Which Type of Evacuation Chair Do I Need?15 August 2024 To ensure every occupant of your premises can make a safe exit down the stairs in the event of an emergency, evacuation chairs are normally the best and most convenient option. For most buildings, a standard evacuation chair will suffice, but that isn't the case for all premises, and building features will dictate which type of chair you'll need. Certain individuals with special consideration such as disability or weight may also require a different type of chair. To help you figure out what type of chair you'll need, we'll go over the key factors to consider. Best-Selling Chair for Most BuildingsIn the majority of cases, the fire evacuation route includes flat floors, wide staircases and no raised thresholds or other obstacles, the Evac+Chair 300H Lightweight Evacuation Chair is our most frequent and reliable recommendation.
Why Would I Need a Different Chair?There are several factors, either to do with the vulnerable individual or your building, that may require the use of a different type of chair. Below, we'll go over some of the most common factors in need of consideration, and provide some examples of the type of chairs that will accommodate these situations.
Evacuations Going Up StairsAs the Evac+Chair 300H Evacuation Chair is suitable for evacuations down stairs only, a different chair will be required for evacuations requiring stair ascension. For these evacuations, the chair must include a lifting handle at the front, as well as the capacity for safe use by two or more operators. For evacuation routes that include ascension, or both ascension and descension of stairs, we recommend the Evac+Chair 600H MK5 Evacuation Chair with Lifting Handles.
Evacuations of Larger PassengersLarger and heavier passengers may pose additional difficulties that the above chairs may not be equipped to accommodate. These patients may require a chair with a greater weight capacity, greater width, and more assistance for the operators to compensate for the additional load. In these cases, we will most often recommend the Evac+Chair 500H MK5 Bariatric Evacuation Chair.
Evacuations Down Spiral StaircasesEvacuations down unique stairs like spiral staircases or those with tight turns around cramped landings will not be possible with most chairs. There is only one chair in the UK suitable for the descent of spiral stairs in an emergency: the Evac+Chair IBEX TranSeat 700H Evacuation Chair for Spiral Staircases.
Evacuations Down Narrow StaircasesOlder buildings will often pose problems during an evacuation to do with restricted spaces; primarily narrow staircases. In this case, we recommend the slimmest chair for both easy manoeuvrability and compact storage, the Evac+Chair 110 Narrow Staircase Evacuation Chair.
Evacuations Over Raised Thresholds or ObstaclesAny amount of lifting on your evacuation route will require a chair with lifting handles, even small lifts over raised lips and thresholds that wheels can catch on. these evacuations will require the need for a second operator for additional power and directional guidance, making the Evac+Chair 600H MK5 Evacuation Chair with Lifting Handles our preferred option.
Evacuations Up Stairs Requiring Mechanical AssistanceEvacuations up long flights of stairs will be difficult to carry out for most operators, and in these cases motorised assistance is recommended. An evacuation chair with powered ascent is also recommended if the trained operators in your premises may lack the strength to safely carry the passenger up a flight of stairs. In these cases, we recommend the Evac+Chair 900H Power Evacuation Chair with Motor Assistance for both ascent and descent.
Evacuations Over Large Flat AreasIn large spaces such as warehouses, that will require the traversal of long stretches of flat ground on the way to an evacuation point, a transit evacuation chair will be necessary. These chairs must be versatile enough to allow quick and efficient transport on flat ground, while also having the capability to descend any staircases that may be in the evacuation path. An ideal option in these cases is the Evacusafe Tri-Wheel Folding Evacuation Transit Wheelchair Mk 2.
Evacuations Down Steep StairsAs many evacuation chairs will rely on friction tracks to control their descent down stairs, it's important to consider whether your stair angle is compatible with the chair you choose. Standard evacuation chairs (especially those designed for single-operator use) will often accommodate a maximum stair angle of 40°. For steeper angles, we recommend a chair with handles at the front, as additional operators can assist with controlling the stability of the chair, as well as the speed of descent. For steeper stairs, we recommend the Evac+Chair 600H Evacuation Chair with Lifting Handles.
Still Need Help Deciding?We understand that outfitting your premises with the correct evacuation chairs can be difficult, and it's not a decision that should be taken lightly. If you'd like to take a look at all of the chairs we have available in order to make the most informed decision possible, please take a look at our full selection of Evacuation Chairs, where we've taken the time to evaluate them based on suitability for different buildings, patients and other considerations. |
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