Building Evacuations, Drills & Fire Safety

The Fire Safety Plan box containing an important binder of information for Fire Services is found close to the main entrance of a building, near one of the escape stairwells.

From time to time, building evacuations and drills are required to ensure the safe exit of occupants. These could be in response to an active alarm or in response to a fire in the building. In some cases, it could be in response to a non-fire hazard in the building. TMU has prepared the following guidelines to assist community members prepare in the event of an evacuation.

Make sure you are aware of university guidance and resources

TMU’s Emergency Management website includes customized guidance for students, faculty and staff and leaders. We encourage you to review the guidance for information including:

Downloading TMU Safe and signing up for text messages.
Contacting 911 if you encounter an emergency on campus.
What to do if you require support in the event of an evacuation.
Guidance for faculty or contract lecturers to ask students to inform you if they require evacuation assistance and what to do if a student requires evacuation assistance.
Guidance for leaders if an employee indicates they require support in the event of an emergency.

Fire safety: Be prepared

Know the location of the fire exit, the fire alarm manual pull station and fire extinguisher closest to your workspace or classroom(s). Familiarize yourself with the procedures below so that you are generally prepared in case of a fire.

What to do when an alarm signals an evacuation

Upon hearing an alarm or being directed to leave, the person in charge of a class, meeting or activity is responsible for stopping the activity and directing people to leave by the nearest safe exit. You must comply with this person and quickly and safely exit the building. Provide assistance to persons with disabilities if it is safe to do so as appropriate.

Only if it is safe to do so should you take any personal belongings. One hand should be free at all times to open doors and use the hand rails. If dropped, personal belongings may become a tripping hazard that could potentially impede the evacuation of others.

Always make sure to close all doors behind you as this aids in slowing the spread of a fire.

Evacuation plans for people requiring assistance

There are many types of health conditions and impairments that may affect a person’s ability to safely evacuate a building, including those who:

require the use of a wheelchair, walker, crutches or cane;
have temporary conditions (e.g. pregnancy, recovery after surgery, breaks or sprains);
have vision and/or hearing impairments;
have breathing problems;
have visible or hidden disabilities;
are prone to severe excitability or claustrophobia; and/or
have any limitation that would make using stairwells dangerous to themselves or other evacuees.

Guidance for students on what to do if you require support in the event of an evacuation

Guidance for faculty and staff if you require support in the event of an evacuation

Guidance for leaders: If you have an employee who requires support in the event of an emergency, ensure that you work with them to implement an individualized accommodation plan for emergencies.

If you discover fire

Leave the fire area immediately, removing any person in immediate danger. Make sure that the doors to the affected area are closed.
Activate the fire alarm system by pulling the nearest pull station (i.e. stairwell) as you leave the fire area.
Do not use a fire extinguisher unless trained. You are not to put yourself at risk.
Call 911 when it is safe to do so. Provide them with the details and do not hang up until you have provided all the information.
Exit the building using the nearest stairwell.
Before opening any doors, test the door for heat by using the back of your hand.
1. When you check a door for heat, you should always use the back of your hand and not your palms. If you burn your palms, it may make it difficult for you to use them to open doors or crawl on the floor if needed.
If the door is hot, leave the door closed and unlocked. If you are in an office with no alternate exit, remain where you are and alert 911 to your location. Otherwise, try an alternate exit.
If the door is not hot, brace yourself against the door and open it slightly. If you feel air pressure or a hot draft, close the door quickly, leaving it unlocked. If you are in a room with no alternate exit, remain where you are and call 911 and alert them of your location. Otherwise, try an alternate exit.
1. If the door is not hot and you did not feel air pressure or a hot draft, walk to the nearest exit and leave the building.
2. Use the stairwell and/or exterior exit doors to exit. Do not use the elevators. If you encounter fire or smoke in the stairwell, use an alternate exit (crossover).
If a door feels too hot to the touch, do not open it. There could be fire/smoke on the other side and both factors may impair your ability to continue down to the ground floor.
Remember to remain calm.

If your clothing catches fire

Stop whatever you are doing.
Drop to the ground.
Roll to smother the flames.

If you cannot safely evacuate the building or are trapped

Follow the steps outlined in Emergency Management instructions for support in the event of an evacuation and refer to the yellow “In an Emergency” placard in the room for your exact location.

Understanding “convenience stairs” vs. emergency “exit stairwells”

In an emergency, exit stairwells should be prioritized for evacuation whenever possible. Building occupants should avoid using convenience stairs for evacuation because the stairs are exposed and do not offer protection from hazardous conditions.

A convenience staircase is open to the larger interior space and terminates within the building, in an atrium, corridor or main space.

Convenience stairs

Many TMU buildings have open areas and atriums with grand staircases or escalators that are convenient for moving between floors and add design focal points to architecture. They typically end inside the building in a lobby or main space.

However in an emergency evacuation, the openness of their design leaves users exposed to the dangers of smoke, fire or other hazards for which these stairs were not designed to mitigate.

Exit stairwells

Exit stairwells are enclosed by walls and behind fire-rated doors that are engineered to resist high heat and reduce the spread of smoke and flame.

Unlike convenience stairs which typically end inside a building, exit stairwells lead users directly to an exterior door or direct route outside. Exit stairs also include non-slip treads, emergency lighting in the event of a power failure, clearly marked egress routes.

Fire alarm systems at TMU

TMU is equipped with two different alarm systems: single and two-stage. Several of the buildings that students, faculty and staff occupy are maintained by TMU. However, there are a number of buildings that are not maintained by the university and therefore may have unique alarm systems.

Below is a list of the buildings that are not maintained by TMU. Contact the building manager to find out about each building’s specific evacuation procedures.

Buildings not managed by Toronto Metropolitan University

Building code	Building name	Building address
AOB	Atrium on Bay	20 Dundas St. West
BKS	Campus Store	17 Gould Street
BTS	Bell Trinity Square	483 Bay Street
CAR	Carlton Cinema	20 Carlton Street
CIV	Civil Engineering Storage	106 Mutual Street
CPK	English Language Institute and International College (College Park)	424 Yonge Street
DAL	147 Dalhousie Street	147 Dalhousie Street
DSQ	Yonge-Dundas Square	10 Dundas St. East
MAC	Mattamy Athletic Centre	50 Carlton Street
MAG	Magnet	10 King St. East
MER	Merchandise Building	159 Dalhousie Street
MRS	MaRS Building	661 University Avenue
PKG	Parking Garage	300 Victoria Street
PTB	Paintbox	563 Dundas St. East
SMH	St. Michael’s Hospital / iBEST / Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute	209 Victoria Street
TEC	Toronto Eaton Centre	220 Yonge Street
YDI	Yonge-Dundas Intersection	1 Dundas Street West
YNG	415 Yonge Street	415 Yonge Street

TMU-managed with single-stage alarm system

Below is a list of buildings that are maintained by TMU. These buildings are equipped with a single-stage alarm system.

Signal: you will hear the alarm signal and where installed the visual strobes will flash.
Action: Proceed to the closest, safest exit and egress from the building. Once outside, move at least 15m (50 feet) away from the building.
Follow-up: TMU Security or municipal Fire Services will confirm when re-entry to the building is allowed.

Single-stage alarm buildings

Building code	Building name	Building address
ARC	Architecture Building	325 Church Street
BND	114 Bond Street	114 Bond Street
BON	111 Bond Street	111 Bond Street
CED	The Chang School of Continuing Education (Heaslip House)	297 Victoria Street
CIS	Creative Innovation Studio	110 Bond Street
COP	101 Gerrard Street East	101 Gerrard Street East
ENG	George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre	245 Church Street
EPH	Eric Palin Hall	87 Gerrard Street East
HEI	School of Graphics Communications Management (Heidelberg Centre)	125 Bond Street
ILC	International Living / Learning Centre	133 Mutual Street and 240 Jarvis Street
IMA	School of Image Arts	122 Bond Street
IMC	The Image Centre	33 Gould Street
MON	Civil Engineering Building	341 Church Street
OAK	Oakham House	63 Gould Street
OKF	O’Keefe House	137 Bond Street
PIT	Pitman Hall	160 Mutual Street
PRO	112 Bond Street	112 Bond Street
RCC	Rogers Communication Centre	80 Gould Street
SBB	South Bond Building	105 Bond Street
SCC	Student Campus Centre	55 Gould Street
SHE	Sally Horsfall Eaton Centre for Studies in Community Health	99 Gerrard Street East
SID	School of Interior Design	302 Church Street
VIC	Victoria Building	285 Victoria Street

TMU-managed with two-stage alarm system

For two-stage alarms, please listen carefully to distinguish the signal, as there will be two different tones.

Stage 1: Alert signal

Signal: The alert signal is a continuous chime or bell. Stand by and be alert for a potential evacuation of the building. If the building is equipped with a voice communication system (speakers), you may hear a digital voice message providing information and instructions.
Action: Stay where you are, get ready to leave and await further instructions.
Follow-up: If the alarm stops, then all is clear and you may resume regular activities.

Stage 2: Evacuation signal

Signal: The alarm is a temporal pattern signal (three beats followed by a pause). Upon hearing the alarm you must evacuate the building immediately. Do not wait for further announcements. Do not use the elevator. If the building is equipped with a voice communication system (speakers), you may hear a voice announcement providing information and instructions.
Action: Proceed to the closest, safest exit and egress from the building. Once outside, move at least 15m (50 feet) away from the building.
Follow-up: TMU Security or municipal Fire Services will confirm when re-entry to the building is allowed.

Below is a list of buildings that are also maintained by TMU. However, these buildings are equipped with two-stage alarm systems.

Two-stage alarm buildings

Building Code	Building name	Building address
CUI	Centre for Urban Innovation	44 Gerrard Street East
DCC	Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex	288 Church Street
JOR	Jorgenson Hall	380 Victoria Street
KHE	Kerr Hall East	340 Church Street
KHN	Kerr Hall North	31/43 Gerrard St. East
KHS	Kerr Hall South	40/50/60 Gould Street
KHW	Kerr Hall West	379 Victoria Street
LIB	Library Building	350 Victoria Street
POD	Podium	350 Victoria Street
SLC	Student Learning Centre	341 Yonge Street
SOM	School of Medicine	150 Central Park Dr, Brampton
RAC	Recreation and Athletics Centre	40/50 Gould Street
TRS	Ted Rogers School of Management	55 Dundas Street

Questions?

For questions regarding building evacuations or drills, please contact Dan Dixon, compliance Engineer, at dan.dixon@torontomu.ca.