Smoke-filled entrance during evacuation exercise in Biomedicum
On October 3-4, Biomedicum carried out evacuation exercises. We ask questions about the exercise to Jennie Eldh Bastman from Facility Management (FM), who is responsible for fire safety at Biomedicum.
Hi Jennie, why do we conduct evacuation drills?
- Evacuation exercise are part of the systematic fire protection work (SBA). Crises are rarely planned and predictable so we practice for the unexpected. It is important to know how to act in the event of a potential crisis, especially in a buildning where most people work in a laboratory environment - which in itself is a risk. The building has complex technical fire protection. There is a routine for how an ongoing fire alarm should be handled in the building, and it is best practiced through hands-on practice.
How did this year's evacuation exercise go at Biomedicum?
- It went well! It is a large building to document. FM has noted how the quarters handled the fire alarms. I will compile all the documentation and write a report in which, among other things, any deviations will be stated, both building technical and organizational. There will also be an action plan.
Crises are rarely planned and predictable so we practice for the unexpected.
This year there were smoke machines. Why?
- To make the exercise more realistic and to introduce a good mindset around evacuation. In previous years, it has been noted that not everyone follows the green evacuation signs, instead people use routes out of habit. A common occurrence is that you choose to evacuate via roads where you usually get out/into the building - e.g. via speedgates. There it is a great risk of being trapped, but also the risk of queuing, which you want to avoid when an evacuation is in progress.
Where can I find information about the evacuation routine of Biomedicum?
- Much about the building's fire safety can be found on Biomedicum's website, under the heading Fire Safety. Then of course you can always contact me with questions! A few times a year I hold webinars on fire safety in Biomedicum, and I recommend everyone who works in the building to attend these at some point.