The fire evacuation plan is a key safety element in any establishment open to the public (ERP) or company. It enables occupants to be quickly directed to the exits in the event of an emergency. Its design must comply with precise standards to guarantee its effectiveness and legibility.
- Standards and regulations
The production of a fire escape plan is governed by a number of regulations, in particular standard NF X08-070, which defines the requirements for safety signage. These plans must comply with the French Labor Code (articles R.4227-34 to R.4227-38) and with the specific rules for ERP and Immeubles de Grande Hauteur (IGH).
- Essential elements of an Evacuation Plan
An evacuation plan must contain several essential items of information:
- The evacuation route, with indications of emergency exits.
- Location of fire-fighting equipment, such as extinguishers, RIA (Robinet d’Incendie Armé) and fire alarms.
- Safety instructions to be followed in the event of an alarm.
- Evacuationassembly point.
- The observer’s current position, indicated by ” You are here “.
- Design methodology
The production of an evacuation plan follows several stages:
- Site survey: Analysis of accesses, emergency exits and fire safety equipment.
- Drawing up the plan: Integration of mandatory elements, respecting color codes (red for emergency means, green for evacuation, blue for electrical equipment, etc.).
- Validation by a safety expert to ensure compliance with current regulations.
- Printed and displayed on resistant materials (Plexiglas, aluminum) and installed in visible locations.
- Maintenance and updating
An evacuation plan should be reviewed after any structural modification to the building or safety system. An annual check is recommended to ensure that it meets current standards and risks.
In short, producing a fire escape plan is a rigorous process that requires expertise and compliance with standards to guarantee occupant safety in the event of a disaster.
