The Stay Put Fire Action Notice Meaning

Fires can start for a variety of reasons, and potentially cause irreparable damage and loss of life. If a fire starts in a tall multi-storey building, something called a "Stay Put" Strategy has be used to ensure people who do not need to interact with the fire remain safely out of harm’s way. In this article we explain more about the ‘Stay Put’ policy, its history and alternative Fire Safety evaucation policies.

What is a "Stay Put" policy?

A "Stay Put" policy is an evacuation strategy, often implemented in high rise flats or apartments. The idea is to keep people safely away from an outbreak of fire when they are not close to an active area. For example, if someone’s flat is not affected by the fire, the ‘Stay Put’ strategy recommends that they remain inside, closing all doors and windows. The aim of the code was to ensure each individual flat/apartment would help contain the fire for a period of time. Where appropriate the correct Fire Action Stay Put Signage should be on display to educate and remind on the buildings Fire Safety policies.

What is the history of "Stay Put"?

The introduction of the British Standard Code of Practice 1962 set national standards for tall resident buildings for the first-time. Any block taller than 80 feet had to be built to provide at least one hour’s fire resistance to aid firefighters attending the scene. The idea was to ensure each individual flat had the capacity to contain a fire for a minimum of one hour. This would make things easier for firefighters who could focus on extinguishing a fire in one flat rather than an entire building.

However, there have been some serious consequences of using the ‘stay put’ approach in recent years. In July 2009, a large fire in South London killed six people, three of whom were children. The fire spread internally and externally, meaning the recommendation to stay in their flats potentially posed more of risk than attempting to leave. In response, the Local Government Association published a guide in 2011 that maintained a Stay Put approach remained the safest option. It was also supported by the industry and numerous fire experts who were involved in writing the guide. However, new guidance published by the government in 2014 warned that Stay Put might not be an appropriate strategy where fire unexpectedly spreads. It went on to say that a suitable emergency evacuation plan should also be in place as an alternative.

More recently, in 2017, the Grenfell tragedy claimed the life of 72 people, which once again raised concerns about the use of the ‘stay put’ policy. The fire service was heavily criticised by the inquiry report for not acting on the guidance provided by the government in 2014, although the building owners bear responsibility here, as a specific evacuation plan was not in place. According to data provided by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), between 2010 and 2017 there were more than 57,000 fires in high rise buildings. However, only 216 (0.4%) required 5 or more residents to be evacuated. These figures seemed to offer reassurance that use of a Stay Put policy is the safest strategy to employ. Since 2016/17, there have been 8,025 fires in buildings with more than four storeys, although only a small percentage of these spread further than their start point. 156 of these fires affected at least two floors, and 72 affected more than two, which equates to roughly one every week.

When should people stay put in a fire

A criticism faced by the stay put policy is that it often isn’t made clear to residents what type of fire event should cause them to stay or leave.
The National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) statement about use of the ‘Stay Put’ policy says:

  • Where there is a fire in a flat or maisonette, alert everyone, close all the doors and leave the property.
  • Follow any existing escape plan and if there is a lot of smoke in the property, crawl along the floor as it should be cooler and the air clearer.
  • Use stairs instead of a lift and then call 999.
  • The walls, floors and doors should be designed to give you protection if there is a fire somewhere else in the building.


The NFCC stress the important of well-built and serviced properties as this ensures fire safety standards are being maintained. The NFCC do recommend use of ‘Stay Put’ when there is a fire in a high-rise block of flats, but not your home, as they say it is safer to remain indoors. You should then call 999 for advice and to alert the fire service. If heat or smoke is affecting you, they recommend that you attempt to evacuate the building. The NFCC also state that this is general, preventative advice and it can change depending on how circumstances evolve in dynamic situations. Once firefighters arrive at the scene, they may reinforce the initial advice, or change things depending on the development of the fire.

 

Are there any alternative evacuation strategies?

Stay Put isn’t the only evacuation strategy that can be used in an emergency fire situation. Here are some of the alternatives and how they can be applied:

Simultaneous Evacuation

When a Stay Put strategy cannot be used due to lack of compartmentalisation or possible design faults, Simultaneous Evacuation is usually the recommended method adopted. For this to work, the fire alarm systems should be used to alert all residents of the situation so they can evacuate to safety.

Phased evacuation

Stay Put policies are used in high-rise buildings, although the layouts are usually quite simple. In tall buildings with more complex layouts, a Stay Put policy will probably not be appropriate. If a smoke and fire alarm system is in place across the whole building, a phased evacuation could be the appropriate strategy. In practice, those at immediate risk are evacuated first (often the floor of origin and the floors above or below) before others in the building can make their way out.

Progressive evacuation

This is an evacuation strategy suitable for places like hospitals and care homes, which may feature fire-resistant rooms, or areas where treatment can be carried out until the fire is extinguished. Progressive evacuation involves moving people to an adjoining fire section located on the same floor, where they can remain, or eventually leave to safety. This strategy offers more risk, so extra care and precaution is needed.

Two-staged evacuation

A two-staged evacuation is appropriate for public spaces where a large group of people need to be evacuated. However, rather than triggering an alarm system that could cause panic and make the situation even more dangerous, it involves the use of a ‘silent’ alarm that is issued to employees, so they are notified before anyone else, and can arrange a safe, orderly exit before setting off the main alarm.

Conclusion

The Stay Put policy remains a contentious subject, although it is still largely recommended by professionals working in the fire safety sector. Owners of large residential buildings have a responsibility to ensure that everyone living there is aware of the policy, and of the appropriate evacuation method that should be followed in the event of a fire. This should be backed with suitable Fire Safety Signage for the building. Thousands of fires break out in tower blocks every year, and while only a small proportion spread further than their source, there is always a chance of it spreading quickly, so adequate safety measures are a must.