Both the Virginia Code and Chapter 8 of the Arlington County Code establish rules and regulations to safeguard life, property and public welfare from the hazards of fire and explosion.

Relevant parts of each Code are cited here, along with specific requirements pertaining to safety and evacuation plans for high-rise office structures and high-rise residential structures.

Details on specific signage requirements for stairways are outlined in Stairway Identification and Fire Safety Guidelines is a useful checklist of high rise safety issues to review. We recommend that you request a review of your fire evacuation plans by the Fire Department.

Procedures to follow when an alarm sounds and if a fire occurs in your building, are itemized in When There's a Fire,

Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code Emergency Planning and Preparedness


F-701.1 Scope: The development of emergency plans and the training and conducting of fire exit drills shall comply with this chapter.

F-707.1 General: The owner or other person responsible for buildings identified as high-rise buildings in the building code listed in Chapter 44, shall be required to prepare and submit for review and approval a fire safety plan and evacuation procedure in accordance with this section.

F-707.2 Fire Safety Plan: the owner or agent shall distribute the fire safety plan to the tenants and building service employees. Tenants shall distribute to their employees applicable parts of the fire safety plan affecting the employees' actions in the event of a fire or other emergency.

F-707.3 Responsibility to Update Fire Safety Plan: The owner or agent shall promptly update the fire safety and evacuation procedures upon changes in occupancy or physical arrangement.

Arlington County Fire Prevention Code

General Precautions Against Fire

Section 8-10.3.5. Promulgation of fire safety instructions

Section 8-10.3.5.1 Stairway identification

Fire Protection Systems


Section 8-10.5.1. Test Records

Section 8-10.5.3. Notification

Section 8-10.5.7. Fire Department Access

Emergency Planning And Preparedness


Section 8-10.7.1. Fire exit drills

Section 8-10.7.1.1.Evacuation

Section 8-10.7.1.2. Records

  Fire Safety Plans and Evacuation Procedure Requirements for High Rise Office Buildings

The following requirements exist for approval of Fire Safety Plans and Evacuation Procedures for high rise office buildings. All plans shall be approved by the Code Official of the Arlington County Fire Department as required by the Fire Prevention Code.

1. Plans shall include tenant/occupant participation.
2. Instructions for occupants when an alarm is activated.
3. Evacuation routes and designated outside safe areas.
4. If possible, a chain of command shall be established and will include:
        a.  Safety Director and Assistant
        b.  Floor Monitor and Assistant per floor
        c.  A Stairwell Monitor for each stairwell per floor
        d.  A Monitor for people with disabilities (per floor when necessary)
        e.  An Exit Monitor at each exit way on the ground floor
            (outside door of stairwell)
        f.  Any additional Monitors as needed
   
        Note: Warden may be substituted for Monitor.
   
        When it is not possible to establish a chain of command(multi-tenant buildings), a responsible person from each office shall ensure that all persons have evacuated.
   
   
5. Responsibilities of positions listed in chain of command.
   
6. Responsibilities of building management personnel.
   
7. Emergency and non-emergency telephone numbers.
   
8. Bomb threat and natural disaster information.
   
9. Information regarding alarm system for the building.
   
10. Information regarding elevator use.
    

Two fire drills are required per year with participation in evacuations being mandatory as required by the Fire Prevention Code.

The designation of a specific room for people with disabilities ("designated place of refuge") and a monitor for the people with disabilities is a requirement of this office for approval of any high rise office evacuation plan or procedure. The assignment should be one-on-one, and the monitor for the person wit the disability should report directly to the floor monitor or his/her designee. Should the evacuation of a person with a disability become necessary prior to the arrival of fire department personnel, one (1) of the other monitors would then assist the monitor for the impaired individual with their charge. The requirement for the designation of the room for people with disabilities shall be the following:

• Room should be adjacent to a stairwell
• Room should have a telephone with outside calling capability, a window, and a closable door.

The designated room shall be the same for each floor provided all floor layouts are similar. It will be the responsibility of the monitor to stay with their charge until they are evacuated by the fire department or an "all clear" is given. The non-emergency number for Fire, Police and Medical should be given to the person with a disability and their monitor to use if they become concerned during an incident: Non-Emergency Number is 703-558-2222. This number and floor plan indicating stairwell locations and egress routes from the room shall be posted in the designated room.

The floor monitor, as the last person to leave the floor when the floor is completely evacuated, shall notify the fire department command post or the building command group of the location of any people with disabilities and their monitor(s). If a chain of command has not been established, it would be the responsibility of the office monitor to report the information. The fire department will make a determination as to when and how they will be evacuated. It is possible that they can remain where they are and be in no danger.

The following telephone numbers should be included in the office plan:

Emergency: Fire, Police, Medical:    911
Non-Emergency: Fire, Police, Medical:    703-558-2222 

***It must be understood that in any emergency, 911 should be the first number called. It would only be counter-productive to notify the Federal Protective Service (FPS), Department of Defense (DOD), property management, or any other agency prior to dialing 911.

  Fire Safety Plans and Evacuation Procedure Requirements for High Rise Residential Buildings

The following requirements exist for approval of Fire Safety Plans and Evacuation Procedures for high rise residential buildings. All plans shall be approved by the Code Official.

1. Plans shall include assignments for management and maintenance personnel.
2. Provide specific instructions for tenant/occupants.
3. Provide information about alarm system and elevators.
4. Provide emergency telephone numbers.
5. Provide for one required fire drill per year.