SDS Home

SDS Mission Statement

SDS Student Manual

Requesting Accommodations

Request Form for Accommodations from Instructors (PDF)

2006-2007 Faculty Guidelines (PDF)

Links and Resources

SDS Contact Information

TLC Home

Thank you for visiting!

You are
visitor number
 

Evacuation Policy of the Physically Impaired

Under Federally mandated regulations, the University has been eliminating physical barriers in and around the campus buildings.  This will allow expanded services for the disabled and temporarily impaired student, visitor or employee.  Unfortunately, as disabled individuals travel upward in a structure, their ability to evacuate diminishes with each ascending floor.

The University is aware of this situation and has developed a policy that addresses the evacuation of the disabled during an emergency.  Currently, the concept of “Defend in Place” is the policy adopted by fire professionals to handle evacuation of the disabled from high-rise fires.  Briefly stated, this policy holds that it is better to locate disabled persons trapped above the fire to protected areas of safety rather than out of the building through stairway.

Policy
During a fire, disabled individuals located on or above the fire floor should locate on the opposite end of the building (horizontal movement only) in a protected room (door closed), preferably with an outside window and telephone.  The window will provide fresh air and the telephone will be used to notify emergency personnel of their location and degree of need.  They should remain there until evacuated by Fire Department personnel.
If the building is designed with an area of refuge at a stairwell, this area should be used if accessible.  If not, the person should be horizontality moved as far from the fire as possible.  If the floor that the person is located has a direct exit to outside via a ramp, this option should be used.
This policy seeks to eliminate the potential for further injury to both the disabled and the public.  (Stairwells already occupied by people exiting the building would become further congested should disabled persons, some with wheelchairs, use the stairwell.)  If, however, conditions become untenable on or above the fire floor, evacuation to a safer place must be attempted.  At no time during a fire are the elevators to be utilized by anyone except trained fire personnel.

                                                      Back to Student Manual