Fire legislation has been extended to protect those who inhabit a building for more than one resident. This has resulted in the Fire Safety Act 2021. However, there are questions surrounding the protection of disabled residents and whether they go far enough, including the implementation of disabled refuge systems.
The stay-where-you-are method has been changed to accommodate recent fire tragedies.
Rather than tell residents to stay put it has been suggested a more detailed evacuation procedure be put in place. However, what has also been recognised is the need to do more to protect the lives of those who are disabled, because they cannot leave as quickly and as safely as those without disabilities.
The review of evaluation plans on a regular basis.
For those who live in tower blocks, local authorities should ensure that regular reviews of evaluation plans are made on a regular basis. In a nutshell, if you have residents who will struggle to leave a building due to a disability then an evacuation plan must be in place in order to protect them from harm.
Information on the residents occupying the building must be updated on a regular basis.
Evacuation plans for able-bodied residents have not taken into account those with disabilities, which naturally need to be addressed. And although the act did not take them into account when drawing up the plans originally, when fire safety choices are made, disabled residents must be taken into consideration.
BS 5839, the current building regulations, do make it clear that there should be refuge areas created for those with more than one floor in non-domestic buildings. These would be areas where people can congregate safely until help arrives.
Areas of refuge for disabled domestic residents.
Keeping this in mind, even in domestic buildings, every reasonable effort should be made to provide the same. A disabled refuge area will contain a two-way communication system so that people are reassured that help is on its way. In order to be fully compliant with BS 5839 and the Emergency Communications Systems, any procedures should meet stringent requirements including -
Wall-mounted master controllers of around 4 to 8 lines
Line master controllers that can be expanded to double up to and include 12 to 16 lines.
A Disabled Refuge outstation in stainless or green steel that’s weatherproof.
An interface which is comprehensive enough to easily work with audio-frequency induction loop systems, beacons, strobes or CCTV activation relays.
Work for at least 24hrs standby with VDC and come with 3-hour backup.
Non-tamper materials within the enclosure so they cannot be damaged. This will be in a public area so it needs to be protected at all times.
Available refuge and access to safety.
So disabled people should be considered in all evacuation procedures, they should be able to access refuge where they can expect to be rescued safely. They do not go as far as they should but they are headed in the right direction. Further fire legislation should be expected in the not too distant future to guarantee further fire safety procedures for disabled residents in buildings with more than one floor.
It has been agreed that Emergency Communication Systems should be included within a disabled resident’s flat as part of the overall evacuation procedures and this could be enshrined in law before very long.
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If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed here about disabled refuge systems or you need to ask us about any part of our services, especially with disabled residents in mind, please do contact us because we’re always here to help.
