Escape, from High Rise Buidings

Fire Exit

High-rise flats are built to be fireproof, and most fires won’t spread
further than one or two rooms. Walls, ceilings and doors will hold
back flames and smoke, so if there’s a fire somewhere else in the
building, you’re usually safest in your flat unless you’re affected
by heat or smoke.

Making Your Escape Plan

Taking some time to make an escape plan will give you the confidence to know what to do if there’s a fire and will give you peace of mind. If you live in a flat above the first floor, most of your safety planning
is exactly the same as for ground-floo homes. However, there are some important differences.

Follow the safety advice given in the ‘Prevention’ and ‘Detection’ sections of this guide, and also the advice already given in this ‘Escape’ section. If you live in a flat in a high-rise building you should
also take the following advice

Fire Exit

Sit down with everyone who lives in your flat and talk about how
you would react if there were a fire. Make sure that everyone knows
where the fire alarm is.
Choose an escape route. This should be the easiest way out. Think
about how to get out of your flat, but also how to get off your floor to somewhere safe outside the building. Also decide on a second escape route, if one is available (but not a balcony).
Make sure your escape route is keeclear. Check that there aren’t any boxes, rubbish or anything that
could catch fire in corridors or stairways.
If your building has fire doors, make sure they always stay closed and arenot propped open. (They are
designed to stop fire and smoke from spreading.)
Make sure that doors to stairways and fire escapes aren’t locked. Regularly check that you can open
these doors from both sides.
When planning your escape route, keep in mind that you must never use the lift. A fire can cut the power
to the lift, leaving you stranded.
Choose a safe room. If you can’t escape you will need to find one room where you can wait to be rescued, preferably one with a window that opens and that has a phone in it.
Make sure everyone knows where the stairs are. As it’s easy to get confused in the dark, count how many
doors you will need to go through or past.

High Rise

Alert everyone in your flat. Don’t stop for valuables or to investigate
the fire.
Before opening doors, check them with the back of your hand.
If they’re warm, don’t open them – the fire is on the other side.
A lert neighbouring flats by banging on the doors on your way out.
Set off the fire alarm, if there is one.
Don’t use the lift.
If there’s a lot of smoke, crawl along the floor where the air will be cleanest.
Once you are safely outside, use a mobile phone or a phone box to call 999. Give the emergency operator
your name and address, including the number of your flat. Tell them what floor the fire is on, if you know this.
If the fire is blocking your exit, or if the stairs in your block of flats are blocked by fire or smoke, stay
calm and go back inside your flat and wait for the Fire and Rescue Service to arrive.

If Your Escape Route is Blocked

If the fire is inside your flat

Get everyone into the safe room you have chosen.
Put cushions, bedding and so on at the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in.
Phone 999, giving your address and the number of your flat.
Open the window. If you feel in serious danger, wave a sheet out of the window so the firefighters can
see you.

If the fire is outside your flat

Seal your front door with tape if you can, as well as cushions and bedding, to stop smoke getting in.
Close any ventilators.
Phone 999, giving your address and number of your flat.

If there’s a fire – get out, stay out and call 999