Knowing how to respond following the sound of the fire alarm will help assure an orderly and safe evacuation of the buildings.

A.  Know all the exits

Posted on the wall near every elevator is an egress sign.   The sign denotes your present location [a red circle with the words- You are here- written in white letters.  Every stair and elevator (noted by the letter X enclosed in a square) is identified by a letter of the alphabet.  A sign which notes the alphabet designation is mounted on the floor and stair side face of the stair door.  (A sign which notes the floor is also mounted on the stair side face of this same stair door.)  The stair is also identified by an illuminated sign above it with the word Exit in red letters.

Please study this map while you are waiting for the elevator.  During an evacuation you should use all available stairs- not only the one you commonly use.  Although some of the stair doors above lobby level and all emergency exits at the lobby level are equipped with panic alarm hardware and are not normally used, you may exit through these doors during a drill or emergency evacuation.

B.  Response Staff

Posted on the wall near or above the egress map is the Evacuation Drill and Assignment Chart.  In addition to the building address, floor, and fire department contact number, this chart also notes the Fire Safety Directors, assigned floor Fire Wardens, Building Evacuation Supervisors, Fire Brigade, role of the Faculty, location of exterior assembly area, and abbreviated disabled persons and general evacuation guideline reminders.

C.  Evacuation Assistance

Some persons may require assistance during an emergency evacuation of the buildings.  For a description of the guidelines for these individuals, click here.

D.  When the alarm sounds...Await instructions from the Fire Safety Director

Each building has an independent alarm system (the 47 and 53 buildings are combined into one system).  When the alarm sounds, it will only be heard within the building it sounds and not throughout all law school buildings.

When the alarm sounds, the Fire Safety Director will report to the lobby command panel to determine which detection or suppression device, or pull station was activated.  If a floor Fire Warden does not notify the Fire Safety Director (using the floor warden station), the Fire Safety Director will dispatch one of the security officers to the location where the detector was activated. The Fire Safety Director will silence the alarm and inform you of the location and status of the problem by use of the public address system.  She or he will also indicate if you need to begin to evacuate the building.

E.  How to Respond

1.  Evacuation Drill

An evacuation drill is an opportunity to test your knowledge of the evacuation plan and how to exit from the building during an emergency.  It is important for you to respond when instructed by the Fire Safety Director.  New York City Fire Department Fire Prevention Directive 9-64 requires that colleges and universities conduct three drills during the academic year.  Evacuation drills will be conducted once during each fall and spring semester, and once during the summer semester.                                             

The Fire Safety Director begins the drill with an announcement over the public address system.  She or he will then activate the alarms.  During the drill all stairs (not only a familiar stair) and all first floor doors (not only the main entrance doors) may be used to exit the building.  Noted below are instructions which describe how you should respond.  The Fire Wardens will be there to provide directional assistance.

1)  Do not panic- remain calm.  Follow the instructions of the Fire Wardens and faculty members.

2)  Close your office door and close all other doors behind you.  Then proceed to the nearest stair and exit the building.  Do not run and do not use the elevators as a means to exit the floor!

3)  Disabled persons evacuation assistance

During an evacuation drill, disabled persons should not evacuate the floor. Instead, they should respond in the following manner.  One of the assigned volunteers must notify the Fire Safety Director by use of the floor warden station.  The station is the red box located near the main elevators (in B building it is located near the exit stair).  To operate the station: Open the door, lift the handset, and speak after the Fire Safety Director answers. She or he must note the building, floor, and stair alphabet location where the disabled person would be relocated if it were an actual emergency.  

The volunteer should then show the disabled person the door which leads to this location.  There is no need to enter the stair or attempt to evacuate the person during a drill. Entering the stair to go to the safe rescue area or to evacuate the floor should only be undertaken when the Fire Safety Director tells you to evacuate the building during a non-drill situation.  Finally, the volunteer(s) and the disabled person should use the remainder of the drill time to review the Personal Evacuation Plan.

4)  Meet at the Assembly Area

After you exit the building, you must walk toward West Broadway and gather along the sidewalks near this location.  The assembly area comprises the sidewalks along West Broadway: (i.) on the same block as the law school (between Worth Street and Leonard Street), (ii.) between Leonard Street (one block north of Worth Street) and Franklin Street, and (iii.) surrounding the triangular Greenspace bordered by Varick Street (on the west), West Broadway (on the east), and Franklin Street (to the north).  The assembly area is the only location where you should go after you evacuate the building.

So remember, if you are instructed to evacuate the buildings (an emergency evacuation or an evacuation drill), always gather at an assembly area on West Broadway.  Do not stand in front of the law school buildings, do not cross at the Church Street corners, and do not stand in the street.  Please follow the instructions of the security officers and fire wardens.

5)  The security staff will signal when you may return to the building.

In an actual emergency do not wait to collect personal property.  Begin evacuating the floor when directed.  Mounted on the wall of every classroom, computer room, study room, and other public common areas is a copy of the Emergency Evacuation Guidelines. Please review this information periodically.

After regular business hours weekdays and all hours weekends

During weekday evenings or on weekends (when the Fire Wardens are not on duty) and the Fire Safety Director instructs you to evacuate the building, you should follow the instructions of the faculty member.  She or he will designate two students to check the rest rooms and to assist any disabled persons to one of the stair landings.  The floor warden station should be used to inform the Fire Safety Director of the stair landing where the disabled person will be located so that fire department personnel can assist with their evacuation.

Your cooperation during a drill is important because each drill is a test of the evacuation program.  Please forward all comments or questions following each drill by email to the Director of Security & Safety at ghayes@nyls.edu

2.   Emergency Evacuation

Await instructions from the Fire Safety Director.  If directed, all occupants must exit the building by using all available stairs- not just a favorite stair- when instructed by the Fire Safety Director or the floor Fire Warden.

1)  Do not panic- remain calm.  Follow the instructions of the floor Fire Wardens and faculty members.

2)  Close all doors behind you.  Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Proceed to the nearest stair and exit the building.  Do not run and do not use the elevators as a means to exit the floor!

3)  Disabled persons evacuation assistance

4)  Meet at the Assembly Area

After you exit the building, you must walk toward West Broadway and gather along the sidewalks near this location.  The assembly area comprises the sidewalks along West Broadway: (i.) on the same block as the law school (between Worth Street and Leonard Street), (ii.) between Leonard Street (one block north of Worth Street) and Franklin Street, and (iii.) surrounding the triangular Greenspace bordered by Varick Street (on the west), West Broadway (on the east), and Franklin Street (to the north).  The assembly area is the only location where you should go after you evacuate the building.

So remember, if you are instructed to evacuate the buildings (an emergency evacuation or an evacuation drill), always gather at an assembly area on West Broadway.  Do not stand in front of the law school buildings, do not cross at the Church Street corners, and do not stand in the street.  Please follow the instructions of the security officers and fire wardens.

3.   If you discover or are near a smoke condition or fire

1)  Evacuate the area and close all doors in the vicinity of the fire or major smoke condition.

2)  Activate a pull station device (pull the black lever down) to alert other persons in adjacent offices, classrooms, and rest rooms and throughout the building.

3)  Do not open any doors that feel warm to the touch.  If there is heat or smoke in an area, crawl on the floor to the nearest exit.  If you are trapped in a smoke-filled room stay near the floor or near a window where you can call or signal (use a handkerchief or a shirt to draw attention) for help.  Do not panic.

4)  Proceed to the nearest stair.  Do not run and do not use the elevators as a means to exit the floor!  Follow the instructions of the floor Fire Wardens and faculty members.

5)  Disabled persons evacuation assistance

During an evacuation drill, disabled persons should not evacuate the floor. Instead, they should respond in the following manner.  One of the assigned volunteers must notify the Fire Safety Director by use of the floor warden station.  The station is the red box located near the main elevators (in B building it is located near the exit stair).  To operate the station: Open the door, lift the handset, and speak after the Fire Safety Director answers. She or he must note the building, floor, and stair alphabet location where the disabled person would be relocated if it were an actual emergency.  

The volunteer should then show the disabled person the door which leads to this location.  There is no need to enter the stair or attempt to evacuate the person during a drill. Entering the stair to go to the safe rescue area or to evacuate the floor should only be undertaken when the Fire Safety Director tells you to evacuate the building during a non-drill situation.  Finally, the volunteer(s) and the disabled person should use the remainder of the drill time to review the Personal Evacuation Plan.

6)  If the situation permits, use the floor warden station (open the red box mounted near the elevators and lift the receiver) to notify the Fire Safety Director. Otherwise, evacuate the floor.  At the building lobby, inform a security officer about what you observed so the evacuation plan can be activated.

7)  Meet at the Assembly Area

After you exit the building, you must walk toward West Broadway and gather along the sidewalks near this location.  The assembly area comprises the sidewalks along West Broadway: (i.) on the same block as the law school (between Worth Street and Leonard Street), (ii.) between Leonard Street (one block north of Worth Street) and Franklin Street, and (iii.) surrounding the triangular Greenspace bordered by Varick Street (on the west), West Broadway (on the east), and Franklin Street (to the north).  The assembly area is the only location where you should go after you evacuate the building.

So remember, if you are instructed to evacuate the buildings (an emergency evacuation or an evacuation drill), always gather at an assembly area on West Broadway.  Do not stand in front of the law school buildings, do not cross at the Church Street corners, and do not stand in the street.  Please follow the instructions of the security officers and fire wardens.

Important Reminders

• Never attempt to extinguish a fire yourself!  Fire and smoke can quickly fill the area. Use this time to alert others to evacuate by activating a pull station. 
   
• The elevators must never be used to exit a floor.  The fire department personnel will need to use the elevators to evacuate disabled persons and for other duties.  Unless otherwise directed by fire department personnel, you must only exit a floor by use of the stairs!