own plan relying on evac chairs in a more flexible
operation means that it is very beaurocratic moving onto impractical and
would welcome comment from colleagues how we can overcome the limitations
with evac chairs. In effect we are designing a system that can never be
100% suitable.
I would welcome comment from those who agree and disagree because I may be
overlooking something obvious- I know many of you are busy. The following
thread has really provoked me -
http://www.workplacelaw.net/forums/listComments/thread_id/256
ps - has anyone done a cost benefit analysis justifying a new build of a
protected lift against evac chairs? I know a conversion of an existing lift
is over £25K –
In short I appear to be the only one with this view with the architects
not wishing to enter into discussion – am I the exception!
Thanks
David
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