Fire Evacuation of Multi Tenanted Office Building

GUK provide security services at a prestigious 195,000 sq ft multi tenanted office building, located in the centre of Reading, Berkshire. The building consists of 14 floors of fully occupied space, with a café open to the public on the ground floor. The building is located in the town centre, adjacent to the main railway station. The Guarding UK security team are an essential element of the building emergency procedures.

During one morning a fire alarm in the building was activated. This was due to an adjacent building, part of a construction site, catching fire. Thick smoke and fire could be seen at the 10th floor level. The building management instructed a full evacuation.

The well trained GUK security team assisted the building management in evacuating all tenants from the building, in a series of phased evacuations, and ensured that all common areas were clear. During the evacuation the GUK team observed that metal strips and debris was falling from the burning building. The security staff ensured that building occupants were directed along a safe route away from the building, to the predesignated muster point. All staff and tenants were accounted for.

Occupants were kept informed of developments via a WhatsApp group and by the security staff provide information and updates on site, until the property was cleared as safe and tenants were allowed to return in the afternoon.

A complex evacuation was carried out. The building was cleared quickly, calmly and efficiently, and all tenants were accounted for.

Post the incident the building manager praised the actions of the security team whose assistance ensured a positive outcome.

This is an example of what a well-trained and motivated GUK security team can achieve during a difficult site incident.