F89 Building Evacuation and Drills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum frequency for conducting fire drills in commercial high-rise buildings in New York City?
- Annually
- Semi-annually (Correct answer)
- Quarterly
- Monthly
Correct answer: Semi-annually
NYC fire code requires semi-annual fire drills in commercial high-rise buildings to ensure occupants are familiar with evacuation procedures.
Under NYC Fire Code and Building Code requirements, commercial high-rise buildings must conduct fire drills at least semi-annually. These drills test the building's Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan (FSEP), ensure fire wardens and deputy fire wardens know their roles, verify that occupants understand evacuation routes, and identify any issues with communication systems or procedures that need correction.
Question 2: During a partial evacuation of a high-rise building, which floors are typically evacuated first?
- All floors above the fire floor
- The fire floor and two floors immediately above and below (Correct answer)
- Only the fire floor
- Every other floor starting from the fire floor
Correct answer: The fire floor and two floors immediately above and below
Standard partial evacuation procedures call for evacuating the fire floor plus two floors above and below to protect those most at risk while preventing stairwell overcrowding.
In high-rise partial evacuation procedures, the fire floor and typically two floors above and two floors below are evacuated first. This approach addresses the immediate danger zone where smoke and heat are most likely to spread, while preventing dangerous overcrowding in stairwells. Floors above the fire are prioritized because heat and smoke rise. The floors below are included because structural compromise or vertical fire spread through shafts could affect them.
Question 3: What is the primary role of a floor warden during a building evacuation?
- Operating the fire alarm panel
- Directing occupants to designated stairwells and assembly areas (Correct answer)
- Communicating with the fire department
- Shutting down HVAC systems
Correct answer: Directing occupants to designated stairwells and assembly areas
Floor wardens are responsible for directing occupants to safe evacuation routes and ensuring orderly movement to assembly areas.
Floor wardens serve as the primary evacuation leaders on their assigned floors. Their responsibilities include directing occupants to designated stairwells (not elevators), sweeping the floor to ensure no one is left behind, assisting persons with disabilities, accounting for occupants at the assembly area, and reporting floor status to the Fire Safety Director.
Question 4: Which type of stairwell pressurization helps prevent smoke infiltration during evacuation?
- Negative pressure system
- Positive pressure system (Correct answer)
- Neutral pressure system
- Alternating pressure system
Correct answer: Positive pressure system
Positive pressure stairwell systems push air into the stairwell to keep smoke out, maintaining a tenable evacuation path.
Positive pressure stairwell systems work by injecting air into the stairwell at a higher pressure than the adjacent floors. This pressure differential prevents smoke from migrating into the stairwell when doors are opened during evacuation. NYC Building Code requires stairwell pressurization in high-rise buildings as part of the smoke control system.
Question 5: What should be done if a person with a mobility impairment cannot use the stairs during an evacuation?
- Leave them in their office with the door closed
- Direct them to an area of refuge and notify the fire department (Correct answer)
- Have coworkers carry them down the stairs immediately
- Tell them to use the elevator
Correct answer: Direct them to an area of refuge and notify the fire department
Persons with mobility impairments should be directed to designated areas of refuge where they can safely wait for fire department assistance.
Areas of refuge are fire-rated spaces, typically located adjacent to stairwells, designed to provide temporary protection for people who cannot use stairs. The FLSD must ensure these areas are identified in the evacuation plan, kept clear of obstructions, and that fire wardens know to direct mobility-impaired occupants there. The fire department must be immediately notified of anyone waiting in an area of refuge.
Question 6: After a fire drill, what document must the Fire and Life Safety Director prepare?
- An incident report for the fire department
- A fire drill report documenting participation, timing, and deficiencies (Correct answer)
- A building inspection certificate
- A revised emergency action plan
Correct answer: A fire drill report documenting participation, timing, and deficiencies
A post-drill report must document the drill details including timing, participation rates, and any deficiencies identified for correction.
After every fire drill, the FLSD must prepare a comprehensive fire drill report that includes the date and time, type of drill conducted, number of occupants who participated, evacuation times by floor, any problems encountered, corrective actions needed, and the names of fire safety staff who participated. These reports must be maintained on file and are subject to review by the FDNY during inspections.
F89 Building Evacuation and Drills 2
What is the minimum frequency for conducting fire drills in commercial high-rise buildings in New York City?