Building Evacuations and Drills

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 fire 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.

In accordance with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Evacuation Policy and Evacuation of Disabled Persons Guidelines, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has prepared the following guidelines:

Be prepared, stay informed

Know the location of the fire exit, fire alarm and fire extinguisher closest to your office or classroom. Familiarize yourself with the procedures below so that you are generally prepared in case of a fire. There are approximately 200 designated fire wardens across campus. Find out who the (google sheet) designated fire warden (external link) is for your area.

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. Review what steps to take to plan for the evacuation of people requiring assistance.

What to do

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/special needs as appropriate.

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 encounter smoke

Take short breaths through your nose, stay low and crawl if necessary. Do not stop. There is less smoke at floor level.
Call 911 and alert them of your location. They will coordinate with local authorities to locate you.

Do not re-enter the building until the “all clear” is given Toronto Fire Services.

If you are unable to use an alternate exit or are trapped

Return to an office and close the door, leaving it unlocked.
Seal off all openings which may admit smoke to the room.
Crouch low to the floor if smoke enters the room.
Call 911 and alert them of your location. They will coordinate with local authorities to locate you.

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.

Buildings not managed by Toronto Metropolitan University

Below is a list of the buildings that are not maintained by TMU. Contact the building manager or your (google sheet) fire warden (external link) to find out about each building’s specific evacuation procedures.

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.

For single-stage alarms, you will hear the alarm signal.
Only if it is safe to do so, take your keys, purse or wallet, and identification with you.
Leave the building immediately via the nearest emergency exit in a calm and orderly fashion.
Close (but do not lock) doors behind you.
Do not use the elevators.

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

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

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
RAC	Recreation and Athletics Centre	40/50 Gould Street
TRS	Ted Rogers School of Management	55 Dundas Street

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

For the first stage, the signal is a slow, intermittent tone, and it signifies a “be alert” signal. In this case, stand by and be alert for potential evacuation of the building. Listen to any announcements made.

For the second stage, a fast, continuous tone signifies an “alarm” signal, and you must evacuate the building immediately. Do not wait for further announcements. Do not use the elevator.

Stage 1: Warning signal to stay alert

You will hear a voice announcement providing information and instructions, and a bell signal that is intermittent (every five seconds).
Action: Stay where you are, get ready to leave, and await further instructions.
If the alarm stops, then all is clear and you may resume regular activities.

Stage 2: Evacuation signal to leave the building

You will hear a voice announcement providing information and instructions, and a bell signal that is steady and continuous.
Action: Proceed to the closest, safest exit and move away from the building.
Security and fire wardens will confirm when re-entry to the building is allowed.

Questions?

For questions regarding building evacuations or drills, please contact the (google sheet) fire warden (external link) in your area or Environmental Health and Safety at ehs@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5000, ext. 553770.