Evacuation Schemes & Trial Evacuations

Practical Evacuation Schemes Designed Around Your Building
An effective evacuation scheme needs to be more than a generic document. It should clearly explain how people will evacuate safely, where they should go, how occupants will be alerted, and what provisions are in place for people who may require assistance during an emergency.

Timaru Fire Protection designs evacuation procedures based on the layout, use and occupancy of each building. This includes reviewing how staff, visitors, tenants and members of the public move through the site, identifying suitable places of safety, and ensuring the procedure is realistic for the people responsible for carrying it out.

Once the evacuation scheme has been prepared, Timaru Fire Protection can manage the application process with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, helping building owners meet their responsibilities and keep the approval process as straightforward as possible.

Staff Training & Occupant Guidance
A documented evacuation scheme is only effective if the people responsible for it understand what to do. Timaru Fire Protection provides guidance and training for building owners, occupiers and staff so they can confidently follow the approved procedure in the event of a fire or alarm activation.

This includes explaining evacuation roles, alarm response, assembly areas, assistance procedures, reporting requirements and the practical steps staff need to take during an evacuation. The aim is to make the procedure clear, easy to follow and appropriate for the day-to-day operation of the building.

By helping staff understand their responsibilities before an emergency occurs, businesses can improve safety, reduce confusion and support a more organised evacuation response.

Trial Evacuations & Ongoing Compliance
Once an evacuation scheme is approved, it must be maintained. For many buildings, this includes carrying out regular trial evacuations or evacuation training programmes and notifying Fire and Emergency New Zealand when these have been completed.

Timaru Fire Protection can run the required six-monthly trial evacuations on behalf of building owners and occupiers. This includes planning the drill, observing how the evacuation is carried out, identifying any issues, and helping ensure the correct records and notifications are completed.

Regular trial evacuations help confirm that the procedure works in practice, that occupants know what to do, and that the building remains compliant with its approved evacuation scheme requirements.

Let’s Talk