MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT - GUIDELINES FOR AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN

Sep 22, 2026

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Emergency evacuation plan guidelines for the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department’s Fire Prevention Division. The document explains minimum life safety requirements referenced to NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code (2012 edition), and describes how plans must be tailored to building and occupant characteristics. It details core components, joint responsibilities among building management, occupants, and agencies, plus how planning and exit drills improve compliance and strengthen life safety systems. Training and a service request form are also referenced.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Information

Training

General Considerations

Knowing the Building

Building Occupants and Building Use

Life Safety Issues

Definition of Fire

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION GUIDELINES FOR AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN. |
GUIDELINES FOR AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN | | --- | |
INTRODUCTION | | National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code (otherwise referred to asthe Code) provides the minimum requirements for life safety from fires and similar emergencies consistent with the public interest. The code used in the state of Florida is the Florida Fire Prevention Code 2012 edition. These minimum requirements address, among many other aspects of fire protection, the provision of refuge and/or evacuation facilities. Emergency evacuation plans ensure that building occupants are aware of emergency evacuation procedures to ensure the efficient use of the exit facilities available in an occupancy in the event of fire, explosion, bomb threat, or similar emergencies where the organized evacuation of a building becomes vital. | |
INFORMATION | | These general guidelines are issued to provide information that will enable responsible personnel to prepare an emergency evacuation plan. Each building must tailor the emergency evacuation plan in accordance with the unique features of the building and its occupants, however the main components of the plan must remain the same. To be effective, emergency evacuation plans and exit drills must be planned and designed in cooperation with the authority having jurisdiction. Emergency evacuation shall be a joint planning and implementation effort between the building management and occupants, the fire and police departments, and other designated agencies. These guidelines will identify emergency duties, evacuation plan organization, and evacuation plan implementation. A carefully thought out and developed plan can augment the fixed, active life safety systems and other passive emergency protection systems and features required by the Code. This allows for occupants, tenants, managers, security, and maintenance personnel to be involved in providing for their own safety and that of others in emergency situations. When this involvement is properly addressed, it generates enthusiasm and commitment and will ensure compliance with the plan when an emergency arises. The following pages will contain useful information and will outline the emergency evacuation guidelines. | |
TRAINING | | Fire safety and evacuation training and presentations for building occupants and employees are also available. Please contact the Public Education Bureau at (786) 331-4822 between the hours of 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. A service request form is enclosed at the end of these guidelines. | |
TABLE OF CONTENTS | | --- | |
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................ ............................. PAGE 1 | | | |
LIFE SAFETY ISSUES ................................ ................................ ...... PAGE 2-3 | | | |
GENERAL FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY ................................ ................ PAGE 4-7 | | | |
EVACUATION PROCEDURES ................................ ......................... PAGE 8-9 | | GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES................................ ........................... PAGE 10 | | | |
GENERAL GUIDELINES................................ ............................... PAGE 11-13 | | | |
PERSONNEL EVACAUTION ................................ ........................ PAGE 14-16 | | | |
EMERGENCY EVACUATION DRILLS ................................ .......... PAGE 17-18 | | | |
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS | | --- | |
KNOWING THE BUILDING: | | Make a survey of the building. Become familiar with the fire protection features of the building. This should include information about the operation of the following systems as examples: fire alarm, public address, smoke evacuation, ventilation, sprinklers, central alarm monitoring, fire extinguishing equipment , and fire pump operating equipment. If you are not familiar with your fire alarm system

FAQs

What codes are referenced for minimum life safety requirements?

The guidelines reference NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, 2012 edition, as the basis for minimum life safety requirements.

Who should participate in planning and implementing an emergency evacuation plan?

The plan requires joint planning and implementation between building management and occupants, along with the fire and police departments and other designated agencies.

How should a building’s emergency evacuation plan be prepared to be effective?

Each building must tailor the plan to its unique features and occupants, and emergency evacuation plans and exit drills must be planned and designed in cooperation with the authority having jurisdiction.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Miles