Fire Evacuation Policy & Plan
This policy has been adopted by Northcourt Centre Management Committee who remain responsible for its review on a regular basis.
(Chair of management committee)
Name: Laura Buckingham
Date: March 2026
Review Date : March 2028
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN
To be activated in the event of Fire, Bomb Threat or Utility Failure.
The Hirer is deemed to be the responsible person to activate this plan and shall be on the premises for the duration of the hire period.
The post code address of these premises is:
OX14 1NS
The Hirer must consider how to contact the emergency services when carrying out the event risk assessment prior to commencement of the hire period. The emergency services should be contacted on a personal mobile (if there is sufficient signal) or by speaking to a homeowner in the immediate vicinity.
This plan contains:
1. Responsibility of Hirer if an emergency is declared
2. How to warn event attendees of the emergency
3. Persons responsible for summoning the emergency services
4. Evacuation procedure
5. Identification of vulnerable persons and those especially at risk and their evacuation arrangements
6. Identify organisers with special duties such as Fire Marshals
7. Identify the Fire Assembly Point
8. Liaising with the emergency response co-ordinator on arrival and notifying of significant risks
9. The shutdown of equipment or power supplies that require isolation
10. Training that may be required by event organiser’s and their helpers`
1. Responsibility of Hirer if an emergency is declared
In the event of an emergency as specified on the front cover of this document the hirer, who is designated as the ‘Responsible Person’ shall implement the Emergency Action Plan, using any additional control measures identified on their event risk assessment.
They must ensure:
That in the event of a Fire, shout “fire” to alert any other people in the building
· Ensure, previously designated, fire marshals direct all occupants to the safe exits and inform them to congregate adjacent to the Marshalling Point at the front of the Car Park. Sign on Fence
· Nominate an individual to contact the required emergency service and liaise with the Officer in charge when they arrive.
· Fight any fire if trained and it is safe to do so.
· Conduct a role call of persons attending the event.
· Ensure key helpers have a clear understanding of their role and provide instruction if required.
· Identify Fire Exits
2. How to warn event attendees of an emergency
The method for warning event attendees of an emergency situation should be promulgated to attendees at the commencement of the event by a person nominated by the responsible person. In the event of Fire all occupants are to evacuate the building without delay and the nominated fire marshals will assist this process.
Report all incidents to the booking clerk.
3. Persons responsible for summoning the emergency services
The person nominated, by the responsible person, to contact the required emergency service should provide the following details once contact is made:
· The name of the building – Northcourt Centre
· The postal address – Northcourt Road, Abingdon, OX14 1NS
· Give the telephone number of the phone by which you have contacted the service.
· Brief circumstances i.e. approx. location of fire or description of threat.
· Describe the Community Centre car park entrance and note landmarks i.e. Spread Eagle pub
4. Evacuation procedure
Make your way to the nearest fire exit and out of the building to the assembly point at the Front of the Car Park – sign on fence - in a calm and orderly manner. Return to the building is prohibited until you have been told it is safe to do so by the Officer controlling the incident. The silencing of the fire alarm must never be an indication that it is safe to re-enter the building.
5. Identification of vulnerable persons and those especially at risk and their evacuation arrangements
Consideration must be given to mobility, or hearing, or sight impaired persons so that they are not put at a disadvantage in an emergency situation. This should also include purpose groups and the elderly. Any vulnerable persons may require assisted evacuation from the building.
6. Identify organisers with special duties such as Fire Marshals
At the event planning stage the risk assessment will identify the number of the public expected.
A maximum of 150 persons are permitted within the building at any one time and two fire marshals or stewards should be nominated for every one hundred persons expected.
7. Identify the Fire Assembly Point outside of the building
The designated assembly point for persons evacuating the building is at the front of the Car Park. All attendees should make their way to that area and report to the event organiser for a role call. At this time notify the person conducting the role call of any known individual, who attended the event, which you have not seen or perceive to be missing.
Such information shall be passed to the Senior Officer of the Emergency Service in attendance.
8. Liaising with the emergency response co-ordinator on arrival and notifying of significant risks
The individual nominated to contact the required emergency service should provide details of the incident as instructed by the responsible person and itemised in paragraph 3 above. Upon arrival of the emergency service the nominated person is to make themselves known to the senior officer attending and provide local knowledge of the incident as requested.
9. The shutdown of equipment or power supplies that require isolation
The emergency service attending an incident may be in possession of a site map however it will be necessary to provide directions to the power cabinet situated above the radiator opposite the Gents Toilets in the Foyer.
10. Training that may be required by event organiser’s and their helpers`
During the risk assessment phase of planning an event at Northcourt Centre the responsible person/event organiser/hirer will assess if they or attendees with special duties require additional training and ensure that any necessary training is completed.