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Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Burkholder Building
10700 Page Avenue
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Telephone: 703-246-4806, FAX:
703-691-1053
TTY: 703-385-4419 |
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Fire Safety & Evacuation Planning
April 2007
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This publication outlines the fire
safety and evacuation planning requirements for assembly occupancies as required by the Fire
Prevention Code. An assembly occupancy, also known as a place of assembly, public assembly or Group A occupancy, include structures or portions of structures occupied for the gathering of people for civic, social or religious activities, recreation, amusement, entertainment, food and drink consumption or awaiting transportation.
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WRITTEN PLAN
FIRE SAFETY PLAN
EMERGENCY EVACUATION DRILLS
EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND RESPONSE PROCEDURES
HAZARD COMMUNICATION
OCCUPANCY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
PLAN SUBMITTAL AND FEES
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1.
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Emergency egress or escape routes and whether evacuation
of the building is to be complete or, where approved, by
selected floors or areas only. |
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2.
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Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical
equipment before evacuating. |
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3.
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A procedure for accounting for employees and occupants
after evacuation has been completed. |
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4.
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Identification and assignment of personnel responsible
for rescue or emergency medical aid. |
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5.
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The preferred and any alternative means of notifying occupants
of a fire or emergency. |
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6.
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The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires
and other emergencies to the fire department or designated
emergency response organization. |
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7.
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Identification and assignment of personnel who can be
contacted for further information or explanation of duties
under the plan. |
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8.
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A description of the emergency voice/alarm communication
system alert tone and preprogrammed voice messages, where
provided. |
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9.
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Facility name, address, and emergency contact information.
(The facility name and address should be listed on each
page of the plan.) |
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1.
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The procedure for reporting a
fire or other emergency. |
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2.
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The life safety strategy and
procedures for notifying, relocating, or evacuating occupants. |
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3.
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Site plans indicating the following: |
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a.
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The occupancy assembly point |
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b.
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The locations of fire hydrants |
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c.
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The normal routes of fire department vehicle
access |
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4.
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Floor plans identifying the locations
of the following: |
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a.
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Exits |
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b.
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Primary evacuation routes |
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c.
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Secondary evacuation routes |
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d.
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Accessible egress routes |
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e.
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Areas of refuge |
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f.
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Manual fire alarm boxes |
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g.
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Portable fire extinguishers |
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h.
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Occupant-use hose stations |
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i.
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Fire alarm annunciators and controls |
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5.
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A list of major fire hazards
associated with the normal use and occupancy of the premises,
including maintenance and housekeeping procedures. |
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6.
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Identification and assignment
of personnel responsible for maintenance of systems and
equipment installed to prevent or control fires. |
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7.
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Identification and assignment
of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and
controlling fuel hazard sources. |
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8.
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Fire safety and evacuation plans
shall be available in the workplace for reference and review
by employees, and copies shall be furnished to the Fire
Marshal for review. |
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1.
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Emergency evacuation drills shall
be held quarterly to familiarize all employees and staff
with evacuation procedures. |
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2.
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Responsibility for planning and
conducting evacuation drills shall be assigned to a competent
person(s) designated to exercise leadership. |
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3.
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Drills shall be held at unexpected
times and under varying conditions to simulate the unusual
conditions that occur in case of fire. |
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4.
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Records shall be maintained of
required emergency evacuation drills and include the following
information: |
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a.
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Identity of the person conducting the drill |
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b.
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Date and time of the drill |
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c.
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Notification method used |
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d.
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Staff members on duty and participating |
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e.
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Number of occupants evacuated (if any) |
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f.
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Special conditions simulated |
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g.
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Problems encountered |
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h.
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Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated |
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i.
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Time required to accomplish complete evacuation |
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5.
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Prior notification of the emergency
evacuation drill is not necessary unless using the fire
alarm system to initiate the drill. Notification shall be
made by calling Fairfax County Public Safety Communications
Center (PSCC) at 703-691-2131. |
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6.
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Where a fire alarm system is
provided, emergency evacuation drills shall be initiated
by activating the fire alarm system. |
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7.
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As building occupants arrive
at the assembly point, efforts shall be made to determine
if all occupants have been successfully evacuated or have
been accounted for. |
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8.
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No one shall re-enter the building
or evecuated premises until authorized to do so by the official
in charge. |
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1.
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Employees shall be trained in the fire emergency procedures
described in the fire safety and evacuation plan. |
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2.
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Employees shall receive training in the contents of fire
safety and evacuation plans and their duties as part of
new employee orientation and at least annually thereafter.
Records shall be kept and made available to the Fire Marshal
upon request. |
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3.
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Employees shall be apprised of the fire hazards of the
materials and processes to which they are exposed. Each
employee shall be instructed in the proper procedures for
preventing fires in the conduct of their assigned duties. |
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4.
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Employees shall be familiarized with the fire alarm and
evacuation signals, their assigned duties in the event of
an alarm or emergency, evacuation routes, areas of refuge,
exterior assembly areas, and procedures for evacuation. |
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5.
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Employees assigned firefighting duties shall be trained
to know the locations and proper use of portable fire extinguishers
or other manual fire-fighting equipment and the protective
clothing or equipment required for its safe and proper use. |
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1.
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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all hazardous materials
shall be readily available on the premises. |
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2.
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Individual containers of hazardous materials, cartons
or packages shall be marked or labeled in accordance with
applicable federal regulations. Buildings, rooms and spaces
containing hazardous materials shall be identified by hazard
warning signs. |
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3.
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Persons responsible for the operation of areas in which
hazardous materials are stored, dispensed, handled or used
shall be familiar with the chemical nature of the materials
and the appropriate mitigating actions necessary in the
event of a fire, leak or spill. |
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1.
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The fire safety and evacuation plans shall include a detailed seating plan and occupant load. Deviations from the approved plans shall be allowed provided the occupant load limit for the occupancy is not exceeded and the aisles and exit access ways remain unobstructed. |
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2.
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In theaters, motion picture theaters, auditoriums and similar assembly occupancies used for non-continuous programs, an audible announcement shall be made not more than 10 minutes prior to the start of each program to notify the occupants of the location of the exits to be used in the event of a fire or other emergency. Note: In motion picture theaters, the announcement is allowed to be projected upon the screen in a manner approved by the Fire Marshal. |
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3.
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In night clubs, audible announcements shall be made to the occupants no longer than 10 minutes prior to the start of the entertainment and at each intermission to notify the occupants of the location of the exits to be used in the event of a fire or other emergency. |
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Occupant load posting(s) required by the Fire Prevention Code are required to be posted and maintained. |
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Upon request of the Fire Marshal, the owner or operator, or both, will be required to keep a running count of the occupant load to provide to the Fire Marshal during performance hours of operation, entertainment hours of operation, or both. |
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Emergency evacuation drills shall be held quarterly or more frequently where necessary to familiarize all employees with the drill procedure. |
Submit three (3) complete copies of the Fire Safety & Eveacuation
Plan along with a self-addressed return envelope, appropriately
sized for the material submitted, to the following address:
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Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
Office of the Fire Marshal - Plans Review Branch
10700 Page Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22030
ATTN: Evacuation Plans |
An hourly fee of $96.00 will be charged for
the fire marshal review of the Fire Safety & Evacuation
Plan. Hourly fees are charged in quarter hour increments ($24.00),
rounded to the next quarter hour. Do not include a payment
with your plan submittal - You will be billed.
Be sure to provide an accurate billing address along with contact
information for the person in your organization responsible
for the plan.
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