Current UK legislations require that all people should be evacuated from a building safely and promptly in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Naturally steps and staircases are the route of exit for non-disabled users, but what about the needs of people with disabilities? This is where the efficiency and usability of evacuation chairs is needed the most. An evac chair supplied by K5 has been specifically designed to facilitate the secure and timely evacuation of disabled people or those with walking difficulties.

Traditional methods of escape assume that users are capable of escaping via an emergency exit or staircase. This presumption is inadequate and actually dangerous to those for whom immediate escape is not necessarily an option. In response to legislation many Building Managers have introduced refuge areas, which really fail to ensure the safety of their building’s disabled users. These areas are a short-sighted and short-term solution, and leave people with disabilities vulnerable to harm if there is not a rapid response from the fire services.

Many businesses still believe that the evacuation of people with disabilities is the responsibility of the emergency services, and that further to the provision of refuge areas there is nothing else they can do. This naive mindset puts their disabled employees in danger, and the importance of a comprehensive evacuation strategy in any building cannot be stressed enough.

The installation of an evac chair at a property is essential if the business has workers with disabilities using the building. These safety chairs can be operated by one individual, meaning they are ideal for evacuating disabled people out of building safely and efficiently.

An evac chair should incorporate safety breaks on the rear wheels, a sturdy and resilient framework, supportive seat and advanced belt system for ease of travel and, most pertinently in times of emergency, instant deployment. These features are all consistent with the models supplied by K5, who are committed to ensuring the independence and safety of people with disabilities.