Fire and Emergency Evacuation for the Science Library

PolicyFire evacuation drills are designed to instruct and train

library staff and users how to safely leave the building in the event of a fire emergency. Any time the fire bell

sounds it must be treated as an emergency. When the fire bell sounds it is the responsibility of library staff to alert

all users and assist in the orderly evacuation of the building.

In the event of a real fire, staff will utilize their knowledge and familiarity of clearing the building to quickly and safely empty the building. However, no staff member should jeopardize their own safety. If a particular area

cannot be cleared, leave the building and alert the emergency response agencies responding to the fire alarm

of the problem area.

In a real fire, staff should exit the building as quickly as possible. Responsibility for the coordination of fire evacuation drill procedures rests with the Head of the

Circulation Department (or designee). This person is called the Evacuation Leader.

If a fire is sighted in the library, immediately pull the nearest fire alarm contact the University at Albany Police

Department at 911. State your name and the location of the fire in the Library building. Leave the building by the

nearest emergency exit.

Staff should read the “Building Evacuation Guide” published by the Office of Environmental Health and

safety to become more familiar with evacuation guidelines.

Procedures:

The sounding of the fire bell indicates that a fire emergency is in progress. During the emergency the

Circulation staff will make and emergency announcement.

The initial announcement will be made from the Circulation Desk on the First Level. After this

announcement is made the Evacuation Leader (Head of Circulation or designee) will go to the Security Desk on

the Garden Level.

Once at the Security Desk the Evacuation Leader will repeat the announcement. The Evacuation Leader will remain at the Security Desk and receive reports on the

progress of clearing the building from the Fire Wardens.

Please note that evening/weekend fire drills, due to changes in staff patterns, are not able to be conducted

exactly like daytime drills. Where applicable, evening/weekend procedures, differ from daytime, will be

explicitly noted. Custodial Staff will be notified of all evening/weekend fire drills.

Emergency Announcement

The Announce will be made by the Circulation Staff as follows:

Regular Hours: Head, Circulation Dept. (Nancy Davis)Evening/Weekend: Library Clerk II, Circulation (Jess Smith)

Once the Evacuation Leader has made the second emergency evacuation announcement, he/she will drop the chain on the book detection systems and fully open up the

exit way.

Responsibility of Fire Marshals and Fire Wardens

Fire Marshals and Fire Wardens have been designated by virtue of their office location or position of responsibility. Specific designations appear later on in these procedures.

Fire Wardens

Fire Wardens are responsible for making sure ALL occupants leave the building immediately. Walk through the area, along the carrels, in the restrooms, study rooms and tables informing users in a loud calm voice, “The

Building Is Being Evacuated. Please Leave The Building Immediately.” Request users to leave immediately without their books and indicate the

designated fire routes(s).

Knock on the restroom doors in your areas. Open partially and announce loudly, “The building is being evacuated

please leave the building immediately”. Observe the progress of the evacuation carefully in order to report and

respond to the bottlenecks that may develop.

If people do not leave, record their location and report to the Evacuation Leader. Report to the Evacuation Leader

numbers and approximate location of people with disabilities. Careful observation of users/staff with

disabilities is important in the event there is a fire or other emergency. During a drill or real emergency the public

address announcement will inform all users with disabilities to “go to the nearest EMERGENCY

STAIRWELL and wait for assistance.” Once the assigned area is cleared, report to the Evacuation Leader and then

leave the building.

Fire Marshals

The Fire Marshals will be stationed at a centralized location on the floor/area they are responsible for clearing.

The Fire Wardens will report the progress and/or problems in clearing a floor/area to the fire warden

designated for that location. The Fire Marshal will report to the Evacuation Leader, stationed at the Garden Level Security desk, after all the Wardens on the floor have

reported their designated area is clear of users.

The Evacuation Leader will provide a status report to the emergency response agency in charge at the scene. Report

any areas that were not cleared by the Wardens and location of people with disabilities.

Users with disabilities

Careful observation of users/staff with disabilities is important in the event there is a fire or other emergency.

During a drill or real emergency, the public address announcement will inform all users with disabilities to “go to the nearest EMERGENCY STAIRWELL on the East &

West sides of the the building to wait for assistance.”

The four emergency stairwells are on the East & West sides of the building (two stairwells on the North and two on the South ends of the building) and are designed to be

more fire resistant than other areas of the building and serve as a “safe haven” for people with disabilities. If it is a drill the person will be asked to wait there until the drill is over. Emergency response agencies (police or fire) will

be informed of their location, assist the individual and escort them to safety.

Special Notes

1. Do not use Elevators, but do not turn them off either.

2. Emergency response agencies (police or fire) will help clear the building and will be prepared to assist any people with disabilities.

3. Staff will exit the building and meet on the Westside by the bus circle. Staff will check with each other to ensure all got out of the building and to advise the emergency personnel of specific situation within the building.

4. The “All Clear” is designated by the ceasing of the fire bell and permission to re-enter the building. It is granted by the Evacuation Leader or emergency response agency in charge at the scene.

5. All people, users and staff members must re-enter the building through the main entrance on the Garden Level.

Floors and Areas of Responsibility

Lower Level

Warden: The Senior Mail & Supply Clerk in shipping and receiving (Kim

Gemme) will clear the loading dock, Shipping and Receiving areas, service corridor

and the public restrooms in the stack areas.

Students assistants working at the Lower Level desk will clear the stack areas, Campus Center Storage West, Campus Center Storage East, and Paging

Office L60.

Note: If Student Assistants are not on duty at the Lower Level desk the Circulation Supervisor will

appoint a student assistant or staff member to check these areas.

Note: The doors to the Campus Center Storage West and the Campus Center Storage East are normally locked unless someone is in the rooms paging

materials. If doors are found unlocked the Warden must check the rooms for occupants.

Evening/Weekend:The Circulation Supervisor will appoint a student assistant or staff member to check

these areas.

Garden LevelFire Marshal: The CETL Instructional Developer

will go to the Garden Level Security Desk and wait for the Garden Level Wardens to report the areas have been cleared. The Garden Level Fire Marshal will ensure the Barnes & Noble Reading Room in addition to the entire Garden Level is cleared.

Warden: The CETL Technology Support staff person will clear the west side of the Garden

Level.

The CETL secretary will clear the east side of the Garden Level.

The CETL Assistant Director will clear the Faculty Development Center on the Garden Level.

The CETL Assistant Director will clear the Barnes & Noble room and all public spaces.

Evening/Weekend: The Circulation Supervisor will appoint student assistants or staff

to check that the CETL space is locked, clear the Barnes & Noble Reading Room and public spaces. If the CETL space is not locked, the area should be

checked for occupants.

First & Second Level

Warden: Designated at the time of drill by the Circulation Supervisor to clear

each floor. Report to the Evacuation Leader on the Garden Level at the Security Desk.

Third Level

Special Collections Area

Fire Marshal:The Head of Special Collections will be stationed at the main entrance to

the department and will designate staff to clear the various rooms at the time of the drill. The Fire Marshal will report the area cleared to the Evacuation Leader on the Garden Level

at the Security Desk.

(Alternate Fire Marshal: Special Collections Librarian – Mary Osielski)

Preservation Area

Warden: The Head of Preservation (Karen Brown). This warden will also

clear the Standish Room, public corridors, restrooms and Elevator lobby. Report the areas cleared to the Evacuation Leader at the Garden Level Security

Desk.

NYS Writers Institute, LE-340

Warden: Mark Koplik of the Writers Institute. The warden will clear the entire

LE- 340 suite, the small meeting room, LE- 341 and exit the third floor by traveling down the east emergency

stairs D, clearing the stairwell as necessary. The warden will report the

area cleared to the Evacuation Leader at the Garden Level Security Desk.

Evening/Weekend: The Circulation Supervisor will appoint student assistants or a

staff member to check the entrance door to see if it is locked. If the door is found unlocked the warden must check the

rooms for occupants.

NYS Writers Institute, LE-320

Warden: Judy Axenson of the Writers Institute. The Warden will clear the entire

LE- 320 suite, and exit the Third Floor by traveling down the West Emergency Stairs C, clearing the stairwell as

necessary. The Warden will report the area cleared to the Evacuation Leader

at the Garden Level Security Desk.

Evening Weekend: The Circulation Supervisor will appoint student assistants

or a staff member to check the entrance doors to Special Collections Area, Preservation, LE-320, LE-340 and the Standish Room. The doors to these rooms

should be locked. If doors are found unlocked the warden must check the

rooms for occupants.

Note: If the person in one or more of these positions (Evacuation Leader, Fire Marshals, & Wardens) is not present at the time of the drill, a pre-designated staff member should follow the above procedure.