Ok, here’s a challenging scenario:
I can’t go into too many details due to customer confidentiality.
A large modern food production run by a western company in a building located on a land locked site, and within a congested city in a third world location. It has a full European standard fire detection system, is part sprinklered, good(ish) compartmentation and is well managed. It holds perhaps 2000+ occupants and has really good, tried and tested evacuation procedures. There is no outside space or yard as goods go in and out directly from a busy street
The company need to introduce limited production 24/7. There will be far fewer staff scattered around this building at these times. The staff numbers will vary each night , and in different parts of the building depending on demand.
Establishing fire wardens (to sweep the premises after an evacuation) will be problematic as the occupancy levels with vary so much – even by the hour. Ensuring sufficient fire wardens are in place will be tricky. Therefore it is not possible to guarantee an effective sweep of the premises at these times.
The premises evacuates onto the city centre streets of this unnamed country, where crime is rampant and lawlessness is the norm. Understandably, the company cannot consider holding a roll call in this environment at 03:00.
So what options remain for accounting for staff???
Accounting for staff in a challenging environment
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Re: Accounting for staff in a challenging environment
I'm really not an expert here at all but do they need to actually exit the building? If it has compartments like you say how about you all meet in a foyer, unless of course there are signs of fire when you would then meet at a muster point in the street? I know many hospitals just evacuate horizontally to the next fire compartment. Or you could have one of those fire alarms with an alert phase be before the evacuation phase, so if one detector goes off then someone investigates but if two go off or a break glass is broken or it goes on for several minutes then it goes to a full alarm?
I'm probably way of the mark, but have been reading the BS for fire alarms and all of these seem like options if you existing alarm installation allows it.
I'm happy to be shot down by any fire experts!!
I'm probably way of the mark, but have been reading the BS for fire alarms and all of these seem like options if you existing alarm installation allows it.
I'm happy to be shot down by any fire experts!!
- Messy
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Now sort of retired from the fire safety game, but doing the odd job here and there to keep my grey matter working and as I hate sudoku and havent got the back for an allotment - Location: Sunny London where the streets are paved with gold ;)
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Re: Accounting for staff in a challenging environment
Laura - Thanks for the suggestion. Sadly the building isn't suitable for progressive horizontal evacuation - the system the NHS use that you are referring to. However, the idea of moving staff to a point in the building (and on the perimeter close to a final exit) is an attractive one, and perhaps the only possible solution
Selfishly, this an option which means I will have to travel to a poor part of this lawless country to survey the site and recommend a few changes to allow this to happen. I am ok about it, but Mrs Messy wont be pleased!
Selfishly, this an option which means I will have to travel to a poor part of this lawless country to survey the site and recommend a few changes to allow this to happen. I am ok about it, but Mrs Messy wont be pleased!
Re: Accounting for staff in a challenging environment
Messy
do they have access via a card reader system? If so, could that data be manipulated to show who is in the building at any one time, so if there is an evacuation the system can say how many who entered the building by proxing their card against the reader, have not exited?
I am guessing that if that was the case, you would not have needed to post...
do they have access via a card reader system? If so, could that data be manipulated to show who is in the building at any one time, so if there is an evacuation the system can say how many who entered the building by proxing their card against the reader, have not exited?
I am guessing that if that was the case, you would not have needed to post...
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Re: Accounting for staff in a challenging environment
Google RFID site access. May give you some ideas.
I don't know anything about this company but I would think it could be suitable for you https://gaorfid.com/construction-site-a ... ol-system/
If you don't know, RFID = Radio Frequency Identification. If you watch the triathlon at the Olympics (you really should) look on the competitors ankles. These contain an RFID chip that is automatically sensed when they pass over mats at the start, in and out of transition and at the end.
I don't know anything about this company but I would think it could be suitable for you https://gaorfid.com/construction-site-a ... ol-system/
If you don't know, RFID = Radio Frequency Identification. If you watch the triathlon at the Olympics (you really should) look on the competitors ankles. These contain an RFID chip that is automatically sensed when they pass over mats at the start, in and out of transition and at the end.
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Re: Accounting for staff in a challenging environment
We have a fire system in place where we have clock cards, cant leave site without clocking out etc. We also use the clock system as a roll call too which works. If the fire alarm goes off all staff tap with their clock cards onto a fire system which then acts as a roll call, a printer then prints out a list of the staff who are unaccounted for.
We also have a double knock system in place where we have an intermittent alarm set at a time length e.g. 5 mins, if a fire is detected then a call point is activated which sets the system to full site evacuation.
If the first alarm is false then the main panel can be reset to stop the full site evacuation.
We also have a double knock system in place where we have an intermittent alarm set at a time length e.g. 5 mins, if a fire is detected then a call point is activated which sets the system to full site evacuation.
If the first alarm is false then the main panel can be reset to stop the full site evacuation.
The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts..............