Evacuation Instructions and Responsibilities
Evacuation Instructions
Please follow these Evacuation Instructions:
- If the fire alarm sounds, or you are instructed to do so, you are required to evacuate the building via the nearest safest route.
- After evacuating the building, please proceed to the building's Assembly Point and wait for further instruction from Campus Security.
- You will hear an "all clear" message from the building PA system as well as Campus Security at the assembly point when it is safe to re-enter the building.
- Do not re-enter the building while the alarm is active and until you hear the all clear message.
- For further details, please review the Evacuation training
| Prior to an Evacuation | During an Evacuation | After an Evacuation |
|---|---|---|
|
- Be aware that evacuation is required during a drill or alarm - Know locations of fire pull stations and fire extinguishers - Identify primary and secondary evacuation routes - Know designated Assembly Point - Download the UCalgary Alertus Emergency App - Ensure implementation of the Emergency Buddy Program for mobility impaired staff |
- Evacuation is required during a drill or alarm - Do not enter a building that is in alarm - Go to your designated Assembly Point or ensure you are 100 metres away from the building in alarm - Use UCalgary Alertus Emergency App to report information about incident to Campus Security, or call at 403.220.5333 - Implement the Emergency Buddy Program if needed |
- Wait for “all clear” message to be communicated by Campus Security at the Assembly Point or through the building PA system before re-entering a building that is in alarm - Anyone who refuses to evacuate will be subjected to non-academic disciplinary protocols as per any other safety violation |
Evacuations and Responsibilities
Everyone has responsibilities to ensure their own safety and are required to follow all evacuation protocols, including:
- Evacuating a building under activation of the building fire alarm
- Not entering a building that is in alarm.
Supervisors/Managers/Instructors:
Managers/Supervisors/Instructors are responsible for pre-emptively ensuring that they, their staff and/or students:
- Understand the requirement for all occupants to evacuate a building in the event of a fire drill, alarm, or other emergency event
- Have reviewed the University of Calgary’s safety and Emergency Plans and ensure rules and procedures for emergencies are understood
- Are aware of the location of fire pull stations, fire extinguishers, and 1 and 2 exit locations in their area(s)
- Are aware of the Annual Evacuation Drill schedule
- Are aware of building evacuation routes, Assembly Point, and the Emergency Buddy Program
- Specifically review Emergency Plans with Staff:
- Encourage staff to download and use the UCalgary Alertus Emergency App
- Pre-emptively assign 2-3 “Buddies” to assist impaired individuals during emergency incidents.
- Ensure staff understand the “Buddy” program helps impaired individuals to evacuate and ensures location and contact details of impaired individual are reported to Campus Security via 403.220.5333 or UCalgary Alterus Emergency App.
- Ensure Hazard Identification Assessment and Controls (HACF) for their staff are completed and documented annually (part of annual inspection process)
The UCalgary Community:
- Know how to evacuate safely and properly
- Be proactive
- Review site specific evacuation procedure
- Identify locations of pull stations and fire extinguishers
- Identify 2-3 evacuation routes (safe exits)
- Know your designated assembly point
- Report any issues or concerns to Campus Security via 403.220.5333 or Alertus App
- Be proactive
- Know when to safely re-enter a building after a drill or alarm
- Campus Security will report to Assembly Point and announce when it is safe to re-enter a building
- Campus Security will inform evacuees if the building will be closed for a lengthy duration
Emergency Buddy Program
The Emergency Buddy Program ensures that emergency response teams are made aware of the location of a person with an impairment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following buildings on campus have a two stage alarm:
- Taylor Family Digital Library
- Cal Wenzel Precision Health
- Health Research Innovation Centre
- MacKimmie Tower
- Hunter Student Commons
- Scurfield Hall
- Mathison Hall
The floor that the alarm originates from will go into an immediate evacuation, there will not be a standby/alert alarm for that floor. Follow the broadcast voice instructions.
The remainder of the building will be on a standby/alert alarm and should prepare for evacuation. This standby/alert alarm may be in effect for a longer period of time than has been experienced previously. This will continue until the Fire Department has investigated, determined no cause for evacuation and silenced the alarm or has determined there is cause and the evacuation alarm is activated.
If a device on another floor from the original one is activated, that floor also will go into an evacuation alarm (e.g. the alarm originates on the third floor of TFDL and afterwards another one is activated on the fourth floor.)
A full building evacuation can be implemented by Campus Security or the Calgary Fire Department when required.
As you are evacuating, close all doors behind you to limit the movement of smoke, flames, or noxious odors. Fire separation doors will close automatically when the alarm is activated. A fire door is a door with a fire-resistance rating used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire and smoke between separate compartments of a structure and to enable safe egress from a building. Fire separation doors should never be propped oven with a door wedge or other object.
Safe evacuation procedures require evacuees to move away from the building to a safe, secure location.
Assembly points provide:
- Shelter from the elements
- Access to washrooms
- Access to food
- A point of communication for first responders and evacuees to:
- Exchange relevant information about the incident including:
- Nature and severity of the incident
- Expected duration of evacuation
- Official/approved time of building re-entry
- Exchange relevant information about the incident including:
Everyone should know the assembly point location for the building they occupy. This information should also be included in student and department orientations so everyone in the building is aware of the assembly point for their building.
An "all clear" message will be broadcast from the building PA system as well as from emergency responders to evacuate the crowd. All information will be shared at the assembly point.
The most efficient way to communicate information about an incident is through the UCalgary Alertus Emergency App.