Egress and Evacuation

Once the building or any floor has gone into alarm, evacuation is necessary.  Safety Wardens will instruct all personnel to begin evacuation immediately.  All valuables should be secure in preparation for evacuation of the building.  Proceed to the nearest exit and leave the building.

 

Once you are out of the building, keep walking; keep clear of all doorways.  To protect you from falling debris or glass, move well away from the building perimeter.  Emergency vehicles and personnel must have a clear passage to this area. 

 

In the event of a fire in the Tenant’s space, the Safety Warden and other designated employees should initiate the following emergency procedures:

 

1.   Close all doors leading to the fire

      a.   Call 911 and Boston Properties at 571-521-7290 and report the fire's exact location and what is burning. Boston Properties will also notify the Fire Department, Ambulance Service, and take any other action necessary or deemed appropriate.

 

2.   The Safety Warden will give the order to evacuate in accordance with the procedures outlined in the next section.  The Safety Warden should notify Boston Properties immediately of this action.

 

3.   When the Fairfax County Fire Marshall arrives on the premises, he/she is in charge, and all Tenants must respond to any orders issued.  Boston Properties staff will assist the Fire Marshall as directed.

 

4.   Everyone should proceed quickly, but calmly to the nearest stairwell.  DO NOT RUN! All the stairwells are constructed with fire -resistant material to provide safe evacuation for building occupants.

 

5.   DO NOT PANIC!  Panic is the most harmful and most difficult element to control in an emergency.  Avoiding panic is accomplished through the following steps:

       a.  Knowledge of procedures which must be followed

       b.  Confidence in the responsible personnel's ability and guidance

       c.  Calmness and self confidence of responsible personnel

 

6.    DO NOT USE ELEVATORS!  They will remain at the lobby level until the emergency is over.

       a.  Check stairwells for smoke 

 

7.    If the stairwell is full of smoke, find egress through the opposite stairwell.  Please report area of smoke immediately to Boston Properties upon completion of your evacuation. If you cannot evacuate because of smoke, retreat to the point farthest away from the area, call 911 and Boston Properties at 571-521-7290 

8.    If the corridor and /or stairwell s are not smoke filled, evacuate the building in a safe and orderly manner

 

9.    The Alternate Safety Warden or other responsible person(s) should be designated to walk the suite to assist employees and make sure everyone is aware of the evacuation order.

 

10. The last person leaving any enclosed office area should close the office door, without locking it.  This will help to confirm any fire until the Fire Department arrives

 

11.  Form a single -file line at the stairwell exit door and proceed calmly and carefully down the nearest stairwell to the lobby level, then outside.  No one should open any door without first checking if the door is hot.  If the door is hot, there may be a fire on the other side

 

12.  Keep conversations to a minimum.  Stay in single -file line on the right side of the stairwell

 

13.  ONCE THE EVACUATION HAS BEGUN, NO ONE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO RE-ENTER THE EVACUATED AREA UNTIL IT HAS BEEN DECLARED SAFE BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND THE PROPERTY MANAGER

 

14.  During evacuation, assist mobility-impaired persons to an office adjacent to the stairwell.  One person should remain with the impaired person.  Another designated individual should notify the Fire Department of the impaired person's location.  Do not assist mobility =impaired individuals into the stairwell, as this will block the evacuation route.  Building or Fire Department personnel will meet them in this area and assist their evacuation to the designated rendezvous floor.  The Tenant Safety Warden should notify Emergency personnel as to the location of mobility-impaired employees so that building personnel might respond to assist their evacuation.

 

15.  The Safety Warden or Alternate should proceed to take the head count to determine if anyone is missing from their office.  This information should be relayed to Boston Properties personnel in the lobby area

 

16.  The Safety Warden should remain with their designated groups and wait until instructions for safe re-entry into the building are given.

 

17.  If the evacuation of an area is not possible because all escape routes are blocked by fire or thick smoke, the following procedures should be observed.

       a.  Move as far away from the fire as possible.  Close all doors behind you as you go.  Every closed door between you and the fire provides a barrier against smoke.

       b.  If a phone is accessible, call the Fire Department at 911 and Boston Properties at 571- 521 -7290 with your precise location.
       c.  Stuff clothing or other material around ventilation ducts and cracks in the doors to prevent smoke-filled air from penetrating the area.

       d.  Hang a cloth or other signal in the window to attract the attention of firemen.

       e.  DO NOT BREAK THE GLASS.  Under certain conditions, an open window may draw smoke into the area.  If the glass has been broken there will be no way to stop the smoke from entering the room.