United Spinal Association

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Fire SafetyFor Wheelchair UsersAt Home At Work

• Presented By
• United Spinal Association
• www.unitedspinal.org

Funding Assistance Provided by The Craig H.
Neilsen Foundation
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Funding Assistance Provided By

• THE CRAIG H. NEILSEN FOUNDATION
• www.chnfoundation.org
• The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation is dedicated to
  supporting research and innovative rehabilitation
  programs to improve the quality of life for those
  with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Along with
  supporting researchers in the field of spinal
  cord injuries, the Foundation also offers grants
  to qualifying non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations
  that assist people living with a spinal cord
  injury.

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• For technical assistance, please contact
• Jennifer Perry
• Compliance Specialist
• Accessibility Services
• United Spinal Association
• jperry_at_unitedspinal.org
• 800.404.2898 7504 Phone
• www.accessibility-services.com
• www.unitedspinal.org

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Mission Statement

• United Spinal Association is dedicated to
  improving the quality of life for Americans with
  spinal cord injuries and disorders.

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United Spinal Association

• Private, National Not for Profit Organization
• Established in 1946 as Eastern Paralyzed Veterans
  Association
• All members have a spinal cord injury or disease
• Name changed in January, 2004 to United Spinal
  Association
• Headquarters
• Jackson Heights, NY
• Regional Offices
• Philadelphia, Buffalo, Naples, FL Washington DC

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Accessibility Services A Program of United
Spinal Association

• Accessibility Training Programs
• Plan Review Services
• Consulting
• Site Assessments Reporting
• 3rd Party Inspectors
• www.accessibility-services.com

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1.) Review the features of building code
life/fire safety requirements for newly
constructed buildings and facilities that
affect people with mobility impairments..2.) Re
view the evacuation protocols from the workplace
and home for wheelchair users
Training Goals
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A May, 2009 study from the Christopher and Dana
Reeve Foundation found that 5.6 million Americans
are paralyzed 1 (defined as a central nervous
system disorder resulting in difficulty or
inability to move upper or lower extremities.)
Additionally, 1.275 million of paralyzed
Americans have a spinal cord injury.
Why Learn About Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users?
1 Christopher Dana Reeve Foundation, Report
on the prevalence of spinal cord injury and
paralysis in the United States
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Why Learn About Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users?

• Given that approximately 40 of persons with
  paraplegia and 30 of persons with quadriplegia
  eventually return to work and 87.9 of all
  persons with SCI who are discharged from
  rehabilitation programs are sent to a private,
  non-institutional residence (in most cases their
  homes before injury)2 it becomes even more
  evident that education on fire safety for people
  with SCI at both home and work is necessary given
  this populations unique evacuation needs in the
  event of an emergency.

2 National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical
Center, 619 19TH Street South - SRC 529,
Birmingham, AL 35249-7330
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• Why Learn About Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users?
• While disasters and emergencies affect everyone,
  their impact on people with disabilities is often
  compounded by several factors, which necessitates
  the need for emergency planning prior to such a
  disaster or emergency.
• Given the national tragedies in our recent past,
  including the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and
  Hurricane Katrina, the special needs of people
  with disabilities in emergency evacuation
  situations, particularly those with SCI, has
  become an issue that all individuals must become
  familiar with.

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Why Learn About Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users?

• Unfortunately, despite the statistics on the
  growing number of people with disabilities living
  and working independently throughout the United
  States, many employers, fire/code officials,
  municipal managers and people with disabilities
  themselves, are still unaware of the steps that
  should be taken to ensure the safety of people
  with disabilities in emergency situations.

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Why Learn About Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users?

• Of particular concern for people with SCI is the
  proper use of areas of refuge, wide exit stairs,
  means of egress elevators and exterior areas of
  assisted rescue, all of which are required by the
  International Building Code (IBC), which is
  referenced in many jurisdictions nationwide.

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ICC International Code (ICC) Adoptions
February, 2010
       One or more International Codes currently used statewide
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What the Law Says

• Because there are no federal guidelines
  requiring disaster or evacuation plans, many
  people are unclear about exactly whose
  responsibility this is.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
  does not require formal emergency plans. But
  ADAs Titles I, II and III do require that
  employers, public services, and public
  accommodations and services operated by private
  entities, modify their policies and procedures to
  include people with disabilities.
• Therefore, when evacuation plans are created or
  revised they need to include people with
  disabilities and activity limitations.

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In other words

• People with disabilities, building owners and
  managers, fire safety personnel and anyone else
  involved with the development of evacuation
  planning, is responsible for ensuring that the
  needs of people with disabilities are understood
  and addressed should an emergency situation arise.

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Applicable Building Code Requirements

• International Building Code (IBC)
• NFPA 5000
• Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility
  Guidelines (ADAAG)
• Revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines

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Elements of Accessible Means of Egress Key
Definitions

• Exit access all elements of an interior
  accessible route
• Exit areas of refuge, enclosed stairways,
  elevators, horizontal exits, exit doors
• Exit discharge exterior accessible route

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• United Spinal Association has worked to ensure
  that new state and model building codes integrate
  specific requirements to improve the life safety
  afforded to mobility-impaired persons in newly
  constructed buildings.

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The Building Code and Evacuation Planning

• Generally, accessible spaces shall be provided
  with not less than one accessible means of
  egress. Where more than one means of egress is
  required from any accessible space, each
  accessible portion of the space shall be served
  by not less than two accessible means of egress.
• Exception
• Accessible means of egress are not required in
  alterations to existing buildings.

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Protection

• Areas of refuge
• Horizontal exits
• Protect in Place

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• Key features of the International Building
  Code (IBC) Chapter 10 Accessible Means of Egress
  requirements that affect people with mobility
  impairments and should be considered when
  developing an evacuation plan are as follows

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The Building Code and Evacuation Planning
Areas of Refuge Areas of Refuge are fire rated
safe havens on a buildings upper and below-grade
floors designed for persons with mobility
impairments to await further evacuation from the
responding fire company. These areas can be
provided in stair landings, elevator lobbies or
an area that is properly fire-rated, and provides
two-way emergency communication so that a
wheelchair user can alert authorities to his or
her location.
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Area of Refuge
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Areas of Refuge Location

• On accessible route,
• Direct access to a means of egress stairway or
  elevator, and
• Separated from remainder of story by a smoke
  barrier

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Areas of Refuge Exceptions for Smoke Barrier

• Area located within stairway enclosure
• Area of refuge and the building space it serves
  is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system

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Areas of Refuge Other Requirements

• Provide one 30x48 wheelchair space for every
  200 occupants served by the area of refuge
• Wheelchair spaces shall not overlap required exit
  width
• Two-way communication

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Space to accommodate a single wheelchair and its
occupant Area of Refuge
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Travel Distance

• General means of egress travel distance
  requirements apply for areas of refuge.

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Accessible Means of Egress Signs

• Areas of refuge identified
• Instructions within areas of refuge
• Signs at inaccessible exits
• Braille and raised letters at all exit stairway
  enclosure entrances

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Identification
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Instructions and Communication
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Evacuation

• Elevators equipped with standby power and
  firefighter service (ASME A17.1)
• Evacuation stairs (48 clearance between
  handrails, 7 treads, 11 min. riser)

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The Building Code and Evacuation Planning

• Means of Egress Elevators
• Elevators with stand-by power in addition to the
  fire service required of all elevators. The
  stand-by power enables fire fighters to travel to
  persons with mobility impairments on the upper or
  below-grade levels of a building and to evacuate
  them to the outdoors, even when a buildings
  normal electrical service is lost. These
  elevators are not intended to be used
  independently by people with mobility impairments
  in the event of an emergency.

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The Building Code and Evacuation Planning

• Means of Egress elevators are typically required
  in buildings with 5 or more stories.
• There are exceptions for buildings equipped
  throughout with automatic sprinkler systems on
  floors provided with a horizontal exit and
  located at or above the level of exit discharge
  and
• The elevator shall not be required on floors
  provided with a ramp when the building is fully
  sprinklered.

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Platform Lifts

• Platform (wheelchair) lifts shall not serve as
  part of an accessible means of egress, except
  where they are allowed to provide an accessible
  route to certain areas. Platform lifts shall be
  installed in accordance with ASME A17.1.

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Vertical Platform Lift
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Incline Platform Lift
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Stairway chair lifts are never permitted as part
of a required accessible route.
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The Building Code and Evacuation Planning
Wide Exit Stairs Required to provide 48 inches
between handrails so that three fire fighters
will have enough room to carry a wheelchair user
from a landing to safety.
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The Building Code and Evacuation Planning

• Exterior Areas of Assisted Rescue
• Exterior Areas of Assisted Rescue are protected
  areas outside the exit doors of buildings
  designed to provide a safe area for persons with
  mobility impairments when the terrain or grade
  surrounding a building cant be easily ramped to
  provide a safe route to a public area away from
  the building.

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Suppression

• Before 9-11 there was no history in the United
  States of multi-fatality fires in buildings fully
  protected by operational, supervised automatic
  sprinkler systems.

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Evacuation Planning

• By understanding their special evacuation needs,
  first responders can improve the chances of
  evacuating people with mobility impairments
  safely.
• Remember - There is no such thing as a typical
  or model evacuation plan for people with
  disabilities.
• Boiler-plate plans are worthless, as they do
  not take into account the unique circumstances of
  each facility and each person. Make sure your
  site is not using a boiler-plate disaster plan.

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Evacuation Planning

• Each building and sometimes building area (in
  large buildings) is unique and should have its
  own plan.
• The main goal is to get persons with mobility
  impairments to a safe area until the fire
  department arrives.

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Evacuation Planning Stakeholders

• Fire, safety, and building code officials
• Emergency plan coordinators
• Building owners and managers
• Employers and supervisors
• People with disabilities
• Office fire marshals

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• IMPORTANT!
• The primary objective of an emergency evacuation
  plan is the protection from injury and
  preservation of human life.

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International Fire Code

• The International Fire Code requires FIRE SAFETY
  AND EVACUATION PLANS for most buildings open to
  the public, including large malls, education
  institutional occupancies, multi-family
  residential buildings, places of assembly,
  hospitals, colleges and businesses, to name a few.

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International Fire Code

• Fire evacuation plans shall include the
  following
• 1. Emergency egress or escape routes and whether
  evacuation of the building is to be complete or,
  where approved, by selected floors or areas only.
• 2. Procedures for employees who must remain to
  operate critical equipment before evacuating.
• 3. Procedures for accounting for employees and
  occupants after evacuation has been completed.
• 4. Identification and assignment of personnel
  responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid.

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• 5. The preferred and any alternative means of
  notifying occupants of a fire or emergency.
• 6. The preferred and any alternative means of
  reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire
  department or designated emergency response
  organization.
• 7. Identification and assignment of personnel who
  can be contacted for further information or
  explanation of duties under the plan.
• 8. A description of the emergency voice/alarm
  communication system alert tone and preprogrammed
  voice messages, where provided.

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International Fire Code

• Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be
  reviewed or updated annually or as necessitated
  by changes in staff assignments, occupancy, or
  the physical arrangement of the building.
• 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 code official for review
  upon request.

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Evacuation Plan Protocols and Procedures

• Establish a relationship with the fire department
  or other first responders that would respond to
  your home or business in the event of a fire or
  other emergency. The relationship should include
• Developing an evacuation plan with the fire
  department.
• Reviewing the plan with the fire department at
  least once a year.
• Practicing the evacuation plan throughout the
  year.
• Employers, in turn, should review evacuation
  plans annually, and practice and evaluate them
  regularly. Even a brief discussion during a staff
  meeting can help to remind everyone what he or
  she needs to do. Ultimately, a solid level of
  preparedness should become part of the fabric of
  the facility.

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Evacuation Planning

• Know the locations of your usable exits on the
  grade level of the building and how to get to
  them.
• Once outside, determine if a wheelchair user can
  get to a public way that is a safe distance
  away from the building and identify a safe
  meeting place.
• A protected area for people with mobility
  impairments outside the exit door may be
  feasible.
• In many buildings, even exits on the grade level
  of the building are elevated above the adjoining
  grade. In these instances, landings beyond the
  exit door should be reviewed to determine if they
  are adequate to accommodate a wheelchair user.
  Simply measure the landing. The clear floor space
  needed for a wheelchair user is 30 inches by 48
  inches, but keep in mind that this area must be
  located beyond the swing of the exit door and
  clear of the exit path ambulatory persons will
  use.

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Evacuation Planning

• Establish a Floor Warden Systemthese
  individuals are responsible for
• overseeing and coordinating evacuation
  activities,
• conducting a final pass through the office space,
  
• ensuring that everyone receives the necessary
  assistance as appropriate,
• ensuring all doors to the elevator lobby are
  closed,
• and reporting the floor evacuation status to the
  first fire or emergency officials
• arriving on the scene.
• When the alarm goes off, the Floor Warden should
  immediately verify circumstances and inform the
  person with a disability accordingly. It is of
  great importance to designate an alternate Floor
  Warden in the instance when the initial designee
  is absent. The names of these designated
  individuals should be updated and posted on a
  regular basis.

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Evacuation Planning

• Identify a location or locations for an area of
  refuge
• In the event of a need for evacuation from an
  upper floor, wheelchair users should make their
  way, either accompanied or on their own, to a
  designated area of refuge or other place of
  safety on the same floor, (e.g., a closed
  staircase landing as described earlier).
• They should inform their supervisor, a colleague,
  or other available person that they will remain
  in that place of safety and wait for assistance.
  Providing two-way radios or a telephone in these
  areas are excellent examples of ensuring that
  communication is provided.
• The supervisor or other designated person should
  inform the first fire or emergency officials
  arriving on the scene of the disabled persons
  location.

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Evacuation Planning

• Evaluate the need for evacuation devices from
  upper and lower floors.
• If used, their location(s) should be identified
  and their use should be practiced during
  regularly scheduled drills.
• The use of evacuation devices can be directed
  through the installation of signage (e.g.,
  individuals using evacuation chairs must use the
  east stairwell next to the mens room).

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Example of Evacuation Chair
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Evacuation Planning

• Practice dealing with different circumstances and
  unforeseen situations, such as blocked paths or
  exits.
• Remember never to open doors that are too hot.
• Ensure that all workers, including those on other
  shifts and those who are at the site after
  typical hours, (e.g., cleaning crews, evening
  meeting coordinators, etc.) are aware of
  wheelchair users who are typically in the
  building. Such off-hour employees should be
  involved in fire emergency drills.

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EVACUATION
Individuals with disabilities will face a variety
of challenges in evacuating, depending on the
nature of the emergency. People with a mobility
disability may need assistance leaving a building
without a working elevator. Procedures should
be in place to ensure that people with
disabilities can evacuate the physical area in a
variety of conditions with or without assistance.
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Evacuation Procedures
Only attempt an emergency evacuation if you have
had emergency assistance training or the person
is in immediate danger and cannot wait for
emergency services personnel.        
Some evacuation methods for wheelchair users
involve carrying an individual, such as the Swing
or Chair Carry method shown here.
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• ALWAYS ASK someone with a disability how you can
  help before attempting any emergency evacuation
  assistance. Ask how he or she can best be
  assisted or moved, and whether there are any
  special considerations or items that need to come
  with the person.

Another evacuation method for wheelchair users is
the 3 person assist, shown here.
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Assessing the Situation for People with Mobility
Impairments         It may be necessary to
help clear the exit route of debris (if
possible).         If people with mobility
impairments cannot exit, they should move to a
safer area, e.g.,   most enclosed stairwells
          Call 911 or notify police or fire
personnel immediately about any people remaining
in the building and their locations.      
  Police or fire personnel will decide whether
people are safe where they are, and will evacuate
them as necessary. The Fire Department may
determine that it is safe to override the rule
against using elevators.         If people are
in immediate danger and cannot be moved to a
safer area to wait for assistance, it may be
necessary to evacuate them using an evacuation
chair or a carry technique. Power
Outages         If an outage occurs during the
day and people with disabilities choose to wait
in the building for electricity to be restored,
they can move near a window where there is
natural light and access to a working telephone.  
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Contracting for Emergency Services

• Make sure that contracts for emergency services
  require providers to follow appropriate steps
  outlined in this presentation.
• Review the terms of these contracts on a regular
  basis to ensure that they continue to meet the
  accessibility needs of people with mobility
  impairments.
• Provide training to contractors so that they
  understand how best to coordinate their
  activities with your overall accessibility plan
  for emergency services.

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Home Evacuation for Wheelchair Users

• Before a Fire Occurs
• Identify and determine the nearest emergency exit
  or exits within your home.
• If possible, try to live, or have your sleeping
  area, close to an accessible exit.
• You might require some accommodations to
  facilitate an emergency exit such as a ramp or
  removal of barriers.
• Make the adjustments necessary to ensure a safe
  escape route.
• Be sure that you can open all locks on windows
  and doors throughout your house.

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Home Evacuation for Wheelchair Users

• Heat and smoke detectors can reduce the chance of
  dying in a home fire by approximately 60.
• Install heat or smoke detectors throughout your
  home. Key locations are the kitchen, basement,
  storage areas, trash areas, accessible attics,
  sleeping areas and hallways.
• Make sure that smoke alarms are kept cleaned and
  vacuumed regularly to remove dust particles. Test
  the batteries monthly and replace batteries twice
  a year to ensure that they are working properly.
• If your smoke alarms are connected to the
  electric circuits of your residence, you should
  have battery backups in case of an electrical
  failure.
• If you are unable to perform these tasks
  yourself, ask your friends, family members,
  building managers, or someone from the fire
  department to help you out.

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Home Evacuation for Wheelchair Users

• Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. For those
  who use wheelchairs, you might want to consider
  mounting a small personal extinguisher in an
  accessible place. This will be beneficial if you
  cannot stop, drop, and roll if your clothing
  catches on fire.
• Another beneficial resource of information is
  your local fire department. They can provide
  valuable information regarding better escape
  routes, equipment, and potential hazards within
  your home. Become knowledgeable of the fire
  departments restrictions and inform them of
  yours.

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What to Do in Case a Fire Occurs

• Always test doors before opening them.
• Use the back of your hand and reach up high and
  touch the door, the doorknob, and the space
  between the door and the frame. If the door feels
  hot, keep it closed and use a second exit if
  available. If the door feels cool, open the door
  slowly and exit, staying as low to the ground as
  possible.
• If it is impossible for you to stay low to the
  ground, cover your mouth and nose and safely exit
  the room as quickly as possible.

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What to Do in Case a Fire Occurs

• Exit your home as quickly as possible.
• Do not use any elevators and do not go back
  inside after exiting your home.
• Get help from your neighbors and contact the fire
  department.
• If you get trapped in your room close all doors
  between you and the fire.
• Fill cracks in all open spaces so no smoke enters
  the room.
• If possible, contact the fire department and
  inform them what room you are in. It is also a
  good idea to use a light colored cloth and wave
  it out the window to signal the fire department
  when they arrive at your location.
• If you own a cell phone, keep it with you at all
  times.

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Conclusion

• Group Discussion
• Follow-Up Questions
• Resources

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Resources

• US Department of Justice www.ada.gov/emergencypre
  p.htm
• American Red Crosswww.prepare.org/disabilities/di
  sabilities.htm
• National Organization on Disabilitywww.nod.org
• United Spinal Associationwww.unitedspinal.org
• US Access Boardwww.access-board.gov
• International Code Council (ICC)http//www.iccsaf
  e.org/accessibility

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Questions????
Thank You For Attending!
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