F89 Emergency Action Plan Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A building's EAP must designate a primary and alternate assembly area. What is the MAIN reason for designating an ALTERNATE assembly area?
- To comply with ADA accessibility requirements
- To ensure an alternative location is available if the primary area is inaccessible or unsafe during an emergency (Correct answer)
- To separate evacuees by floor level for accountability
- To provide a shaded area during summer drills
Correct answer: To ensure an alternative location is available if the primary area is inaccessible or unsafe during an emergency
The alternate assembly area ensures evacuees have a safe gathering point if the primary area is blocked, compromised, or too close to the hazard.
Question 2: Under New York City Fire Code, how many fire drills must be conducted in a high-rise office building annually?
- One drill per year
- Two drills per year, one of which must occur between specific months (Correct answer)
- Four drills per year, one per quarter
- One drill per month
Correct answer: Two drills per year, one of which must occur between specific months
NYC Fire Code requires high-rise office buildings to conduct two fire drills per year, with scheduling requirements specified by the code.
Question 3: During an EAP drill debrief, the FLSD notes that several employees did not know their designated stairwell. What corrective action BEST addresses this gap?
- Increase the number of annual drills to once per month
- Conduct targeted retraining for those employees and update floor warden briefings before the next drill (Correct answer)
- Post disciplinary warnings for employees who did not comply
- Change all designated stairwells to reduce confusion
Correct answer: Conduct targeted retraining for those employees and update floor warden briefings before the next drill
Targeted retraining and updated floor warden communications directly address the knowledge gap identified in the drill debrief.
Question 4: Which communication method is considered the MOST reliable for transmitting emergency instructions to building occupants during a power outage?
- Building-wide email broadcast
- Battery-backed voice evacuation system or PA system (Correct answer)
- Text messages via occupants' personal cell phones
- Intercom system dependent on the building's main power supply
Correct answer: Battery-backed voice evacuation system or PA system
A battery-backed voice evacuation or PA system maintains operation during power outages, ensuring reliable emergency communications.
Question 5: A tenant informs the FLSD that they have added 15 new employees to a floor. What EAP-related action should the FLSD take?
- Wait until the annual review to update the EAP
- Update the floor warden list, occupant count, and brief new employees on EAP procedures (Correct answer)
- Notify the fire department of the occupancy change only
- Require the tenant to hire a private safety consultant
Correct answer: Update the floor warden list, occupant count, and brief new employees on EAP procedures
Changes in occupancy must be reflected in the EAP immediately — updated headcounts, floor warden assignments, and new employee briefings are required.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the 'accountability' component in an Emergency Action Plan?
- Tracking the financial cost of each emergency response
- Ensuring all occupants are accounted for at the assembly area to identify anyone who may still be in the building (Correct answer)
- Documenting property damage caused by the emergency
- Recording which employees refused to participate in drills
Correct answer: Ensuring all occupants are accounted for at the assembly area to identify anyone who may still be in the building
Accountability procedures allow the FLSD and emergency responders to determine if anyone is unaccounted for and may need rescue.
Question 7: When must a Fire and Life Safety Director notify the fire department during an emergency, according to standard EAP protocols?
- Only after the FLSD has personally confirmed the emergency is real
- Immediately upon receiving a confirmed alarm or report of an emergency condition (Correct answer)
- After all occupants have fully evacuated the building
- Only if the emergency involves a fire, not other emergencies
Correct answer: Immediately upon receiving a confirmed alarm or report of an emergency condition
Standard EAP protocol requires immediately notifying the fire department upon a confirmed alarm or emergency report, before waiting for personal verification.
F89 Emergency Action Plan Procedures 5
A building's EAP must designate a primary and alternate assembly area.
What is the MAIN reason for designating an ALTERNATE assembly area?