Fire
drill
A fire drill is a method of practicing the
evacuation of a building for a fire or other emergency. Generally,
the emergency system (usually an alarm) is activated and the
building is evacuated as though a real fire had occurred. Usually,
the time it takes to evacuate is measured to ensure that it occurs
within a reasonable length of time.
Rapid dismissal
Sometimes done in schools, a rapid dismissal is similar to
a fire drill. However, unlike a conventional fire drill, students
are not permitted to return to the building for the remainder of
that day. In a rapid dismissal, students gather their personal
belongings and other items that they will be taking home beforehand.
After evacuating, a roll call is taken, and students are dismissed
from the evacuation location. Rapid dismissals are sometimes
substituted for conventional fire drills, as they often satisfy fire
drill procedures legally required.
Many jurisdictions require that fire drills be conducted
at certain intervals. This is most often the case in elementary,
middle, and high schools, but sometimes other places as well. Often
the frequency of such drills and any special actions that must be
taken during such drills are listed in the statute.
Main
article: List of fire drill regulations in the United States
The Department for Education and Skills requires that
schools perform a fire drill at least once per academic year and
recommends that one should occur
each
term. According to the Fire Precautions (Workplace)
Regulations 1997, all workplaces must have an emergency plan
consisting of staff actions, evacuation plans and arrangements for
contacting the fire brigade
List
of fire drill regulations in the United States
The following is a list of fire drill regulations in
the United States.
According to section 36-19-10 of the Code of Alabama, the Fire Marshal or his deputies are to require schools to conduct one fire drill per month. Additionally, the statute requires that doors open outward, and be unlocked during school hours.
In Arizona, the Arizona School Emergency Response Plan Minimum Requirements Checklist states that schools must conduct two each of evacuation, reverse evacuation, and lockdown drills each year, and that one fire drill per year may count towards this requirement.
Section 12-13-109 of the Arkansas Code stipulates that the State Police require schools to conduct one fire drill per month, and to keep all exits unlocked during school hours.
In California, elementary and middle schools must conduct one fire drill per month. High schools must have two fire drills per school year.
In Connecticut schools, one fire drill must be conducted each month school is in session. Chapter 170 Section 10-231 (2000) allows crisis response drills to be substituted for the mandated monthly fire drill once every three months.
Washington, D.C. schools are required to conduct two fire
drills during the first two weeks of school, and one per month
thereafter, for a total of ten drills for the year. For the first
drill of the year, it must be preannounced, with emphasis placed on
procedure rather than evacuation speed. Drills should be conducted
at different times during the day, and under different conditions,
with the intention of avoiding making a distinction between a drill
and an actual emergency.
In addition, the District requires that one fire drill be conducted in the spring and fall for adult education programs, and one drill during the first week of summer school or special programmed activities.
Two fire drills must be conducted in the first month of
school then one per month for the rest of the school year. Also, one
Lockdown, Bomb Threat, HAZMAT, and Severe Weather drill should be
conducted.
In Georgia schools, one fire drill must be conducted each month that school is in session. The Georgia State Fire Code also permits schools to substitute a severe weather drill for its required monthly fire drill during the months of February and November.
At least three fire drills must be conducted per year. One of these drills requires fire department supervision. In addition there also must be one bus evacuation and one tornado drill conducted as well.
Fire drills must be conducted each month school is in
session. In addition to Fire drills, Tornado Drills must be
conducted, once in September, once in October, and once in April.
Two
fire drills must be conducted in the first month of school then one
per month for the rest of the
school year.
In all Louisiana schools, at least two fire drills must be conducted within the first two weeks of an academic year. Thereafter, eight drills must be conducted by the end of the academic year, one of which must be supervised by a member of the fire department.
All primary, elementary, and secondary schools in Maine are required to conduct two fire drills during the first two weeks of an academic year. Schools that contain grades K-4 are required to hold an additional eight fire drills during the year. Schools housing grades 5-8 are required to conduct an additional six fire drills, and schools housing grades 9-12 are required to hold an additional four fire drills. Schools containing any combinations of these grade levels must hold the additional number of fire drills required of the lowest grade level within the school.
Maryland state law mandates that the state superintendent
of schools require county school superintendents to hold ten fire
drills per year in public schools, and at least one fire drill every
sixty days.
Montgomery County, Maryland requires that ten drills be held during the school year, with two during the first thirty days of school, and one per month thereafter. If schools are occupied during the summer, three fire drills are required. In order to avoid making the distinction between a fire drill and an actual fire, drills should be conducted at random intervals, including during class changes, assemblies, etc.
In Massachusetts schools, all students must be advised of fire evacuation procedures or participate in a fire drill within the first three days of school. Additionally, the head of the fire department or their designee is required to visit schools four times per year to conduct fire drills and ensure that building personnel are knowledgeable in their responsibilities in the event of a fire. Fire drills conducted by the fire department are conducted without advance warning.
Section 29.19 of Act 207 of 1941 of the Michigan Compiled Laws mandates that the state fire marshal or the chief of the fire department or a fire fighter in uniform acting under orders and directions of the fire chief may cause fire drills to be held in school houses, school dormitories, and other public buildings as the state fire marshal considers advisable. All schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade must conduct six fire drills throughout the school year (four in the autumn season; two in the remainder of the year).
According to Minnesota States 299F.30, all public and private schools and other educational institutions in Minnesota must have at least five fire drills per year. The school must keep records of the date of each drill and the time required to evacuate the building, and these records must be available for inspection by the state fire marshal. All doors and exits in the building must be kept unlocked from the inside of the building during school hours.
Montana Code Annotated calls for eight "disaster drills" to be conducted each school year. At least four of these drills must be "fire exit drills."
Nebraska
All private, denominational, and parochial schools in Nebraska must conduct monthly fire drills in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-706, while keeping all doors and exits unlocked during school hours in compliance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-527. The second Friday of May is designated as State Fire Day to be observed by private and parochial schools to create awareness of fire damage.
In accordance with Nevada Revised Statute 392.450, all public schools are required to provide drills to instruct students as to the appropriate procedures to follow in the event of a fire or other emergency. These drills are to be held at least once per month for every month school is in session (up to three of these drills may be used as chemical explosion or natural disaster drills), and are to be supervised by representatives of the school board and local fire chief. Additionally, each classroom is required to have an evacuation map and a copy of all emergency procedures posted.
Nevada private schools follow most of the fire drill regulations of public schools. In 2007 this law was amended—private schools are now required to drill once a month rather than twice a month as previously required. Drill procedures and evacuation maps are not required to be posted in every classroom; however, a copy of NRS 394.170 (the law pertaining to private school drills) must be posted.
NPPA 101 requires all New Hampshire schools to conduct a fire drill for every month school is in session with one drill done within the first 30 days of school. The NH State Fire Code also allows for these drills to be suspended during the winter months provided that at least four (4) drills were previously conducted. All present occupants must participate in the drill. This includes: students, teachers, staff, administration, and kitchen personal as well as janitors and yard teachers.
In New Jersey, according to section 18A:41-1 in the New
Jersey Permanent Statutes, fire drills are required two times per
month in schools of two or more rooms, or one room when located
above the first floor level.
Each public and private school must have twelve emergency drills per year, of which nine are to be fire drills, two shelter-in-place, and one evacuation drill.
Each school must have 12 fire drills per year. Eight fire drills in the fall must be conducted before December 1st. Four must be conducted in the spring before the end of the year. Residential schools must have 4 after dark, and schools that hold summer sessions must hold at least 2 drills, with one of the drills being held during the first week of the summer session.
According to North Carolina General Statute 115C‑288 (d), the Principal of a school is responsible to conduct a fire drill during the first week after the opening of school and thereafter at least one fire drill each school month, in each building in his charge, where children are assembled. Fire drills shall include all pupils and school employees, and the use of various ways of egress to simulate evacuation of said buildings under various conditions, and such other regulations as shall be prescribed for fire safety by the Commissioner of Insurance, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. A copy of such regulations shall be kept posted on the bulletin board in each building.
Ohio schools are required to conduct at least nine fire drills per year, and at least once a month, two the first month, and not including partial months. School officials must notify the local fire department 72 hours in advance to schedule a fire drill. Tornado drills are to be held each month during the tornado season (April 1 - July 31). Lockdown drills must be performed at least five times per year. Failure to perform a drill will result in a $1,000 fine per incident.
In Oklahoma there should be 8 fire drills conducted every
year. If weather is does not permit a fire drill on the day it may
either be rescheduled, or there can be a lockdown drill from
September to February, or a tornado drill from March to June.
Oregon schools are required to devote a minimum of 30 minutes each month during the school year to fire and earthquake preparedness. One fire drill should be scheduled for every month that school is in session, and these drills should be conducted at different times during the school day.
All public and private elementary, middle, and senior high schools in Pennsylvania are required to conduct fire drills no less than once a month pursuant to the General Education laws of the state.
Drills in Rhode Island schools must be conducted according to section 16-21-4 of the Rhode Island General Laws. Fifteen drills or rapid dismissals per year are required to be conducted in schools with more than twenty-five students. Eight drills must be conducted by the end of November, while the remaining seven are conducted at the principal's discretion, usually during the spring. Of those fifteen aforementioned drills, eleven are designated as fire drills, two as evacuation drills, and two more as lock-down drills. In addition, four of the required fire/evacuation drills must be conducted with a major egress point obstructed, requiring use of an alternate exit. Two obstructed drills out of the eight evacuation/fire drills required by the end of November must be conducted before the end of October.
Texas
Six fire drills should be done in schools with each one
logged for examination by the fire marshal or fire chief to see, and
2-3 of these drills should be shadowed by the fire department. Also
there must be one lockdown during the first half, and one tornado
drill during the second half of the school year.
Virginia
Fire drills in Virginia schools must be conducted pursuant to § 22.1-137 in the Code of Virginia. Public schools must conduct at least one fire drill every week for the first twenty days of school, and at least one fire drill per month through the rest of the year. Assuming a typical school year, this means that Virginia schools conduct about twelve drills per year.
In Washington, schools must conduct 1 fire drill per month in accordance with the Emergency Evacuations and Operations Plan (EEOP).
Fire drills must be held once a month for every month the school is in session, with a local fire department strongly encouraged to oversee one. Fire drills can be postponed due to bad weather. However, these drills then must take place at a later date. In addition, four more fire drills must take place before any such drills may be postponed. All exits must be in working condition and unobstructed.