Night Alarm in a Chained-Exit Office

Treat it as a fire until proven otherwise. A burning smell plus an alarm is enough to evacuate; the site instruction to 'investigate before calling' must not override life safety.

1. Raise the alarm/confirm evacuation using the fire alarm call point or panel. Do not silence the panel. Call 112/999 and state: six-storey office, third-floor kitchen alarm, smell of burning, 30 people on night shift, second-floor exit chained.
2. Do not investigate alone into smoke or a burning smell. The officer is not trained in firefighting and has no breathing apparatus. If the fire is small and visible from a safe position, and only if trained, an extinguisher might be used; here, the officer is untrained, so do not use it.
3. Go to the fire panel/security office only if safe to read the zone and make the call, then leave. The mobile phone charging is irrelevant; use the fire phone or a mobile kept with the officer.
4. Direct people to the nearest safe exit, not the chained second-floor exit. Tell them not to use lifts. Send someone to the assembly point to count heads if safe.
5. Meet the fire service at the entrance with the site plan and keys, and tell them about the chained exit and the blocked ground-floor exit.
6. Do not re-enter to look for people unless the fire service directs it; report missing persons to the incident commander.

Immediate life safety

• The chained second-floor exit is a serious fire safety defect. The officer should not leave people to discover it themselves. Direct evacuating staff to the other protected route and tell the fire service and building manager immediately.
• If the chain can be removed safely and without delay, and the officer has authority/keys, remove it. If not, do not struggle with it while people are evacuating; report it and keep people away.
• The tool bag blocking the ground-floor exit should be moved if it can be done in seconds and without entering a smoke-filled area. If the area is unsafe, use another exit and report the obstruction.

After the incident

• Report both defects in writing to the building manager/responsible person and the contractor. A chained fire exit during refurbishment needs a documented alternative arrangement and fire risk assessment; a tool bag in an escape route is a housekeeping breach.
• Do not simply unlock the exit and leave it insecure without authorisation; the answer is a managed solution, not a new security risk.
• Record the times, what was found, who was told and what was done. If the defects remain, escalate to the client's health and safety officer and consider whether the site is safe to occupy.

Report content

• Date, time of alarm, zone, exact observations (burning smell near vending machine, no visible smoke on panel camera).
• Actions: evacuation activated, 112 called at what time, fire service arrival, exits used, exits found blocked/chained.
• People: approximate numbers, any missing persons reported, any injuries, who was notified.
• Equipment: fire panel status, extinguishers not used because untrained, keys and access.
• Defects: chained second-floor exit, tool bag at ground-floor exit, panel beeping, no fire phone/mobile charging issue.
• Witnesses: cleaner and any staff who reported the smell.
• Handover: fire service incident number and officer name, building manager instructions.

Follow-up

• Ensure the fire service and building manager receive the defect report in writing.
• Check that the chained exit has been made compliant and the tool bag removed.
• Review the site instruction 'investigate before calling' with the client; it is unsafe and should be replaced with a clear evacuation/call policy.
• Record training gaps: the officer has not been trained in extinguisher use. Arrange training or amend instructions.
• Do not include unnecessary personal data about staff in the report; keep it factual and secure.