Egress Routes and Housekeeping

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When an emergency strikes, it’s important to know multiple escape routes from classrooms, office spaces and resident buildings. This requires planning and forethought before the emergency happens. Begin by evaluating the space for potential egress routes, or ways to leave and make an escape plan. Always know more than one way out.

 

Per code, most all buildings are designed and built with easily accessible means of egress for everyone’s safety. This is just one reason why keeping clutter or trash items out of egress paths is critical to occupant safety. Practice good housekeeping, and place trash items in the appropriate bins or dumpsters and not on their own in hallways or by exits.

 

In storage areas, ensure that items aren’t stacked too close to the ceiling. This provides clearance for sprinklers and smoke detectors to do their jobs. Do not store bicycles or scooters in any areas of egress and always participate in fire drills to practice the process of what exiting in an emergency could be like. Remember the designated meeting area and make note of potential alternate paths of egress.