Building Evacuation Schemes

A building owner must ensure their building complies with the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 and the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fire Safety, Evacuation Procedures and Evacuation Schemes) Regulations 2018.

Most buildings used by the public are required to have an Evacuation Scheme and Procedure in place and have it approved by Fire & Emergency New Zealand. A building that requires an evacuation scheme is called a 'relevant building' and can include the following:
‍

• Buildings that can hold 100 or more people
• Buildings where 10 or more people work
• Buildings where 6 or more people sleep (unless there are 3 or fewer households)
• Building storing certain levels of hazardous substances (i.e. 100kgs LPG, 100ltrs of petrol or 1000ltrs of diesel)
• Buildings used for early childhood, medical and disabled care services, unless the building is a normal home
• Prisons and holding cells

The process for this can be completed by building owners, but it can be complicated and time consuming. Canterbury Training and Contracting can take care of this for you and manage the complete process including all the necessary paperwork, online application, evacuation scheme documentation, fire action notice signage checklist, building assistance register, and wardens training.

‍

The evacuation scheme will cover the various clauses and acts:

‍

• The Fire Safety Act 2017 (Section 21A Evacuation Schemes for Public Safety)
• The Fire Safety and Evactuation of Buildings Regulations 2018
• The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
• Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016

Contact us today about your specific evacuation scheme management and for a free review of your building.