Building Evacuation

1. When to evacuate

The following will result in the evacuation of a university building:

• Audio alarm
• Power failure - Laboratories must be evacuated, follow instructions as provided under Utility Failure
• Natural disaster
• Man-made disaster
• Mechanical problems that are deemed a danger to the occupants
• Hazardous chemical spill or gas leak
• Order of University Police of other Public Safety Official

2. General Evacuation procedures and guidelines:

General Procedures

• Stay Calm
• Faculty and staff should attempt assisting in the evacuation of their areas. In the event you are not familiar with the evacuation route of your area, please follow the nearest "Exit" sign.
• Do not use the elevators
• Reenter the building only when directed by a fire department official or university police
• Staff should only perform those evacuation duties that they are comfortable with
• Occupants should be strongly encouraged to evacuate the building; however if an occupant refuses to leave, the building emergency supervisor/staff should inform the occupant of the danger of staying in the building. The building emergency supervisor/staff should then continue notifying the remainder of occupants in his/her area.

General Guidelines when evacuating the building

• Evacuate the building in a top down fashion. Do not go upstairs to evacuate activity spaces; the Building Emergency Supervisor or Support Staff will notify occupants in those areas.
• Follow the "Exit" signs posted throughout the building.
• Evacuate away from the affected area.
• Clear the activity area that you are closest to during the alarm.
• Make your way to the next activity area if there is no sign of smoke or fire.

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Evacuation of Disabled

Procedure

Immediate supervisors of disabled employees shall meet with them immediately upon hiring to discuss emergency procedures. If the person requests assistance in an emergency, plans are to be made upon hiring and discussed with the individual. Emergency supervisors, alternates, and support staff are to be made aware of the request only upon permission of the person making the request.

Building emergency supervisors who have mobility restricted individuals under their direction must make arrangements to notify police and fire authorities of the location of these people within the involved building. This should be done in person outside of the building. This is critical to the procedure and the safety of these individuals.

If a person with a mobility impairment is able to exit the building without the use of the elevator, then evacuation should follow the appropriate route out of the building. If exit from the building is only possible by use of the stairwells, follow these procedures:

• The mobility impaired person should proceed to the nearest enclosed stairwell or "area of safe refuge" and stay there.
• In case of fire, enclosed building stairwells are "safe refuge areas," and have a higher fire resistive rating. If possible, a co-worker, supervisor, instructor, or building emergency supervisor should be notified. Make sure the door to the stairwell is closed. open doors will violate the safe refuge area and will allow smoke, and possibly fire, into the stairwell.
• Once outside the co-worker, supervisor, instructor, or building emergency supervisor must notify the Huntsville Fire Department or the University Police Department that there is a mobility impaired person in the stairwell, which floor the person is on and the location of the stairwell or refuge area.

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