Buildings in Whangarei are created and approved under stringent guidelines, and a certificate known as a BWoF or Building Warrant of Fitness issued. A BWoF can attest that the building is constructed and arranged in a way that is safe for the public.
But in general, in the everyday management of buildings, the major key players such as the employers, landlords and building property owners are responsible in providing a safe working environment with proactive evacuation measures in place.
The Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 2006 in New Zealand demands this, and to stay compliant every building owner must make the necessary arrangements to ensure everyone’s safety. For certain, every building is built with an appropriate means of escape, but adequate monitoring and maintenance of these escape routes must be checked on a regular basis.
That said, escape routes must be kept functional by following these fire safety rules:
- All means of escape must be kept clear of any rubbish or obstacles at all hours.
- Exit doors must not be locked as to prevent people getting trapped in the building.
- Exit areas, stairwells, halls, and passageways should never be used for storage. This is to prevent obstructions from building up.
- All flammable cleaning liquids and combustible materials should not to be stored near a means of escape.
But how can preventive measures and evacuation procedures be made clear or simply available to the building’s occupants?
Disseminating safety information can be made effective by having routine fire safety training for employees and building occupants. This serves as a means of empowering employees to save themselves and others in the event of a fire. The procedure for the evacuation of a building can be made simple, by having people be more aware of their surroundings.
But what are the important points employees can learn in a fire safety training class?
- Employees will learn how to use firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
- Building occupants become more aware of escape routes or places of safety in the premises.
- The use of fire alarm signals and early warning devices in the discovery of a fire.
- Understanding fire safety notices, evacuation maps, and photo-luminescent stickers.
- How to safely get to the designated assembly point outside the building.
Covering emergency evacuation procedures and plans in New Zealand need not be complicated. At Fireco, we can help you come up with a safety evacuation plan that’s bespoke to your needs. Plus we can help get everyone up to speed in terms of fire safety training and implementing evacuation procedures in your building.
Fireco NZ conducts fire safety workshops for companies big and small in Whangarei. If you need to update your on-site evacuation procedures, we can do a risk assessment and recommend the best fire safety steps you can take.
Consult with us today! Call Fireco at 0800 101 232 or email us at info@fireco.co.nz about your need for fire safety trainings or any firefighting equipment needs for your Whangarei workplace.
