Fleeing a Fire: ADA Considerations

In an emergency evacuation, people with disabilities face significant challenges that building owners and occupants must seriously consider and plan for. The second edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities, which was officially released recently, addresses the main evacuation elements needed for the disabled community.

The new guide is free and accessible online and features updated statistics, graphics, photos and links. It also includes an expanded, more detailed checklist for the personal evacuation planning process.

With input from NFPA’s Disability Access Review and Advisory Committee and other nationally recognized advocates, the guide was originally created in 2007 to create a comprehensive evacuation planning strategy for the disabled community that establishes the needs, criteria and minimum information necessary for proper planning. Identifying general categories of disabilities — mobility, visual, hearing, speech and cognitive impairments — the guide outlines the four elements of evacuation that occupants need in the event of an emergency: notification; wayfinding; use of the way; and assistance.

Read more here.

This Quick Read was submitted by Dan Hounsell, editor-in-chief of Facility Maintenance Decisions, dan.hounsell@tradepressmedia.com. Read about testing and inspection of fire safety systems at https://www.facilitiesnet.com/13470FMD.

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