Facility managers are often tasked with creating, executing, and updating the building’s fire safety plan. This process is crucial because it outlines all aspects of fire safety, including evacuation, maintenance and housekeeping, and what to do if a fire occurs in your building. Fire safety plans need to be reviewed every 12 months to make sure that they are up-to-date, accurate, and compliant.
Whether you are creating a fire safety plan from scratch or you have one that needs updating, there are some important factors to consider.
What’s involved
Even as someone familiar with the building and its operations, this can be a big job, so you may want to consult your local fire department or use an online template for guidance. As an overview, your fire safety plan must contain the following elements:
- Emergency protocols, including sounding the alarm, notifying the fire department and building occupants, equipment shutdown if necessary, and containment, if possible.
- Evacuation plans, locations, and a system for people who may need assistance. This should also include alternate fire safety measures, and a plan for the fire department to access the building.
- Procedure and schedule for fire drills, along with information for any staff designated with specific fire safety duties.
- Staff education or training, where required. This also needs to include drawings and maps to indicate fire safety locations.
- Maintenance procedures for all emergency systems on an ongoing basis.
Getting approval
In Ontario, every fire safety plan listed in section 2.8 of the Ontario Fire Code must be inspected by a Chief Fire Official with jurisdiction over the building. This means that you will need to prepare and submit a draft of your plan to your local fire department. Once your plan has been reviewed and approved for compliance with the Ontario Fire Code, a visit will be conducted to your building to confirm the plan and verify all the information.
For provinces outside Ontario, check with your local and provincial guidelines for specific information about getting approval for your plan.
Going online
Digitizing your fire safety plan can offer some advantages to your business, like allowing everyone on your team an easy way to access, download and distribute the information.
Beyond the expanded accessibility for your employees, going online also means that you can sign up for notifications to update your plan, so you never fall out of compliance.
Your fire safety plan is an important part of your job, whether you are creating a new plan, updating an existing plan, or digiting a current version. Consider all the important factors so your plan stays current and compliant, making your workspace as safe an environment as possible for employees and visitors.
