HSC Emergency Evacuation Guide

The Health Sciences Center (HSC) complex with five network levels, Basic Science Tower and Clinical Science Tower, has very unique safety features that safeguard occupants in the event of a fire. A fire alarm system will notify occupants of the need to evacuate for a fire emergency. There are also engineered passive fire protection systems, such as firewalls, that allow some building occupants to remain on separate fire floors, while others evacuate the facility. It is not always feasible or necessary to have the entire population of the building egress to the outside for a fire alarm or small, controllable fire that is not on their fire floor. The impracticality of moving large numbers of people for routine situations necessitates other procedures to be put into place. This guide will help explain the concept of evacuate-in-place as well as try to clarify the fire alarm signaling system within the complex.

Fire Alarm Notification System

The fire alarm system uses a combination of bells and chimes that are used to indicate different actions required of the occupants. Currently, the fire alarm system has mechanical bells in most areas, along with newer electronic bells in areas that are being renovated and upgraded with new ADA compliant systems. Both systems operate under similar concepts, but the signaling devices differ slightly. For this reason, you must be familiar with both to understand how you must respond when they sound.

• Bells warn you that a fire condition was detected on your floor.
• Chimes alert you that a fire alarm has been activated on some other floor.
• Strobe Lights, where provided, will activate on the floor where a fire condition exists.

To listen to the sounds of the bells and chimes go to the Fire Alarms page.

Existing Fire Alarm System Activation

• Bells (clapper type) ring on the fire floor.
• Chimes (mechanical type) sound in all areas.
• No strobes on existing fire alarm system.

New Fire Alarm System Activation

• Bells (electronic type) ring on the fire floor for 60 seconds followed by 30 seconds of chimes (electronic type) followed by bells.
• Chimes (electronic type) sound in all areas for 30 seconds only.
• Strobes flash on the fire floor only.

Evacuation Procedures

The fire alarm system described above was set up so that only individuals on the fire floor will be required to evacuate. Each floor is fire barrier separated from the adjacent floors, forming safe havens from a fire incident so that people can standby awaiting further instruction from fire officials. Remember, bells will ring only on the fire floor that needs to be evacuated.

• Bells sounded: Everyone immediately evacuate! Move to the outside by the closest exit and gather at an assembly point. If in the towers, evacuate two floors down via the stairway.
• Chimes sounded: Chimes are letting you know that there is a fire situation on another floor. Remain in place and await further instruction.

Assembly areas for the HSC will be the HSC parking garage or tunnel to the West Campus; whichever is closer to your exit.

Related Documents

• HSC Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Note: For additional information on emergency evacuation, please read the general Emergency Evacuation Guide

Print