Each year I received dozens of e-mail questions, as well as from clients with operations in OH, regarding a “requirement” by Ohio Fire Codes to conduct an “annual evacuation drill”. Since this question seems to be so popular, I thought I should just post my attempt at an FAQ for OH Fire Drills:
1) Does my facility have to conduct a fire drill? Yes
2) If yes, what is the frequency of this drill? At least annually and possible more often depending on the type of business.
3) Does the State of OH require a written evacuation plan, even though my facility is exempt from 29 CFR 1910.38 (e.g. OSHA’s Emergency Action Plan std)? Most industrial facilities/businesses in the state of OH are required to have a WRITTEN Evac Plan.
4) Does the State require a written Fire Safety plan, even though my facility is exempt from 29 CFR 1910.39 (e.g. OSHA’s Fire Prevention Plan std)? Most industrial facilities/businesses in the state of OH are required to have a WRITTEN Fire Prevention Plan.
5) Do I have to document my Fire Drill was conducted? Yes, see below for the required data to be documented.
Here are the requirements and support for my answer to the above questions regarding the State of Ohio’s “Emergency Planning and Preparedness” (i.e. drills, plans, and training)…
The state fire Code, 1301:7-7-04 Emergency planning and preparedness, contains the following definition for “Emergency evacuation drill”…
“Emergency evacuation drill.” An exercise performed to train staff and occupants and to evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out emergency evacuation procedures.
The same code, 1301:7-7-04 Emergency planning and preparedness states…
(6) 401.6 Emergency evacuation drills. The sounding of a fire alarm signal and the carrying out of an emergency evacuation drill in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (E)(405) of this rule shall be allowed.
(7) 401.7 Unplanned evacuation. Evacuations made necessary by the unplanned activation of a fire alarm system or by any other emergency shall not be substituted for a required evacuation drill.
Here is the meat and potatoes of the OH Fire Code regarding Evacuation Plans, Training, and Drills.
(D) Section 404 Fire safety and evacuation plans
(1) 404.1 General. Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans and associated drills shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (D)(2)(404.2 ) to (D)(5)(404.5.1) of this rule.
(2) 404.2 Where required. An approved fire safety and evacuation plan shall be prepared and maintained for the following occupancies and buildings.
NOTE: Click Here to see the Group definitions.
(a) Group A (Assemblies), other than Group A occupancies used exclusively for purposes of religious worship that have an occupant load less than 2,000.
(b) Group B (Business) buildings having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
(c) Group E (Educational Group)
(d) Group F (Factory Industrial Group) buildings having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
(e) Group H (High Hazard Group)
(f) Group I (Industrial Group)
(g) Group R-1 (Residential occupancies containing sleeping units where the occupants are primarily transient in nature)
(h) Group R-2 (College and university buildings)
(i) Group R-4 (Residential care/assisted living facilities)
(j) High-rise buildings
(k) Group M (building or structure or a portion thereof, for the display and sale of merchandise) buildings having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
(l) Covered malls exceeding 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) in aggregate floor area.
(m) Underground buildings.
(n) Buildings with an atrium and having an occupancy in Group A, E or M.
(3) 404.3 Contents. Fire safety and evacuation plan contents shall be in accordance with paragraphs (D)(3)(a)(404.3.1) and (D)(3)(b)(404.3.2) of this rule.
(a) 404.3.1 Fire evacuation plans. Fire evacuation plans shall include the following:
(i) Emergency egress or escape routes and whether evacuation of the building is to be complete or, where approved, by selected floors or areas only.
(ii) Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating.
(iii) Procedures for assisted rescue for persons unable to use the general means of egress unassisted.
(iv) Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation has been completed.
(v) Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid.
(vi) The preferred and any alternative means of notifying occupants of a fire or emergency.
(vii) The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department or designated emergency response organization.
(viii) Identification and assignment of personnel who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.
(ix) A description of the emergency voice/alarm communication system alert tone and preprogrammed voice messages, where provided.
(b) 404.3.2 Fire safety plans. Fire safety plans shall include the following:
(i) The procedure for reporting a fire or other emergency.
(ii) The life safety strategy and procedures for notifying, relocating, or evacuating occupants, including occupants who need assistance.
(iii) Site plans indicating the following:
(a) The occupancy assembly point.
(b) The locations of fire hydrants.
(c) The normal routes of fire department vehicle access.
(iv) Floor plans identifying the locations of the following:
(a) Exits.
(b) Primary evacuation routes.
(c) Secondary evacuation routes..
(d) Accessible egress routes.
(e) Areas of refuge.
(f) Exterior areas for assisted rescue.
(g) Manual fire alarm boxes.
(h) Portable fire extinguishers.
(i) Occupant-use hose stations.
(j) Fire alarm annunciators and controls.
(v) A list of major fire hazards associated with the normal use and occupancy of the premises, including maintenance and housekeeping procedures.
(vi) Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance of systems and equipment installed to prevent or control fires.
(vii) Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard sources.
(4) 404.4 Maintenance. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be reviewed or updated annually or as necessitated by changes in staff assignments, occupancy or the physical arrangement of the building.
(5) 404.5 Availability. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be available in the workplace for reference and review by employees, and copies shall be furnished to the fire code official for review upon request.
(a) 404.5.1 Distribution. The fire safety and evacuation plans shall be distributed to the tenants and building service employees by the owner or the owner’s agent. Tenants shall distribute to their employees applicable part of the fire safety plan affecting the employees actions in the event of a fire or other emergency.
(b) 404.5.2 An evacuation plan indicating the primary and secondary emergency evacuation routes, and including proper occupant-to-building orientation, shall be permanently and conspicuously posted at the main exit door inside of each room accessible to all persons in all educational occupancies. The plan shall not be obscured from view by any materials.
(E) Section 405 Emergency evacuation drills
(1) 405.1 General. Emergency evacuation drills complying with the provisions of this paragraph shall be conducted at least annually in the occupancies listed in paragraph (D)(2)(404.2) of this rule or when required by the fire code official. Drills shall be designed in cooperation with the local authorities.
(a) 405.1.1 A principal or person in charge of a public or private school or education institution having an average daily attendance of twenty or more pupils, shall instruct and train such children by means of drills or rapid dismissals at least nine times during the school year at the times and frequency prescribed in this rule, so that such children in a sudden emergency may leave the building in the shortest possible time without confusion in compliance with section 3737.73 of the Revised Code and this rule. A person in charge of any children’s home or orphanage housing twenty or more minor persons shall instruct and train such children by means of drills or rapid dismissals at least once each month while the home is in operation.
(i) 405.1.1.1 Records. While school is in operation, the person responsible for conducting fire drills pursuant to section 3737.73 of the Revised Code shall file a copy of the fire drill records containing the information required under paragraph (E)(5)( 405.5 ) of this rule and other information required by the state fire marshal for inspection verification with the state fire marshal. When required by the fire code official, such fire drill records shall also be submitted to the firefighting agency having jurisdiction that conducts inspections of the subject facility. Such fire drill records shall be submitted at the middle point and again at the end of the school year. The “school year” includes any time during which the average daily attendance comprises twenty or more pupils.
(2) 405.2 Frequency. Required emergency evacuation drills shall be held at the intervals specified in Table 405.2 of this rule or more frequently where necessary to familiarize all occupants with the drill procedure.
Table 405.2 Fire and evacuation drill frequency and participation
| Group or occupancy | Frequency | Participation |
| Group A | Quarterly | Employees |
| Group Bc | Annually | Employees |
| Group E | Monthlya | All occupants |
| Group F | Annually | Employees |
| Group I | Quarterly on each shift | Employeesb |
| Group R-1 | Quarterly on each shift | Employees |
| Group R-2d | Four annually | All occupants |
| Group R-4 | Quarterly on each shift | Employeesb |
| High-rise buildings | Annually | Employees |
a. The frequency shall be allowed to be modified in accordance with paragraph (H)(3)(b)(408.3.2) of this rule.
b. Fire and evacuation drills in residential care assisted living facilities shall include complete evacuation of the premises in accordance with paragraph (H)(10)(e)(408.10.5) of this rule. Where occupants receive habilitation or rehabilitation training, fire prevention and fire safety practices shall be included as part of the training program.
c. Group B building having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
d. Applicable to Group R-2 college and university buildings in accordance with paragraph (H)(3)( 408.3 ) of this rule.
(4) 405.4 Time. Drills shall be held at unexpected times and under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions that occur in case of fire.
(5) 405.5 Record keeping. Records shall be maintained of required emergency evacuation drills and include the following information:
(a) Identity of the person conducting the drill.
(b) Date and time of the drill.
(c) Notification method used.
(d) Staff members on duty and participating.
(e) Number of occupants evacuated.
(f) Special conditions simulated.
(g) Problems encountered.
(h) Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated.
(i) Time required to accomplish complete evacuation.