Evacuation of People with Disability and Emergent Limitations: Considerations...Lee Wilson
Following the success of the first release, this is now the 2nd edition of this Guidebook. It has been updated with new content added.
Lee Wilson researched the area of evacuation considerations for people with disability for over 12 months. Following this, the first edition of the Guide was produced titled “Evacuation of People with Disability & Emergent Limitations: Considerations for Safer Buildings & Efficient Evacuations”.
Now, over two years later, the 2nd edition has been released with new content and discussion on the needs of people with disability, including new terrorist threats.
The 2nd edition of the Guide contains 189 pages in total, including useful information with considerations for all building occupants, including people with disability.
The Guide includes templates for personal and group emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs and GEEPS).
Whilst undertaking the research to prepare the Guide it became evident that:
1. Building owners, building managers and employers need to take a holistic and proactive approach in ensuring they have met the needs of all building occupants and have plans in place for evacuation of their building; and
2. A significant proportion of people entering these buildings could be exposing themselves to an unacceptable risk every time they enter – unless their needs have been considered and the necessary plans for their safe evacuation are in place.
Victorian Access Consultant Network Meeting Presentation 15 April 2016Lee Wilson
This is a copy of the presentation made to the Victorian Access Consultant Network on 15 April 2016, titled "Safer Evacuations for All: NCC 2016 & Beyond". It discusses simple strategies for considering universal design when planning for evacuation and emergencies in buildings. It also reviews the Australian National Construction Code requirements from 2011 through to the current 2016 and considers what might be in place in 2019.
ACAA Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign, Lee Wilson, 8 October 2015Lee Wilson
ACAA Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign, Lee Wilson, 8 October 2015, You can download the recent presentation at the Association of Consultants in Access Australia National Conference & Trade Expo – ‘Universal Design: A Better Way” by clicking the images below:
The Conference was help over three days in October 2015 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne, Australia.
WSB14-Session 111-0 introduction by chris hamansChris Hamans
Presentation in session 111 during the World Sustainable Building Conference 2014 in Barcelona (28-30th .Oct. 2014)
The theme of the WSB14 was: "Sustainability. Are we moving as quickly as we should? It is up to us!"
Session 111 (out of 144 sessions) had to answer the question: "Are we moving in the same direction?"
This presentation was the introduction to the session 111.
This presentation was one out of the 5 from this session 111. After a questioning, answering and discussion with the audience the session concluded: "No, we are not moving in the same direction!"
see WSB14-Sessions 111-0 to 111-4
More and more older adults want to find ways to make their next move their last — which makes an impact on the marketability of both 55+ and senior living communities. Universal design — design and programs that facilitate aging in place — is a typical approach to helping create a forever home.
While universal design offers builders and senior living providers the opportunity to create a truly ageless living environment, positioning these features to each unique target market is the key to driving sales in a competitive market. Join us to learn how to market universal design from experts who’ve been serving older adults for a combined 40+ years!
Moderator:
Beth Mickey, Sr. Client Services Director and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Creating Results
Speakers:
Jane Marie O’Connor, Consultant and Principal, 55PlusMarketing, Hawley, MA
Kate Ruddy, Director, Atrio Home Care, Grand Rapids, MI
Evacuation of People with Disability and Emergent Limitations: Considerations...Lee Wilson
Following the success of the first release, this is now the 2nd edition of this Guidebook. It has been updated with new content added.
Lee Wilson researched the area of evacuation considerations for people with disability for over 12 months. Following this, the first edition of the Guide was produced titled “Evacuation of People with Disability & Emergent Limitations: Considerations for Safer Buildings & Efficient Evacuations”.
Now, over two years later, the 2nd edition has been released with new content and discussion on the needs of people with disability, including new terrorist threats.
The 2nd edition of the Guide contains 189 pages in total, including useful information with considerations for all building occupants, including people with disability.
The Guide includes templates for personal and group emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs and GEEPS).
Whilst undertaking the research to prepare the Guide it became evident that:
1. Building owners, building managers and employers need to take a holistic and proactive approach in ensuring they have met the needs of all building occupants and have plans in place for evacuation of their building; and
2. A significant proportion of people entering these buildings could be exposing themselves to an unacceptable risk every time they enter – unless their needs have been considered and the necessary plans for their safe evacuation are in place.
Victorian Access Consultant Network Meeting Presentation 15 April 2016Lee Wilson
This is a copy of the presentation made to the Victorian Access Consultant Network on 15 April 2016, titled "Safer Evacuations for All: NCC 2016 & Beyond". It discusses simple strategies for considering universal design when planning for evacuation and emergencies in buildings. It also reviews the Australian National Construction Code requirements from 2011 through to the current 2016 and considers what might be in place in 2019.
ACAA Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign, Lee Wilson, 8 October 2015Lee Wilson
ACAA Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign, Lee Wilson, 8 October 2015, You can download the recent presentation at the Association of Consultants in Access Australia National Conference & Trade Expo – ‘Universal Design: A Better Way” by clicking the images below:
The Conference was help over three days in October 2015 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne, Australia.
WSB14-Session 111-0 introduction by chris hamansChris Hamans
Presentation in session 111 during the World Sustainable Building Conference 2014 in Barcelona (28-30th .Oct. 2014)
The theme of the WSB14 was: "Sustainability. Are we moving as quickly as we should? It is up to us!"
Session 111 (out of 144 sessions) had to answer the question: "Are we moving in the same direction?"
This presentation was the introduction to the session 111.
This presentation was one out of the 5 from this session 111. After a questioning, answering and discussion with the audience the session concluded: "No, we are not moving in the same direction!"
see WSB14-Sessions 111-0 to 111-4
More and more older adults want to find ways to make their next move their last — which makes an impact on the marketability of both 55+ and senior living communities. Universal design — design and programs that facilitate aging in place — is a typical approach to helping create a forever home.
While universal design offers builders and senior living providers the opportunity to create a truly ageless living environment, positioning these features to each unique target market is the key to driving sales in a competitive market. Join us to learn how to market universal design from experts who’ve been serving older adults for a combined 40+ years!
Moderator:
Beth Mickey, Sr. Client Services Director and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Creating Results
Speakers:
Jane Marie O’Connor, Consultant and Principal, 55PlusMarketing, Hawley, MA
Kate Ruddy, Director, Atrio Home Care, Grand Rapids, MI
Your Aging Patient Bed Tower - Top Ten Considerations When RenovatingArray Architects
To hear Adrian's presentation, follow this link: http://snack.to/b7c9ekkz
While the benefits of caring for inpatients within a private room have now been time tested, there are thousands who still receive care outside of this clinically preferred environment on a daily basis. As is often the case, the benefits may be clear, but the perceived cost of providing more private patient rooms has prevented the wholesale adoption of this basic principle throughout the United States.
Building new bed towers has been an option for systems that could afford to build new facilities. However, many systems do not have that luxury or are landlocked, at capacity and cannot expand or afford to give up beds from their license. This session will provide a roadmap for the successful renovation of patient units to accommodate all private rooms, or enhanced 2-Bed rooms that incorporate best clinical practices in a cost effective manner.
By breaking down the success factors into ten key considerations, this session will allow designers, managers, and contractors to plan and execute such projects more effectively. Case studies will be presented to demonstrate how this straightforward approach can increase the success of renovations that convert (primarily) double bedded units into single patient room units.
Examples from the Philippines and elsewhere of disaster recovery processes. How does the transitional period connect the early emergency with the reconstruction phase?
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign, 31 August 2016, Universal Design Confer...Lee Wilson
This presentation was part of the Universal Design Conference at Sydney Town Hall on 30-31 August 2016.
A critical part of planning for safe evacuations is providing clear wayfinding information for all occupants, with appropriate exit and emergency signage. This is currently not the case in Australia or overseas. In fact, the current approach to providing exit signs is very limited and does not consider the abilities or needs of all members of society. This can cause some people to experience confusion, or delays, or being directed to a non-accessible evacuation path during their evacuation. The initiative presents a solution to bridge this gap in current exit sign requirements and to help identify important accessible features that can be provided as part of enhanced evacuation strategies. This includes suitable signage to show accessible exit paths, safe refuge areas, emergency evacuation lifts and other evacuation devices in a consistent approach. This paper will present the case to support the use of these enhanced emergency and exit sign systems that adopt universal design principles. This approach is considered world’s best practice and can help provide a much safer and more inclusive built environment for everyone. ‘Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign’ is an initiative of ‘The Accessible Exit Sign Project.’ The Project is an international awareness campaign that promotes the need for an accessible evacuation route from all workplaces, public buildings, and transportation.
Stefano Del Furia - Inclusive Design - Codemotion Rome 2019Codemotion
An inclusive type of approach creates better solutions, because it aims to benefit all users, therefore also those who must cope with disabilities. Thinking in terms of accessibility throughout the entire process, enables the creation of solutions for mobile applications and websites that are actually evolved and not merely alternative. When designing for human diversity, we make possible a global kind of partecipation, with a higher impact on positivity exchange and emotional benefits than we would have when addressing just the disabilities.
Universal Design Conference Program, Sydney Town Hall, 30-31 August 2016Lee Wilson
Universal design is a design process that is inclusive of a diverse population. The aim of universal design is to improve human performance, health and wellness, and social participation.
Universal design is a process of thinking and designing inclusively, whether it is a house, website, product, service, or a learning program. Universal design is itself explained in a diversity of ways across the world: “design-for-all” and “inclusive design” are other terms used.
Universal design is an international movement and recognised by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations. The WHO Age Friendly Cities program and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability both cite universal design as the means by which to create greater social and economic inclusion for everyone. Australian state and federal policy documents also recognise universal design as the way forward for creating greater inclusion for all Australians.
Who should attend?
Planners
Policy makers
Service providers
Local, state and federal government representatives
Researchers and educators
Built environment professionals
Housing professionals
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper Performance Assessment Templ...Lee Wilson
The Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper presents the case for a new generation of exit signs to to be used in all forms of transportation, facilities and buildings. The White Paper discusses the many complex issues that have led to the development of this initiative and argues for the support of these new emergency and exit signs.
The White Paper includes an Appendix, which is titled Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper Performance Assessment Template by Lee Wilson Version 1.0
The performance-based template provides support to accept the use of The Accessible Exit Sign Project signage as a variation from the prescriptive ‘Deemed-to-Satisfy’ provisions of the building code. The template also provides support for this approach with consideration to the content of the White Paper. It proposes the use of a performance-based building solution to accept that emergency egress and exit signage provided throughout the building will adopt a best practice ‘universal design’ approach and argues that this approach provides a safer solution for all building occupants, including people with disabilities.
The proposed signs presented in the assessment form part of the ‘Accessible Exit Sign Project’, which adopt the ‘Accessible Means of Egress Icon’ on all emergency egress and exit signage used throughout the building.
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper by Lee Wilson Version 1.0Lee Wilson
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign is an initiative of The Accessible Exit Sign Project. The Project is an international awareness campaign that promotes the need for an accessible means of egress.
The objective of The Accessible Exit Sign Project is to start discussions between industry stakeholders, disability groups, legislators, developers, and insurers etc., to look at better building design solutions that provide safer buildings, reduce risk and meet the needs of all occupants.
Lady holding a bag with the Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign wording on it, with a green exit sign showing person running followed by a person using a wheelchair, moving in the same style as the running person.A critical part of any strategy for safe evacuations is providing clear wayfinding information for all occupants, with appropriate exit signage to identify the accessible exits, refuge areas, evacuation lifts and other evacuation devices.
The Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign concept presents a case to support the use of these signs in all buildings, which can help provide a safer and more inclusive built environment. The objectives being to help facilitate acceptance of the new Accessible Means of Egress Icon on a new era of exit signs and emergency signage.
The approach taken when preparing this paper has been to release a combination of mediums, including a website, audio files and a document in accessible formats.
These are now available for download. http://universaldesignmeetstheexitsign.com/white-paper-in-print/
These propose the use of new inclusive accessible exit signage.
Maximize Your Content with Beautiful Assets : Content & Asset for Landing Page pmgdscunsri
Figma is a cloud-based design tool widely used by designers for prototyping, UI/UX design, and real-time collaboration. With features such as precision pen tools, grid system, and reusable components, Figma makes it easy for teams to work together on design projects. Its flexibility and accessibility make Figma a top choice in the digital age.
Explore the essential graphic design tools and software that can elevate your creative projects. Discover industry favorites and innovative solutions for stunning design results.
Your Aging Patient Bed Tower - Top Ten Considerations When RenovatingArray Architects
To hear Adrian's presentation, follow this link: http://snack.to/b7c9ekkz
While the benefits of caring for inpatients within a private room have now been time tested, there are thousands who still receive care outside of this clinically preferred environment on a daily basis. As is often the case, the benefits may be clear, but the perceived cost of providing more private patient rooms has prevented the wholesale adoption of this basic principle throughout the United States.
Building new bed towers has been an option for systems that could afford to build new facilities. However, many systems do not have that luxury or are landlocked, at capacity and cannot expand or afford to give up beds from their license. This session will provide a roadmap for the successful renovation of patient units to accommodate all private rooms, or enhanced 2-Bed rooms that incorporate best clinical practices in a cost effective manner.
By breaking down the success factors into ten key considerations, this session will allow designers, managers, and contractors to plan and execute such projects more effectively. Case studies will be presented to demonstrate how this straightforward approach can increase the success of renovations that convert (primarily) double bedded units into single patient room units.
Examples from the Philippines and elsewhere of disaster recovery processes. How does the transitional period connect the early emergency with the reconstruction phase?
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign, 31 August 2016, Universal Design Confer...Lee Wilson
This presentation was part of the Universal Design Conference at Sydney Town Hall on 30-31 August 2016.
A critical part of planning for safe evacuations is providing clear wayfinding information for all occupants, with appropriate exit and emergency signage. This is currently not the case in Australia or overseas. In fact, the current approach to providing exit signs is very limited and does not consider the abilities or needs of all members of society. This can cause some people to experience confusion, or delays, or being directed to a non-accessible evacuation path during their evacuation. The initiative presents a solution to bridge this gap in current exit sign requirements and to help identify important accessible features that can be provided as part of enhanced evacuation strategies. This includes suitable signage to show accessible exit paths, safe refuge areas, emergency evacuation lifts and other evacuation devices in a consistent approach. This paper will present the case to support the use of these enhanced emergency and exit sign systems that adopt universal design principles. This approach is considered world’s best practice and can help provide a much safer and more inclusive built environment for everyone. ‘Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign’ is an initiative of ‘The Accessible Exit Sign Project.’ The Project is an international awareness campaign that promotes the need for an accessible evacuation route from all workplaces, public buildings, and transportation.
Stefano Del Furia - Inclusive Design - Codemotion Rome 2019Codemotion
An inclusive type of approach creates better solutions, because it aims to benefit all users, therefore also those who must cope with disabilities. Thinking in terms of accessibility throughout the entire process, enables the creation of solutions for mobile applications and websites that are actually evolved and not merely alternative. When designing for human diversity, we make possible a global kind of partecipation, with a higher impact on positivity exchange and emotional benefits than we would have when addressing just the disabilities.
Similar to Australian Network on Disability, Safer Evacuations for all PEEPs and GEEPs (9)
Universal Design Conference Program, Sydney Town Hall, 30-31 August 2016Lee Wilson
Universal design is a design process that is inclusive of a diverse population. The aim of universal design is to improve human performance, health and wellness, and social participation.
Universal design is a process of thinking and designing inclusively, whether it is a house, website, product, service, or a learning program. Universal design is itself explained in a diversity of ways across the world: “design-for-all” and “inclusive design” are other terms used.
Universal design is an international movement and recognised by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations. The WHO Age Friendly Cities program and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability both cite universal design as the means by which to create greater social and economic inclusion for everyone. Australian state and federal policy documents also recognise universal design as the way forward for creating greater inclusion for all Australians.
Who should attend?
Planners
Policy makers
Service providers
Local, state and federal government representatives
Researchers and educators
Built environment professionals
Housing professionals
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper Performance Assessment Templ...Lee Wilson
The Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper presents the case for a new generation of exit signs to to be used in all forms of transportation, facilities and buildings. The White Paper discusses the many complex issues that have led to the development of this initiative and argues for the support of these new emergency and exit signs.
The White Paper includes an Appendix, which is titled Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper Performance Assessment Template by Lee Wilson Version 1.0
The performance-based template provides support to accept the use of The Accessible Exit Sign Project signage as a variation from the prescriptive ‘Deemed-to-Satisfy’ provisions of the building code. The template also provides support for this approach with consideration to the content of the White Paper. It proposes the use of a performance-based building solution to accept that emergency egress and exit signage provided throughout the building will adopt a best practice ‘universal design’ approach and argues that this approach provides a safer solution for all building occupants, including people with disabilities.
The proposed signs presented in the assessment form part of the ‘Accessible Exit Sign Project’, which adopt the ‘Accessible Means of Egress Icon’ on all emergency egress and exit signage used throughout the building.
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign White Paper by Lee Wilson Version 1.0Lee Wilson
Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign is an initiative of The Accessible Exit Sign Project. The Project is an international awareness campaign that promotes the need for an accessible means of egress.
The objective of The Accessible Exit Sign Project is to start discussions between industry stakeholders, disability groups, legislators, developers, and insurers etc., to look at better building design solutions that provide safer buildings, reduce risk and meet the needs of all occupants.
Lady holding a bag with the Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign wording on it, with a green exit sign showing person running followed by a person using a wheelchair, moving in the same style as the running person.A critical part of any strategy for safe evacuations is providing clear wayfinding information for all occupants, with appropriate exit signage to identify the accessible exits, refuge areas, evacuation lifts and other evacuation devices.
The Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign concept presents a case to support the use of these signs in all buildings, which can help provide a safer and more inclusive built environment. The objectives being to help facilitate acceptance of the new Accessible Means of Egress Icon on a new era of exit signs and emergency signage.
The approach taken when preparing this paper has been to release a combination of mediums, including a website, audio files and a document in accessible formats.
These are now available for download. http://universaldesignmeetstheexitsign.com/white-paper-in-print/
These propose the use of new inclusive accessible exit signage.
Maximize Your Content with Beautiful Assets : Content & Asset for Landing Page pmgdscunsri
Figma is a cloud-based design tool widely used by designers for prototyping, UI/UX design, and real-time collaboration. With features such as precision pen tools, grid system, and reusable components, Figma makes it easy for teams to work together on design projects. Its flexibility and accessibility make Figma a top choice in the digital age.
Explore the essential graphic design tools and software that can elevate your creative projects. Discover industry favorites and innovative solutions for stunning design results.
White wonder, Work developed by Eva TschoppMansi Shah
White Wonder by Eva Tschopp
A tale about our culture around the use of fertilizers and pesticides visiting small farms around Ahmedabad in Matar and Shilaj.
Storytelling For The Web: Integrate Storytelling in your Design ProcessChiara Aliotta
In this slides I explain how I have used storytelling techniques to elevate websites and brands and create memorable user experiences. You can discover practical tips as I showcase the elements of good storytelling and its applied to some examples of diverse brands/projects..
Australian Network on Disability, Safer Evacuations for all PEEPs and GEEPs
1. Safer Evacuations for All:
PEEPs and GEEPs
Presentation for
by Lee Wilson
Advocate for Universal Design and Accessible Egress
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
®
2. An Important Message
“The focus on access into premises
to enable people with disability to
fully use a building, needs to be
matched with arrangements for their
safe egress in the event of a fire”
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
(adapted from Scottish Government 2007 publication)
®
3. Planning for Emergencies
“History has shown that planning
for emergency evacuation
dramatically increases the chance
for successful evacuation”
(Loy, Hirsh & Batiste 2006)
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
4. Presentation Overview
1. How I came to be here today
2. The ‘gap’ in legislation
3. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)
4. Group (or Generic) Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs)
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
5. Presentation Overview continued
5. Enhanced measures for safe evacuation
6. Enhanced wayfinding concepts
7. Occupant warning system considerations
8. Conclusions & Recommendations
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
6. How I Came To Be Here Today
• Studying Masters degree
• Completed 8,000 word thesis
• Continued writing over 40,000 words
• Released evacuation guidebook:
Evacuation of People with Disability
& Emergent Limitations
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
7. The ‘Gap’ in Legislation
Australian Legal Framework
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992
• Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• State / Territory based Work Health and Safety laws
• National Construction Code (adopted into building legislation)
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
8. What are PEEPs
• PEEP considers individual needs
• Assesses characteristics of specific building
• Essential document for each employee who
may be delayed in their ability to respond,
react or evacuate
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
• A generic type plan will not address everyone’s unique needs
®
9. What are GEEPs
• Generic arrangements that cater for EVERYONE
• It’s more complex to manage public buildings
People in unfamiliar environments
Not aware of evacuation arrangements
Don’t follow cues or instructions
• Ignoring members of public or visitors = significant risk
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
10. Enhanced Measures for Safe Evacuation
• Accessible evacuation routes (or accessible means of egress)
• Emergency Evacuation Lifts
• Larger fire stairs with refuge areas, & with communication
• Emergency information in tactile, audible & visual formats
• Evacuation chairs and other devices
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
11. Enhanced Wayfinding Concepts
• Accessible exit signs:
Refuge Area
Evacuation lifts
Evacuation chairs
• Increased contrast of exit route features
• Photo-luminescent markers around features
• Tactile evacuation diagrams
• Accessible exits routes on evacuation diagrams
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
12. Occupant Warning Considerations
• Accessible ‘break glass’ alarms
• Refuge communication systems
• Visual warnings / alarms
• Vibrating pads and pillows
• Exit point sounders
• Mass notification systems (mobile phones & pagers)
• New technology (smart phone apps, computer notifications)
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
13. Conclusions & Recommendations
• We need more industry guidance
• Changes in social and attitudinal factors
• Changes to legislation and AS 3745
• Adopt an ‘accessible means of egress’ concept
• Better and more intuitive wayfinding systems
• Everyone needs to work together to develop plans
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
14. Get the FREE Guidebook
www.accessibleexitsigns.com/evacuation-guide/
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
“Evacuation planning is a
critical component of life safety,
including evacuation for
persons with disabilities”
United States Access Board
®
15. Questions?
For further information please
contact Lee Wilson:
• Mobile: 0438 580 729
• Email: lee@leewilson.com.au
• Web: www.leewilson.com.au
Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson
®
Thank you for your time
Editor's Notes
Thank you
My name’s Lee Wilson
I’m an access consultant with Equal Access here in Melbourne,
And I’m also an advocate for introducing accessibility concepts into building evacuations and emergency planning
Today I’m here to talk about how we can provide Safer Evacuations for all
And to provide a brief outline on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans or PEEPs
And Generic (or Group) Emergency Evacuation Plans or GEEPs
So before I begin I’d like to read a very important message:
“The focus on access into premises to enable people with disability to fully use a building, needs to be matched with arrangements for their safe egress in the event of a fire”
And these requirements are reflected in the cartoon on the screen showing a lady who uses a wheelchair staring at the sign on a passenger lift, whilst there are flames behind her.
The sign says “In case of fire do not use elevator use stairs”.
So when we consider planning for the needs of all building occupants, there’s a great quote I like:
“History has shown that planning for emergency evacuation dramatically increases the chance for successful evacuation”
This means we need to provide an equitable approach to planning for emergencies and plan for everyone.
That is reflected in the cartoon on the screen showing a fire fighter standing in the doorway of a lift that can be used during emergencies. The fire fighter is calling out to a person with a guide dog and telling him to walk towards the lift.
Now today I’ll be quickly going through a few areas:
How I came to be here today
The ‘gap’ in legislation
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)
Group (or Generic) Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs)
Enhanced measures for safe evacuation
Enhanced wayfinding concepts
Occupant warning system considerations
Conclusions & Recommendations
This journey all started in 2013 as part of a research thesis for university.
What I thought would be a relatively easy topic turned out to be complex, in fact it’s been described as a “can of worms” by a building code group in the UK 20 years ago.
After I completed the 8,000 word thesis, I kept writing.
In I ended up with over 40,000 words and turned this into an industry guidebook titled “Evacuation of People with Disability and Emergency Limitations”
At the very least, I hope it can get some important discussions going in Australian workplaces.
One critical issue I identified is that this area seems to falls between the regulatory cracks, and though the DDA provides an overarching obligation to provide equitable access into buildings, getting people is often overlooked.
This therefore throws the bulk of the responsibility onto the manager of a workplace to ensure a safe work environment.
What’s even scarier, is that the building code and premises standards under the DDA have for almost 5 years increased the level of accessibility into buildings, without thinking about getting everyone out in an emergency.
PEEP considers individual needs
Assesses characteristics of specific building
Essential document for each employee who may be delayed in their ability to respond, react or evacuate A generic type plan will not address everyone’s unique needs
Generic arrangements that cater for EVERYONE
It’s more complex to manage public buildings
People in unfamiliar environments
Not aware of evacuation arrangements
Don’t follow cues or instructions
Ignoring members of public or visitors = significant risk
Buildings need to provide better provisions, and some of these concepts are being implemented overseas, but adoption in Australia is very slow:
Accessible evacuation routes (or accessible means of egress)
Emergency Evacuation Lifts
Larger fire stairs with refuge areas, & with communication
Emergency information in tactile, audible & visual formats
Evacuation chairs and other devices
Wayfinding is an important aspect to how people can navigate their way out of a building during an emergency:
Accessible exit signs:
Refuge Area
Evacuation lifts
Evacuation chairs – example signs
Increased contrast of exit route features
Photo-luminescent markers around features
Tactile evacuation diagrams
Accessible exits routes on evacuation diagrams
There’s a few simple things we can do to help occupants in buildings who might be delayed in responding to an alarm:
Accessible ‘break glass’ alarms
Refuge communication systems
Visual warnings / alarms
Vibrating pads and pillows
Exit point sounders
Mass notification systems (mobile phones & pagers)
New technology (smart phone apps, computer notifications)
So in summary, I believe
We need more industry guidance
Changes in social and attitudinal factors
Changes to legislation and AS 3745
Adopt an ‘accessible means of egress’ concept
Better and more intuitive wayfinding systems
Everyone needs to work together to develop plans
Please also download my little evacuation guidebook
I have to apologise though at this stage this is only available as a PDF document.
I have tried to source funding on two occasions to convert this to accessible formats, but do date I’ve been unsuccessful.
The guidebook is also being updated at present and I hope to release a revised edition by mid-year.
you have any questions my contacts have been provided above and in the accessible version of presentation