Evacuation Schemes

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Having an approved evacuation scheme provides your building with protection for tenants and the building itself, is a competitive display of investment in fire safety and allows for the safe, prompt, and efficient evacuation of a building.

What kind of evacuation plan does my business need?

There are two types of evacuation documents a building may need, which depends on whether your building is classified as a relevant building A building that requires an evacuation scheme is called a ‘relevant building’. These include the following:
1. Buildings where 100 or more people can gather together.
2. Buildings where 10 or more people work.
3. Buildings where six or more people sleep, unless there are three or fewer households.
4. Buildings storing certain levels of hazardous substances.
5. Buildings used for early childhood, medical, and disabled care services, unless the building is a normal home.
6. Prisons and holding cells.

For a complete list and full details of buildings that are ‘relevant buildings’ refer to section 75 of the Act.
 or not. 

Most buildings used by the public must have an evacuation procedure An evacuation procedure describes how occupants will escape to a place of safety if there is a fire, or an alarm of fire.

Most buildings used by the public must have an evacuation procedure in place. If a building is a relevant building then the building owner must also provide and maintain an approved evacuation scheme.

Evacuation procedures for buildings that are not relevant buildings under section 75 of the Act don’t need Fire and Emergency approval. The requirements for evacuation procedures are set out in part 1 of the Regulations.
 in place. 

Buildings classified as a relevant building must also provide and maintain an approved evacuation scheme. An evacuation scheme is a plan that provides for the safety of a building’s occupants if there is a fire, or an alarm of fire. An evacuation scheme is assessed and approved by Fire and Emergency.
An evacuation scheme needs to include:
• the building’s evacuation procedure
• copies of fire action signs and notices
• description of the building’s firefighting equipment (if applicable)
• details of the places of safety, where they are located, and how they are reached
• description of the building’s automatic sprinkler systems (if applicable)
• description of the building’s fire alarm/means of warning occupants of a fire
• description of the building’s provision for people requiring particular assistance
• a plan for the regular maintenance of the evacuation scheme by either trial evacuations or training

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Guides, forms and examples

View available guides and documents to help complete and maintain your evacuation scheme.

Quick reference guides Application and supporting document examples Fire action notices Printable forms

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