Question 1

“Stay Put” in case of Fire?

admin · Accepted Answer

Q: We were built in 1996 and according to plans the flats are compartmentalised. We're checking safety, and are wondering about the "stay put" recommendation found in all the guides from Government and ARMA. It feels intuitively right for tall blocks (even after Grenfell) but wrong for our three/four stories with five separate staircases. A: FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: I have been very busy since Grenfell tragedy regarding this issue and currently involved with a Government appointed enquiry looking at this issue. The key answer lies with your Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) where you will need to determine a safe ‘means of escape’ in the event of a fire in your building. My own view, having taken advice from my own local fire service when completing the FRA in my block is, where the building is compartmentalised and each flat separated from the rest of the building with a 30 minute fire door, then ‘stay put’ is usually the best policy. It’s simple to understand and safe as if you discover a fire and can isolate from the rest of the building for at least 30 minutes then this allows enough time to allow the fire service to reach you. Having an exit policy can often result in panic as everyone exits the building at the same time. It is then complicated by someone needed to roll call to ensure everyone is out and at the meeting point, which is not always easy to define in a block of flats. I would strongly recommend seeking advice from your local fire service who will usually send someone out free of charge to review this with you to establish the safest means of exiting the building in the event of a fire. Question submitted March 2018

Question 2

“Stay Put” in case of Fire?

admin · Accepted Answer

Q: We were built in 1996 and according to plans the flats are compartmentalised. We're checking safety, and are wondering about the "stay put" recommendation found in all the guides from Government and ARMA. It feels intuitively right for tall blocks (even after Grenfell) but wrong for our three/four stories with five separate staircases. A: FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman replies: I have been very busy since Grenfell tragedy regarding this issue and currently involved with a Government appointed enquiry looking at this issue. The key answer lies with your Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) where you will need to determine a safe ‘means of escape’ in the event of a fire in your building. My own view, having taken advice from my own local fire service when completing the FRA in my block is, where the building is compartmentalised and each flat separated from the rest of the building with a 30 minute fire door, then ‘stay put’ is usually the best policy. It’s simple to understand and safe as if you discover a fire and can isolate from the rest of the building for at least 30 minutes then this allows enough time to allow the fire service to reach you. Having an exit policy can often result in panic as everyone exits the building at the same time. It is then complicated by someone needed to roll call to ensure everyone is out and at the meeting point, which is not always easy to define in a block of flats. I would strongly recommend seeking advice from your local fire service who will usually send someone out free of charge to review this with you to establish the safest means of exiting the building in the event of a fire. Question submitted March 2018

“Stay Put” in case of Fire?

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