F80 Floor Warden System and Evacuation Management — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary duty of a floor warden during a building fire evacuation?
- To operate the standpipe hose cabinet until the FDNY arrives
- To ensure all occupants on their assigned floor evacuate safely and account for them at the assembly point (Correct answer)
- To remain at the building entrance and direct FDNY apparatus to the correct entrance
- To shut down all electrical equipment on the floor before exiting
Correct answer: To ensure all occupants on their assigned floor evacuate safely and account for them at the assembly point
Floor wardens are assigned to specific floors and are responsible for directing and assisting all occupants on that floor to evacuate, then reporting a headcount to the Fire Safety Director at the designated assembly area.
Question 2: A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is developed for:
- All building occupants as part of the general fire safety plan
- Individuals with disabilities or mobility limitations who cannot use stairs independently (Correct answer)
- FDNY firefighters who need to know the building layout
- Visitors who have not completed fire safety orientation
Correct answer: Individuals with disabilities or mobility limitations who cannot use stairs independently
PEEPs are individualized plans created for occupants who, due to physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities, require specific assistance or alternative evacuation procedures. They ensure no one is overlooked during an emergency.
Question 3: During a partial building evacuation in a high-rise, which floors are typically evacuated FIRST?
- The top floors, because heat and smoke rise
- The fire floor, the floor above it, and the floor below it (Correct answer)
- All floors simultaneously to prevent stairwell congestion
- Only the fire floor until FDNY confirms extension to other floors
Correct answer: The fire floor, the floor above it, and the floor below it
Standard high-rise evacuation protocol prioritizes the fire floor and the two floors immediately adjacent (one above, one below) because those floors face the greatest immediate risk. Evacuating all floors at once can overwhelm stairwells.
Question 4: The Fire Safety Director receives a report from a floor warden that an occupant using a wheelchair is waiting in a stairwell refuge area. What is the correct next step?
- Instruct the floor warden to assist the occupant down the stairs immediately
- Notify the FDNY incident commander of the location so firefighters can assist the occupant (Correct answer)
- Advise the occupant to use the elevator, as stairwells are not accessible
- Wait until all other occupants have evacuated before addressing mobility-impaired individuals
Correct answer: Notify the FDNY incident commander of the location so firefighters can assist the occupant
Refuge areas are designated safe locations in stairwell vestibules for mobility-impaired occupants. The Fire Safety Director must relay the exact location to FDNY so trained personnel can provide proper evacuation assistance.
Question 5: How often must a building with an F80 Fire Safety Director conduct fire drills, per NYC regulations?
- Once per year for all occupants
- Twice per year, with at least one occurring during normal business hours (Correct answer)
- Monthly, with records kept for FDNY inspection
- Only when a new Fire Safety Director is appointed
Correct answer: Twice per year, with at least one occurring during normal business hours
NYC rules require covered high-rise buildings to conduct fire drills at least twice annually, with at least one drill conducted during normal business hours to ensure daytime occupants participate. Records of all drills must be maintained.
Question 6: After a fire drill is completed, what is the Fire Safety Director required to do?
- Submit a drill report to the FDNY within 30 days documenting the drill and any deficiencies noted (Correct answer)
- Post the drill results on the building lobby bulletin board for 90 days
- Verbally brief all floor wardens within 24 hours, with no written record required
- Notify the building owner only if an evacuation deficiency was observed
Correct answer: Submit a drill report to the FDNY within 30 days documenting the drill and any deficiencies noted
NYC rules require Fire Safety Directors to file a written fire drill report with the FDNY documenting the date, time, number of participants, and any problems observed. This record is subject to FDNY inspection.
F80 Floor Warden System and Evacuation Management
What is the primary duty of a floor warden during a building fire evacuation?