Annex D(Clause 4.11) Guidelines for Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedures for High Rise Buildings D-1 Introduction

In case of fire in a high rise building, safe evacuation of its occupants may present serious problems unless a plan for orderly and systematic evacuation is prepared in advance and all occupants are well drilled in the operation of such plan. These guidelines are intended to assist them in this task.

D-2 Alarms

Any person discovering fire, heat or smoke shall immediately report such condition to the fire brigade, unless he has personal knowledge that such a report has been made. No person shall make, issue, post or maintain any regulation or order, written or verbal, that would require any person to take any unnecessary delaying action prior to reporting such condition to the fire brigade.

D-3.1 Fire drills shall be conducted, in accordance with the Fire Safety Plan, at least once every three months for buildings during the first two years. Thereafter, fire drills shall be conducted at least once every six months.

D-3.2 All occupants of the building shall participate in the fire drill. However, occupants of the building, other than building service employees, are not required to leave the floor or use the exits during the drill.

D-3.3 A written record of such drills shall be kept on the premises for a three years period and shall be readily available for fire brigade inspection.

D-4 Signs and Plans

A sign shall be posted and maintained in a conspicuous place on every floor at or near the lift landing in accordance with the requirements, indicating that in case of fire, occupants shall use the stairs unless instructed otherwise. The sign shall contain a diagram showing the location of the stairways except that such diagram may be omitted, provided signs containing such diagram are posted in conspicuous places on the respective floor.

A sign shall read ‘IN CASE OF FIRE, USE STAIRS UNLESS INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE’. The lettering shall be at least 12.5 mm block letters in red and white

background. Such lettering shall be properly spaced to provide good legibility. The sign shall be at least $250 \, mm \times 300 \, mm$ , where the diagram is also incorporated in it and $62.5 \, mm \times 250 \, mm$ where the diagram is omitted. In the latter case, the diagram sign shall be at least $200 \, mm \times 300 \, mm$ . The sign shall be located directly above the call-button and squarely attached to the wall or partition. The top of the sign shall not be above $2 \, m$ from the floor level.

D-4.2 Floor Numbering Signs

A sign shall be posted and maintained within each stair enclosure on every floor, indicating the number of the floor, in accordance with the requirements given below.

The numerals shall be of bold type and at least 75 mm high. The numerals and background shall be in contrasting colours. The sign shall be securely attached to the stair side of the door.

D-4.3 Stair and Lifts Identification Signs

Each stairway and each lift bank shall be identified by an alphabetical letter. A sign indicating the letter of identification shall be posted and maintained at each lift landing and on the side of the stairway door from which egress is to be made, in accordance with the requirements given in 4.4.2.4.3.2(h)(9).

D-4.4 Stair Re-entry Signs

A sign shall be posted and maintained on each floor within each stairway and on the occupancy side of the stairway where required, indicating whether re-entry is provided into the building and the floor where such re-entry is provided, in accordance with the requirements given below.

The lettering and numerals of the signs shall be at least 12.5 mm high of bold type. The lettering and background shall be of contrasting colours and the signs shall be securely attached approximately 1.5 m above the floor level.