Fire safety plans are designed to minimize the threats associated with building fire evacuations, and to provide occupants with safety directives as these emergencies arise. Each plan describes advance fire safety measures, supervisory staff duties, and guidelines to ensure the effectiveness and full utilization of the fire and life safety features installed in the building. In addition, the plan plays a critical role in assisting the city fire services to negotiate the building layout on arrival, by providing floor plans as well as a list of occupants who are in need of special assistance during an evacuation. Of course, in order for the fire safety plan to be effective, the building operator and/or management personnel must fully understand and implement its contents prior to and in the event of an emergency.

The provisions for occupant fire safety clearly define the owner as being any person, firm or corporation controlling the property under consideration. Consequently, the owner may be any one or a combination of parties, including building management, maintenance staff and tenant groups. This shared accountability and preparation by all parties aims to provide a higher level of evacuation readiness for the occupants of a building, which is vital to their safety should a fire emergency arise. The fire safety plan includes implementation instructions, the schedule for maintaining the building fire and life safety systems, and illustrates the floor plan exits, stairwells and placement of fire extinguishers, manual fire alarm pull stations, etc. The occupant evacuation procedures, fire drill schedules, roles and responsibilities of the supervisory personnel and the outside assembly points are also part of the approved fire safety plan content.

It is certain that there will be changes to the fire safety plan as time passes. In most cases, building operators and managers check with the local city fire services regarding whether their accepted fire safety plan (or parts thereof) are to be re-submitted for revisions that have occurred. In the event the plans content is not kept current for an extended length of time, the fire official may order that the plan be upgraded to the standard of the present fire code. The original City letter of approval which accompanied the fire safety plan will provide further clarification as to when notification is required for changes to the plan subsequent to its acceptance and approval. As per the fire code, a plan shall be reviewed as often as necessary, but at intervals not greater than 12 months, to ensure that it takes account of changes in the use and other characteristics of the building.

This article was contributed by Firepoint Inc, serving the GTA since 1997, developing fire department approved fire safety plans for newly constructed and existing buildings. See firepoint.ca or call 905-874-9400.

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