Glossary
Progressive horizontal evacuation.
An evacuation strategy where vulnerable residents are moved laterally into adjacent fire-safe compartments rather than evacuated out of the building. Used in residential settings where the risk of evacuating vulnerable residents outweighs the risk of remaining in a fire-resisting compartment.
How progressive horizontal evacuation works.
On detection of a fire in a compartment, the residents and staff in that compartment move laterally through fire-resisting doors into the adjacent compartment. Residents in further compartments stay in place initially. The compartmentation between compartments is designed to resist fire spread for long enough that the fire and rescue service can reach the building and deal with the source compartment. If the situation deteriorates, residents can move further along the building or evacuate vertically as a final fallback.
Implications for the FRA.
The FRA evaluation of progressive horizontal evacuation is one of the most important sections of the assessment in care or sheltered settings. The assessor considers the design assumptions, the current staffing levels (sufficient to assist horizontal movement at all times, including night shifts), the resident profile (movable, with bed-evacuation equipment for those who are not), the equipment provision, and the contingency arrangements. The FRA records the position so the dutyholder can address any gaps.