6.6 Evacuation of a Workplace

Question 1

The capacity of an escape route is measured by…

Answer 1

the number of persons per minute
that can pass through the effective usable width (narrowest point) of the escape
route.

Question 2

The capacity of an escape route is determined by what three things?

Answer 2

 width of the route;
 time available for escape; and
 ability of the persons using them.

Question 3

True or false…

At least two exits should be provided if a room/area is to be occupied by more than 60
persons.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

True or false…

About two thirds of the time available to escape is taken up by the initial reaction to
the developing situation, checking what other people are doing and working out
whether the situation is real or false. The actual movement away from the area of the
fire takes up the final third.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

The primary objective of an evacuation strategy is to ensure that in the event of a
fire, the occupants of a building can reach a place of ultimate safety outside the
building.

There are two basic approaches to evacuation:

Answer 5

 total evacuation, which may be simultaneous or phased; and
 progressive evacuation

Question 6

The best way to evaluate the effectiveness of the emergency evacuation plan is…

Answer 6

perform a fire

drill