Comments by Su Peace

Su Peace
Member - 1 post

There may not be a need to specifically apply PEEP's under the RRO, however there is a duty to provide suitable escape for all people leaving the building including disabled people. The only true way to do this is by providing PEEP's for all know people in the building.

It is important to note that it is not only wheelchair users that will require either faciitated or assisted escape. By going through the process of setting up a PEEP's system and finding out what the user needs are it is likley that the burden on management in the event of a fire will be reduced.

Good orientation, contrasting and applying some of the standards set in BS8300 to escape routes will give the opotunity for more of the building population to make their own way out of the building.

Where there is an unknown population there may well be a need for training for staff who will need to understand how to communicate with disabled people as well as what escape options might be open to them within the building.

It should also be noted that the people who need to be involved in the communication processes that are necessary for means of escape of disabled people may be wider than the normal safety team. Regular meetings that include personnel, operations management, reception, security are necessary.

I would advocate training for staff, however good quality disability equality training may be all that is needed to back up other regular fire training.