I came across a site that might be helpful background info for a lot of people, The Safety Library
The site has information on:
Disasters (disaster safety, emergency management, terrorism)
Hazards and controls (biological safety, chemical safety, environmental safety, fire safety, physical hazards, etc.)
Industry Safety
Laws and Regulations
Safety Management
In addition to compiling research, the site also has a great number of links updated constantly on the issues listed above and others (the list is pretty long, but I selected the most relevant ones for the list above).
Showing posts with label evacuation consultants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evacuation consultants. Show all posts
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Private Evacuation Consultants: 2/11 memo
This memo packages everything I've come across so far. First I list questions I'm looking into. Then I provide background on the issue. The third section lists potential sources. The final section identifies next steps. It's all in short-hand, and some of it is a note to myself. Let me know if you have any questions and I can explain.
I'm looking at the post-9/11 industry of private evacuation consultants. 2004 Local Law 26 (LL26) required all commercial buildings over 20 stories to develop "emergency evacuation plans" (EAPs), and developed detailed EAP criteria and specs. Overnight a new security consulting industry emerged, and dozens of firms cropped up. I'm going to explore this phenomena, asking some of the questions I've listed below.
I want to look at EAPs specifically (a subset of LL26, not the whole statute). So I will not look at (unless it comes up in my investigation of EAP industries)
Does this system succeed? In other words, are building occupants prepared for emergency evacuation? Is there any way to measure this?
How important are evacuation strategies? Is it realistic to expect one training every three years (the frequency mandated by LL26) will really make a difference in an emergency?
From the NIST and WTC Task Forces, which recommendations were not implemented into LL26 / new building codes? Does anyone think that EAPs are a panacea, and some more of the unimplemented recommendations were more important (but difficult to implement)?
Why does LL26 specify EAPs for “non-fire emergencies”? (why exclude fires?)
How big is the EAP consultant industry? How much money is there in it? Who’s doing it well, who poorly? Are any non-accredited? Any scandals?
Everyone had to get compliance by August 2006. What are these firms doing now?
Businesses contract (sometimes through the building) with EAP consultants. But what about non-business building employees, such as janitorial staff. Do they receive EAP training?
Background
Pre-9/11 codes
No evacuation strategy needed.
Loose and unenforced building codes complicated evacuation on 9/11. For example a 1968 code curtailed stairway number and width requirements. NYT 8/6/04): “According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 1968 code effectively permitted the Port Authority to decrease the number of stairwells in the trade center from six to three in each of the towers - a change sought by the real estate industry so that more space on each floor would be available for rent.”
NIST
I need to scan relevant sections, NYC (DOB and WTC Building Code Task Force) response
World Trade Center Building Code Task Force
World Trade Center Building Code Task Force published 21 recommendations in February of 2003. September 2004. Bloomberg press release: "13 of these recommendations were incorporated into the bill before me today (Intro 126A); the remaining eight are being implemented by rule change or are still under technical review.”
Intro 126-A (passed 6/7/04)
I'm not certain what the legal relationship b/w Intro 126-A and LL26 is, but they're essentially the same regulation. I think "Intro" is the term the Council uses before its legislation.
“§27-4267.4 Evacuation of office buildings and buildings classified in occupancy group E [office space over 75 feet, or 20 stories]. The commissioner shall promulgate rules establishing standards, procedures and requirements for the orderly evacuation of occupants from any office building or building classified in occupancy group E or part thereof in the interests of public safety, including but not limited to the evacuation of persons necessitated by fire, explosion, biological, chemical or hazardous material incident or release, natural disaster or other emergency, or the threat thereof. Such rules may require the owners of such buildings to develop a written emergency action plan, with provisions for identifying qualified personnel, conducting drills, distributing instructions or informative materials to occupants, and/or such other standards, procedures or requirements that the fire commissioner determines will serve to ensure orderly evacuation. Such rules may also establish requirements for the occupants of such buildings with respect to evacuation and the planning therefore. These requirements shall be in addition to the requirements of other provisions of sections 27-4267 or 27-4267.3 of this code and any other law, rule or regulation enforced by the department.”
April 6, 2006 - 3 RCNY §6-02
MUST READ all pages of FDNY’s final LL26 rule: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/rcny_legal/rcny_3rcny_sect_6_02.shtml
Local Law 26 of 2004 required that the Fire Commissioner adopt standards, procedures and requirements for the orderly evacuation of occupants from any office building, including evacuation of persons necessitated by explosion, biological, chemical or hazardous material incidents or releases, natural disasters or other emergency, or the threat thereof.
The final rule requires that each office building subject to the requirements of the rule prepare an Emergency Action Plan, submit it for Fire Department review and acceptance, and implement it within designated time frames.
The final rule requires that owners of office buildings develop procedures for sheltering in place, in-building relocation, partial evacuation and full evacuation of the building, in response to various emergency scenarios. The final rule sets forth specific guidelines and requirements for the form and content of the Emergency Action Plan.
9/10/06 - 3 RCNY §9-08
The Fire Department rule setting forth these standards, procedures and requirements was promulgated on April 6, 2006 as 3 RCNY §6-02, “Office Building Emergency Action Plans”. The rule requires the designation of a Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Director and sets forth the minimum qualifications for such director, including a requirement to successfully complete at least a seven-hour training course approved by the Department and offered by an educational institution or other organization accredited by the Department.
The Fire Department is now promulgating a rule setting forth minimum instructional and administration requirements for Fire Department accreditation of courses taught by educational institutions to qualify students for the Fire Safety/EAP Director Certificate of Fitness to be issued by the Department.
Bureau of Fire Prevention reviews and approves the plans. Currently no oversight mechanism (http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/strat_plan/2007/goal_5.pdf, page two)
Private firms: what they do, how they function, etc.
From Quality Fire-Protection Consultants, Inc.
Codes organizations
National Fire Protection Association, Jack Murphy
National Center for Infrastructure Expertise
Those involved in passing and enforcing LL26
Real Estate Board of New York
Skyscraper Safety Campaign, Sally Regenhard
FDNY Public Information, James Long (double check)
EAP Training Courses
EAP Director Training Course
Total Safety Consulting
Global Security Group
Quality Fire-Protection Consultants, Inc. (largest in NYC)
SafirRosetti (as in Howard Safir)
TRC Fire Safety
Steps
I'm looking at the post-9/11 industry of private evacuation consultants. 2004 Local Law 26 (LL26) required all commercial buildings over 20 stories to develop "emergency evacuation plans" (EAPs), and developed detailed EAP criteria and specs. Overnight a new security consulting industry emerged, and dozens of firms cropped up. I'm going to explore this phenomena, asking some of the questions I've listed below.
I want to look at EAPs specifically (a subset of LL26, not the whole statute). So I will not look at (unless it comes up in my investigation of EAP industries)
- Construction
- Emergency responders
- Safety "hardware": fireproofing, stair width, communications, etc.
- Fireprevention / inspections / fire safety education
Does this system succeed? In other words, are building occupants prepared for emergency evacuation? Is there any way to measure this?
How important are evacuation strategies? Is it realistic to expect one training every three years (the frequency mandated by LL26) will really make a difference in an emergency?
From the NIST and WTC Task Forces, which recommendations were not implemented into LL26 / new building codes? Does anyone think that EAPs are a panacea, and some more of the unimplemented recommendations were more important (but difficult to implement)?
Why does LL26 specify EAPs for “non-fire emergencies”? (why exclude fires?)
How big is the EAP consultant industry? How much money is there in it? Who’s doing it well, who poorly? Are any non-accredited? Any scandals?
Everyone had to get compliance by August 2006. What are these firms doing now?
Businesses contract (sometimes through the building) with EAP consultants. But what about non-business building employees, such as janitorial staff. Do they receive EAP training?
Background
Pre-9/11 codes
No evacuation strategy needed.
Loose and unenforced building codes complicated evacuation on 9/11. For example a 1968 code curtailed stairway number and width requirements. NYT 8/6/04): “According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 1968 code effectively permitted the Port Authority to decrease the number of stairwells in the trade center from six to three in each of the towers - a change sought by the real estate industry so that more space on each floor would be available for rent.”
NIST
I need to scan relevant sections, NYC (DOB and WTC Building Code Task Force) response
World Trade Center Building Code Task Force
World Trade Center Building Code Task Force published 21 recommendations in February of 2003. September 2004. Bloomberg press release: "13 of these recommendations were incorporated into the bill before me today (Intro 126A); the remaining eight are being implemented by rule change or are still under technical review.”
Intro 126-A (passed 6/7/04)
I'm not certain what the legal relationship b/w Intro 126-A and LL26 is, but they're essentially the same regulation. I think "Intro" is the term the Council uses before its legislation.
“§27-4267.4 Evacuation of office buildings and buildings classified in occupancy group E [office space over 75 feet, or 20 stories]. The commissioner shall promulgate rules establishing standards, procedures and requirements for the orderly evacuation of occupants from any office building or building classified in occupancy group E or part thereof in the interests of public safety, including but not limited to the evacuation of persons necessitated by fire, explosion, biological, chemical or hazardous material incident or release, natural disaster or other emergency, or the threat thereof. Such rules may require the owners of such buildings to develop a written emergency action plan, with provisions for identifying qualified personnel, conducting drills, distributing instructions or informative materials to occupants, and/or such other standards, procedures or requirements that the fire commissioner determines will serve to ensure orderly evacuation. Such rules may also establish requirements for the occupants of such buildings with respect to evacuation and the planning therefore. These requirements shall be in addition to the requirements of other provisions of sections 27-4267 or 27-4267.3 of this code and any other law, rule or regulation enforced by the department.”
- One requirement (retroactive and prospective): Mandatory evacuation plans for non-fire related emergencies [Why limited to non-fire?]
- The law grants the Fire Commissioner the legal authority to require emergency action plans for commercial high-rise buildings and contains new emergency action plan requirements for commercial high-rise buildings. (Council 4/18/07)
- The FDNY worked collaboratively with DOB and engaged the private real estate sector in dialogue during the development of a high-rise building emergency action plan that details new requirements and guidelines under the new law. The FDNY has developed a formal process for submission to and review by the BFP of these plans. These requirements went into effect in August 2006 for all commercial buildings higher than 20 stories. The law also requires building owners and management agents to educate the occupants of these commercial high-rise buildings and provide and test evacuation with these occupants. (ibid)
April 6, 2006 - 3 RCNY §6-02
MUST READ all pages of FDNY’s final LL26 rule: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/rcny_legal/rcny_3rcny_sect_6_02.shtml
Local Law 26 of 2004 required that the Fire Commissioner adopt standards, procedures and requirements for the orderly evacuation of occupants from any office building, including evacuation of persons necessitated by explosion, biological, chemical or hazardous material incidents or releases, natural disasters or other emergency, or the threat thereof.
The final rule requires that each office building subject to the requirements of the rule prepare an Emergency Action Plan, submit it for Fire Department review and acceptance, and implement it within designated time frames.
The final rule requires that owners of office buildings develop procedures for sheltering in place, in-building relocation, partial evacuation and full evacuation of the building, in response to various emergency scenarios. The final rule sets forth specific guidelines and requirements for the form and content of the Emergency Action Plan.
9/10/06 - 3 RCNY §9-08
The Fire Department rule setting forth these standards, procedures and requirements was promulgated on April 6, 2006 as 3 RCNY §6-02, “Office Building Emergency Action Plans”. The rule requires the designation of a Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Director and sets forth the minimum qualifications for such director, including a requirement to successfully complete at least a seven-hour training course approved by the Department and offered by an educational institution or other organization accredited by the Department.
The Fire Department is now promulgating a rule setting forth minimum instructional and administration requirements for Fire Department accreditation of courses taught by educational institutions to qualify students for the Fire Safety/EAP Director Certificate of Fitness to be issued by the Department.
Bureau of Fire Prevention reviews and approves the plans. Currently no oversight mechanism (http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/strat_plan/2007/goal_5.pdf, page two)
Private firms: what they do, how they function, etc.
From Quality Fire-Protection Consultants, Inc.
- EAP Drafting – We can design and implement an emergency action plan for your building. This plan will conform to FDNY’s requirements and ensure that your building is adequately prepared for non-fire emergencies. We can also update or modify existing plans.
- EAP Drills – Local Law #26 requires that EAP drills be conducted regularly. Our ongoing EAP drill program will provide the necessary training for occupants so that they will react rationally and orderly when confronted with an emergency. We offer drills by floor or for your entire building, as required by the FDNY.
- EAP Training – We will train your building’s deputy EAP director, EAP wardens, and EAP brigade in EAP response techniques. This will include portable extinguisher selection and usage, evacuation procedures, and fire department notification. Two hours initial training (three for deputy directors) and one hour annual training are required by law.
- EAP Seminars and Additional Training – We can provide comprehensive training seminars for your EAP wardens, deputy EAP wardens, and searchers via our multimedia presentation, either in person or online. This seminar will teach your EAP warden team members their various responsibilities and how to interact with the building’s emergency response team and the local fire department in the event of a non-fire emergency.
- Online Training – Our training sessions and seminars can be conducted online and tailored to your individual building.
- Violation Correction – Should your property be issued violations by the FDNY, our staff will assist you by providing necessary documentation and guidance throughout the correction process.
- Building Inspection – We can provide a full on-site building EAP inspection. We will then prepare a written report to inform you of our findings. We will make recommendations so that your building will meet all EAP requirements.
Codes organizations
National Fire Protection Association, Jack Murphy
National Center for Infrastructure Expertise
Those involved in passing and enforcing LL26
Real Estate Board of New York
Skyscraper Safety Campaign, Sally Regenhard
FDNY Public Information, James Long (double check)
EAP Training Courses
EAP Director Training Course
Total Safety Consulting
Global Security Group
Quality Fire-Protection Consultants, Inc. (largest in NYC)
SafirRosetti (as in Howard Safir)
TRC Fire Safety
Steps
- Contact skyscraper safety campaign, have meeting
- Talk to someone at NFPA
- Read LL 26
- Read NIST
- Talk to an office manager (Pam Stanley)
- Talk to a building manager (Pam's recommendation)
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