F89 Emergency Action Plan Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a non-fire emergency, such as a chemical spill on a lower floor, the FLSD may determine that moving occupants to a higher floor within the building is the safest course of action. What is this procedure called in the Emergency Action Plan?
- Full Evacuation
- Shelter-in-Place
- In-Building Relocation (Correct answer)
- Vertical Phased Evacuation
Correct answer: In-Building Relocation
In-Building Relocation is the controlled movement of occupants from an endangered area to a designated safe area within the same building. This is distinct from sheltering-in-place (staying in your current location) or evacuation (leaving the building).
Question 2: A credible bomb threat is received for a high-rise office building. After notifying 911, the FLSD must communicate with building occupants. Which of the following is a critical principle for the FLSD's public address announcements in this scenario?
- Use coded language to avoid widespread panic.
- Immediately order a full building evacuation via the stairwells.
- Provide calm, clear, and specific instructions based on the EAP, which may not involve a full evacuation. (Correct answer)
- Wait for the FDNY to arrive before making any announcements.
Correct answer: Provide calm, clear, and specific instructions based on the EAP, which may not involve a full evacuation.
During a bomb threat, the primary goal is to manage the situation without causing panic, which could be more dangerous than the threat itself. The EAP provides specific language and procedures. The FLSD's role is to provide clear, calm instructions based on the plan, which might involve relocation or sheltering in place rather than a mass evacuation that could move people toward a potential hazard.
Question 3: According to FDNY regulations for Group B high-rise office buildings, how often must EAP staff, including wardens and deputy wardens, participate in emergency action plan drills?
- Annually for fire emergencies and biennially for non-fire emergencies.
- Quarterly on each shift for both fire and non-fire emergency procedures. (Correct answer)
- Only upon initial hiring and when the EAP is significantly updated.
- Semiannually, covering either a fire or a non-fire scenario.
Correct answer: Quarterly on each shift for both fire and non-fire emergency procedures.
NYC Fire Code requires that drills in office buildings be conducted on a regular basis to ensure all staff and occupants are prepared. For Group B office buildings, drills covering the procedures in the comprehensive fire safety and emergency action plan must be conducted quarterly for EAP staff.
Question 4: An FLSD is notified of a serious medical emergency on the 25th floor. After ensuring 911 has been contacted, what is the most appropriate immediate action to facilitate a rapid response for the arriving EMS personnel?
- Make a building-wide announcement about the medical emergency.
- Recall all elevators to the lobby and hold one in readiness on the ground floor. (Correct answer)
- Activate the fire alarm to clear the stairwells.
- Instruct EAP wardens to begin a partial evacuation of the 25th floor.
Correct answer: Recall all elevators to the lobby and hold one in readiness on the ground floor.
To ensure EMS can reach the patient as quickly as possible, the FLSD should recall elevators to the lobby and have one ready for their exclusive use. This prevents delays caused by elevators being in use on other floors. Announcing the specific emergency building-wide is inappropriate and activating the fire alarm would be a misuse of the system and cause unnecessary panic.
Question 5: Which of the following EAP staff members is primarily responsible for searching a designated area, such as a floor or a tenant space, to ensure all occupants have been notified and are following emergency instructions?
- The Deputy FLSD
- The Building Evacuation Supervisor
- The EAP Warden/Searcher (Correct answer)
- The Critical Operations Staff member
Correct answer: The EAP Warden/Searcher
The EAP Warden, and designated Searchers, are assigned to specific floors or tenant areas. Their primary role during an incident is to systematically search their area, including restrooms and conference rooms, to ensure all occupants are aware of the situation and are complying with relocation or evacuation orders.
Question 6: After an 'all-clear' has been given by authorities following a major non-fire emergency, what is a critical post-incident responsibility of the Fire and Life Safety Director?
- To immediately file a report with the building's insurance carrier.
- To conduct a media briefing in the lobby.
- To oversee the safe and systematic restoration of building systems to normal operation. (Correct answer)
- To dismiss all EAP staff until their next scheduled drill.
Correct answer: To oversee the safe and systematic restoration of building systems to normal operation.
The FLSD's responsibilities extend beyond the immediate emergency. A crucial final step is to manage the safe return to normalcy, which includes ensuring that all life safety systems (fire alarm, sprinklers) and other essential building systems (HVAC, elevators) are properly and safely restored to their normal operational status before allowing full re-occupancy.
F89 Emergency Action Plan Procedures Questions and Answers 1
During a non-fire emergency, such as a chemical spill on a lower floor, the FLSD may determine that moving occupants to a higher floor within the building is the safest course of action.
What is this procedure called in the Emergency Action Plan?