Every school must have suitable escape routes and evacuation procedures. Getting hundreds of pupils out of a building safely and quickly takes good organisation.

This module explains the evacuation strategies that schools use, and the features that escape routes need, including fire doors, signs and emergency lighting.

It then explains exactly what to do during an evacuation, so that you can get yourself and your pupils out safely, and report any problems you notice.

Schools use one of four main evacuation strategies. The one your school uses depends on the layout of the building, the number of people in it and the way it is built:

• Simultaneous evacuation.
• Vertical or horizontal phased evacuation.
• Silent or staff alarm evacuation.
• Defend in place.

Everyone needs to know which strategy their school uses, and their own part in it, because it only works if everyone takes part.

Simultaneous evacuation is the most common strategy. It is usually used in lower-risk buildings with a simple layout.

When the fire alarm sounds, everyone leaves the building at the same time. People walk calmly to the nearest exit and make their way to the assembly point outside, following the instructions of the fire wardens.

It is simple to understand, and everyone responds to the same signal.

Vertical or horizontal phased evacuation suits larger buildings with several floors, where the level of risk varies between areas.

The people at most immediate risk leave first, while others wait until it is their turn. Usually, the area where the fire started and the floor above it go first, followed by the other areas in a planned order.

This stops escape routes becoming overcrowded. Large schools with many pupils often use this approach.

With a silent or staff alarm, the alarm is first given only to trained staff, for example by pagers, radios or a coded announcement. Staff then organise a controlled, step-by-step evacuation.

This helps to manage the flow of people and prevent dangerous overcrowding. A school with hundreds of pupils on several floors may choose this strategy, especially where evacuating everyone at once could cause crushing on stairs or at exits.

Defend in place means that people stay inside the building, in a protected area, while the fire service deals with the fire. It is mainly used in hospitals and care settings, where moving people could put them at greater risk.

Most schools do not use this strategy. If your school does use it, staff need detailed procedures and thorough training.

Whatever strategy your school uses, it depends on good escape routes and exits.

Escape routes must allow everyone, wherever they are, to get out quickly to a safe place outside, ending at the assembly point.

Routes must be big enough for the largest number of people who may be in the building at one time. Events such as concerts and open evenings, for example, bring in many extra visitors.

Everyone shares responsibility for keeping escape routes usable throughout the school day.

To work properly, escape routes must:

• Be kept clear of obstructions at all times. Doors along the route must open easily, and final exit doors must open outwards, in the direction of escape.
• Have clear signs showing the way to the exits.
• Be protected by fire-resisting walls and doors, so that fire and smoke cannot enter them quickly, often for 30 or 60 minutes.
• Be accessible to people with limited mobility.
• Have suitable emergency lighting, and never pass close to a hazardous area, such as a chemical store.

There should be at least two escape routes from all parts of the school, completely independent of each other, so that a fire blocking one route does not trap anyone.

Your school should have a floor plan showing the escape routes and exits, colour-coded so that it is easy to follow. It should be displayed around the school, so that pupils and visitors can check it, and every member of staff should have a copy or know where to find one.

Fire doors hold back fire and smoke, protecting escape routes and giving people time to get out.

• Keep fire doors closed at all times. A closed door stops fire and smoke spreading, and starves the fire of oxygen. Never prop or wedge a fire door open.
• Fire doors must have self-closing devices that close them fully from any angle. Doors held open by automatic devices must close when the alarm sounds, and this should be checked during alarm tests.
• Smoke vents in stairwells help to clear smoke.

During an evacuation, fire wardens may close doors and windows to slow the fire. Do not interfere with this.

Fire safety signs show people the way out, and where to find fire safety equipment. They must be clear and well maintained. In particular:

• Escape route signs must be displayed along all exit routes, above doors, and wherever the route changes direction, including on stairs.
• A sign showing the way to the nearest escape route should be visible from anywhere in the school.
• Escape route signs must be mainly pictographic, using pictures rather than words, so that everyone can understand them, including young children and people who do not read English well.
• Exit signs should be fixed above doors, not on them, so that they can still be seen when the door is open.

In addition:

• The sign above a final exit shows a running figure and the word exit, or fire exit.
• Signs must be lit, or be photoluminescent, so that they can be seen at all times.
• A fire action notice, explaining what to do on discovering a fire, should be displayed next to every manual call point.
• Fire doors should carry a ‘Fire door keep shut’ sign, and fire exits a ‘Keep clear’ sign.
• Signs must suit the age and abilities of your pupils, and be inspected regularly.

Safety signs must meet the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

All escape routes and exits must have emergency lighting, so that people can find their way out even if the power fails. It should be provided:

• Along escape routes, at every exit door, and wherever the route changes direction or floor level.
• Near each staircase, so that every flight is lit, and at corridor junctions.
• Near exit signs, fire alarm call points and fire fighting equipment.
• Near equipment that must be shut down in an emergency.
• In open areas larger than 60 square metres, and in windowless rooms and toilets larger than 8 square metres.

If there is a fire, you must leave calmly and safely by the nearest escape route. Remember these steps:

• If you discover a fire, operate the nearest manual call point before you leave.
• Make sure the fire service is called. If you cannot call them yourself, tell a fire warden or the responsible person straight away, so that they can.
• If you are not in charge of a class, go straight to the assembly point by the nearest escape route, taking any pupils you meet with you.
• If you are in charge of a class, you are responsible for leading them out of the building to safety, and keeping them together.

To evacuate your class safely:

• Stay calm and in charge. Tell pupils to line up and follow you along the nearest escape route.
• Remind them not to stop for belongings, and to walk in silence, so that they can hear instructions.
• Check the room before you leave, and take your attendance record for the roll call.
• Close the door behind you. If your school’s procedure says to lock it, do so only when you are certain the room is empty.
• Lead pupils to the assembly point, and bring any pupils you find on their own, such as those coming from the toilets, with your group.

Each step in leading a class out of the building has a clear reason behind it, and explaining those reasons to pupils during drills helps them follow the steps in a real fire. Pupils must not stop to collect belongings, because even a few seconds per person adds up to a long delay on a crowded escape route. They should walk without talking, so that they can hear any further instructions, for example if a fire warden redirects the group because the usual route is blocked.

Before you leave, check the room for any pupils who have not started to evacuate, so that nobody is left behind. Take your attendance record with you, because the roll call at the assembly point is how staff find out whether anyone is still inside. On the way out, gather any pupils you find on their own, such as those coming from the toilets, and bring them with your group. Staying calm and in charge throughout is what keeps pupils calm too.

During an evacuation, you and your pupils must not:

• Use lifts, unless they are designed for use in an evacuation.
• Try to fight the fire, unless you are trained and it is safe.
• Try to rescue someone who is trapped. Note where they are, and tell the fire service.
• Go back into the building for any reason.

Always follow the instructions of the fire wardens. For example, they may send you along a different route because your usual one is blocked.

Everyone must go straight to the designated assembly point. Do not go anywhere else, and do not let pupils leave.

At the assembly point, a roll call checks that everyone is out. If you have a class, take the register, and tell the responsible person or a fire warden immediately if anyone is missing. A missing pupil may have joined another group, but could be trapped inside.

Also report anyone you saw who could not or would not leave the building. Only go back inside when the authorities say it is safe to do so.