During an emergency, it can be easy to panic but this only makes the situation worse. With the appropriate training, you can handle any emergency situation safely. This includes the operation of evac chairs. Evac chairs are an essential piece of evacuation equipment that require training to ensure the safety of both the operator and passenger. In this guide, we take you through safe evac chair operations one step at a time.
Please note this guide is not a substitute for evac chair training. We recommend your chosen operators complete an evacuation chair training course to understand the ins and outs of how evac chairs work.
- Things to Check Before Operation
- Know the Parts of an Evacuation Chair
- How to Unfold an Evac Chair
- How to Use an Evac Chair
- Not All Evac Chairs are the Same!
- Explore Our Range of Evac Chairs Today
Things to Check Before Operation
Before you can begin operating the evac chair, you should complete a pre-use check. This should be conducted before you install an evac chair to ensure it is suitable for use. Some key factors you should look out for include:
- The staircase you will use is a straight one not a spiral one.
- The dimensions of the staircase are appropriate for your chosen evac chair. For example, the stairs should be 580mm wide and at a 20° to 40° angle for the Evac Chair 300H.
- Whether the evacuation chair can be used to go up and/or down the stairs.
- The weight capacity is able to hold the passenger and the weight of the second operator if needed.
Know the Parts of an Evacuation Chair
With the pre-use check out of the way, you should now study the different parts of a fire evacuation chair. This will help you understand the instructions for operating the evac chair and check each element is in working order. The components of an evac chair will change between models but the basic elements are:
- Headrest with an Adjustable Head Restraint
- A Seat
- Friction Tracks/Powered Belt Track
- Adjustable Handle
- A Quick Release Safety Belt
- Heavy Duty Wheels
- A Rear Wheel (for non-powered models)
- Reflective Decals
How to Unfold an Evac Chair
To set up the evac chair for operation, you need to first take it from its storage position and unfold it ready for the passenger to be safely seated. Here are the steps you should take to prepare a basic fire evacuation chair:
- Hold the chair upright with both hands on the handles.
- Place one foot on the base of the chair frame.
- Pull the handles up until the securing clips have locked into place.
- Slide the head support downwards into the correct position.
- Unclip the passenger safety harness to release the evac chair from its storage position.
- Place the evac chair upright on flat ground.
- Bring the stair track towards you with your foot on the base of the frame.
- Raise the seat frame up until it meets the track strut and is level.
How to Use an Evac Chair
With the evac chair ready to go, it is now time to secure the passenger into the seat and transport them to the designated safe area. Here is a step-by-step on how to use a basic evac chair safely:
- Hold the chair upright with your foot at the base of the evac chair to hold it in place.
- The passenger can now sit on the seat and their safety belt can be fastened.
- You can now move your foot and deploy the rear wheel.
- To move the evac chair on a horizontal plain, tilt the chair back onto the rear wheel and push gently.
- Once you reach the top of the stairs, close the rear wheel.
- Place your hands on either side of the handle and tilt the chair backwards slightly.
- You can now push the chair over the top stair.
- After the chair has been pushed onto the stairs, make sure the friction tracks have made contact with the top two stairs and hold the evac chair in position.
- The friction tracks will hold the chair in place.
- Move your hands to the top of the handle without letting go of the chair.
- Push the evac chair downwards to descend the stairs.
- As you reach the end of the stairs, make sure the front wheels touch the floor.
- Move your hands back to the side of the handles.
- Tilt the chair forward and push until the chair is flat on the ground.
- You can now deploy the rear wheel once again to travel horizontally.
- Once you have reached the designated area, you can close the rear wheel.
- The passenger can now be unbuckled.
- Tilt the chair forward to assist the passenger’s exit from the chair.
Remember, these step by step instructions are not a replacement for an evac chair training course. It is a legal requirement for employers to ensure evac chair operators are trained to use evac chairs. Check out our Evac Chair Training Course and Evac Chair Masterclass today.
Not All Evac Chairs are the Same!
Although most fire evacuation chairs are operated in the same manner, there are some exceptions. For example, powered evac chairs have a slightly different operation as they can go up and down stairs and have an electronic panel that controls the movement of the chair. Some key differences in the operation of a powered evac chair include:
- Ensuring the powered belt track is deployed correctly.
- Understanding how to operate the control pad.
- Holding the up or down button on the control pad to control the movement of the chair.
- Using the speed controls to manage the safe movement of the evac chair.
Explore Our Range of Evac Chairs Today
At Fire & Safety Centre, we have a range of evac chairs available to ensure you find the best fit for your workplace. From our most basic Evac Chair 300H to the Evac Chair 900H Power and Stairmate SA-S Powered Evacuation Chair, we have something for everyone in our range. Explore our evacuation equipment and evac chair training courses today to ensure you and your staff are prepared for any emergency.
FAQs
How do EVAC chairs work?
Evac chairs are specialised evacuation devices designed to help people with mobility impairments safely descend (or ascend) stairs during emergencies. They typically feature a sturdy frame with wheels and tracks that allow a single operator to guide the chair down stairs smoothly, providing a quick and secure method of evacuation when elevators cannot be used.
Do you need training to use an EVAC chair?
It is a legal requirement for employers in the UK to provide the appropriate training for evac chair operators to ensure the safety of both the operator and passenger. Proper training covers techniques for manoeuvring the evac chair, securing the passenger, and navigating various stairway configurations.
Can you go upstairs with an EVAC chair?
Some evacuation chairs are designed to go up and down stairs. For example, the Evac Chair 600H and Evac Chair 900H Power are capable of ascending stairs. These evac chairs can be useful for evacuation routes that require employees to go up stairs.
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