Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Evacuation Chair?

Evacuation chairs provide an efficient, safe and comfortable means of evacuating an individual that is mobility-impaired in the event of an emergency, such as a fire.You may also see evacuation chairs being referred to as; stairway evacuation chairs, fire evacuation chairs, evacuation chairs or disabled evacuation chairs. An Evacuation chair can aid a diverse range of people that cannot evacuate a building without some assistance. An individual may be incapable of evacuatingwithout assistance due to injury, disability, pregnancy and many other medical conditions that can hinder their ability to move quickly in an emergency.

How do Evacuation Chairs Work?

Fire evacuations chairs are made from a light but extremely durable material, making them both manoeuvrable and robust.On levelground they can be used as a normal wheelchair, however, when going downstairs, the tracks attached to the chair are deployed creating a bridge and friction between the steps. This dramatically reduces the speed of descent, allowing for a safe and controlled escape.When not in use, the evacuation chair can be folded flat and secured neatly on a wall or stored within a specially designed unit

Are Evacuation Chairs a Legal Requirement?

There is currently no legal requirement for an organisation to provide evacuation chairs, the most relevant piece of legislation isthe Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005orRRO 2005.Within the RRO, it states that, after revising the findings of a fire risk assessment, the ‘responsible person’ on the premises must ‘consider anybody who may be especially at risk’ and act to protect these individuals as best they can. For example, somebody with a physical disability.

Do I need an Evacuation Chair?

If you are recognised as the ‘responsible person’ on your premises, it is up to youto perform a fire risk assessment, create an emergency evacuation plan based on your findings and implement precautions accordingly. This includes providing a viable means of escape for people with a physical disability.In thisstudy, it states that there are just under 14 million disabled people in the UK, making up 19% of working-aged adults. This equates to roughly 1 in 5 people and therefore, there is a high chance that one of your visitors or employees will require the assistance of an evacuation chair in the event of an emergency.

How many Evacuation Chairs do I need?

The general rule of thumb is ‘ONE chair on ONE floor serves ONE person’. However, it can become very expensiveto place a chair on every floor which is why conducting afire safety assessmentis so important.You should place evacuation chairs in the most logical and appropriate areas, based on the current level of fire safety, the building layout and acknowledging individual needs learned from Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP).Remember that evacuation chairs are the means by which a mobility-impaired person may escape, and not a replacement for a well-designed evacuation plan. Regular training for the use of fire evacuation chairs should be implemented into your fire drills.

Fire Evacuation Chair Training

Operatives using the evacuation chair must be able to set themup, and in the event of an emergency, do so under pressure. They must know the chair balance points, how to check the person sitting in the chair is comfortable and secure, how to correctly position it on stairs and how to maintain the correct posture when using the chair.

How often should a Stairway Evacuation Chair be serviced?

At least once a year. It is important to check all components and make sure they work properly.

Do you offer a Service Contract?

Yes, we offer different service options. For more information click here.

Do you offer Service even If I have another brand of Evacuation Chairs?

Depending on the chair brand, we may be able to offer a service option for you. Please write or call us to check first.