 | Fire protection involves protecting employees through preventive measures in the Hubs and headquarters, as well as educating employees on what to do in the case of a fire. |
Processes
Fire equipment
All hubs are equipped with fire equipment. Depending on the size of your hub and location, you will be equipped with different fire equipment and in different amounts. These include fire extinguishers and emergency exit signage.
Note: Both fire extinguishers and emergency exits should always be freely accessible and unobstructed. Fire extinguishers needs 1m² free space at all times.
Fire extinguishers
Brandslanghaspel / Fire hose reel - directly connected to the water supply.
Blusdeken / Fire blanket - this should be close to your kitchen area.
What type of fires can we use the blusdeken for?
Fire blankets are usually used for putting out small fires in or around the kitchen and are particularly useful for Class F fires involving cooking oils. They can also be used for waste bin fires and to extinguish clothing fires.
Schuim Blusser / Foam Extinguisher AB Extinguisher / AB blusserWhat type of fires can we use the AB extinguisher for?
Class A extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles including wood, cloth, rubber, paper, as well as many plastic materials.
Class B extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, oils and other similar substances.
Important note:
In case of a BATTERY FIRE, do not attempt to put the fire out! Your battery cabinet is designed to contain the fire. Call 112 and evacuate the building immediately!
Emergency exit signage
All hubs should have an emergency exit. They should also be equipped with emergency signage.
You should be able to see an emergency exit sign from anywhere in your hub.
If you suspect that you do not have enough signage in your hub, raise a ticket here.
Battery safety and management of your cabinet
See more about it here.
Escape and Rescue Plan
What is an escape and rescue plan?
An escape and rescue plan is designed to simplify the communication of critical information about escape routes, rescue pathways, evacuation protocols, and firefighting equipment in public or commercial buildings. The plan uses minimal text to ensure clarity and ease of understanding for everyone, including non-native speakers.
Escape Routes and Escape doors need to always be kept free! 🔥
Why is an escape and rescue plan important?
It is a crucial component of a facility’s safety equipment and serves as an integral part of fire safety documentation. By helping occupants understand the escape routes, it complements the overall safety guidance system and enhances preparedness in case of emergencies.
Components of an escape and rescue plan
The plan consists of two primary elements:
Emergency floor plan: a visual map showing escape routes, emergency exits, and locations of safety equipment.
Evacuation plan: a detailed document outlining evacuation procedures, roles, and responsibilities.
NEN regulations for printing and placing emergency floor plans:
Printing standards:
Use durable materials, such as laminated paper or weatherproof plastic, to ensure longevity.
Floorplans should be printed in A3 size for better visibility, though A4 may suffice for smaller spaces.
Follow NEN 1414 guidelines for standardized symbols, colors, and layout.
Placement Requirements:
Emergency floor plans must be displayed at eye level (approximately 1.5 meters from the ground).
Plans should be placed in at least two separate areas in each hub, ensuring they are unobstructed and always accessible.
Install emergency floor plans near entrances, exits, and key areas like stairwells and corridors.
NEN regulations for updating and storing evacuation plans
Updating plans:
Evacuation plans must be updated regularly, especially after changes to the building layout, staffing, or safety protocols.
All updates should include accurate details of escape routes, new first aiders (BHV’ers), and the latest safety equipment locations.
Re-print and redistribute updated plans to ensure compliance and accessibility.
Storing plans:
A clearly marked folder containing the evacuation plan (in both English and Dutch) must be kept at the Shift Lead’s desk.
The folder should also include printed copies of the BHV certificates for trained first-aiders.
Digital copies of the evacuation plans and emergency floor plans should be stored in dedicated folders (e.g., "Evacuation Plans NL" or "Emergency Floor Plans").
Additional guidelines for hubs
Each hub must have at least one BHV vest, to be worn by the main first aider during emergencies.
Use Quinyx to perform a headcount of all working employees. You can log in with your personal account to view the daily work roster. When external workers (e.g., Lekkerland, Securitas, Saval, or others) are working in the hub, they should clock in on Quinyx using one of the three guest accounts.
Emergency evacuations should be practiced at least once every 12 months, but more frequent drills are encouraged.
For new aluminum frames for emergency floor plans, order via Coupa.
Contacts for assistance
For updates to emergency floor plans: [email protected]
For other information regarding evacuation plans: [email protected]
By following these guidelines and ensuring compliance with NEN 1414 and related standards, your facility can maintain a safe, organized, and prepared environment for emergencies.
Important links
You can access the evacuation plans of all hubs on the evacuation plans NL folder. This plan should regularly be updated and re-printed when you have new first-aiders.
You can access the emergency floor plans on the emergency floor plans folder.
Example of a correct and incorrect emergency exit.
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Concept Emergency floor plan:
Evacuation exercise guidelines
Find here the Evacuation training results for 2024.
Emergency exit door requirements
Test your emergency exit door regularly to ensure it opens up easily.
Emergency exit doors must open towards the outside always.
If an emergency exit is shared, it should remain open and accessible at all times for all parties using the exit. If this is not the case and doors are locked by third parties, either speak to the landlord (via Marc Fabels) or see to replace it with an alternative emergency exit.
Each hub should at least have 1 emergency exit, this can also be the front door. 2 emergency exits are preferred at opposite sides of the building.
Emergency exit doors should never be blocked (on either sides of the door) and are not allowed to have doorstep (people with disabilities should at all times be able to leave the building).
Emergency exit doors are not allowed to be locked with a key and should have an easy to operate opening system (turn knob or magnetic lock).
Doors must be at least 85cm in width.
One exit door per 50 occupants. Exit door being at least 30m away from any given point in the building.
Hubs facilitating TGTG it is advised to have 2 emergency exits.
FAQ
To order fire extinguishers, fire blankets or to replace first-aid box supplies, create a ticket here.
Why is it important?
Every employer is obliged to take all necessary measures to protect its employees at work (§3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act). For fire protection, this means planning, taking and monitoring measures that are required in particular in the event of fires occurring.
The employer needs the support of every employee in this, not only in the Hub and headquarters, but also from all visitors to both locations. It is important to always be at work in an alert state and to be able to act correctly in case of any abnormal event, smells or noises so that personal injuries are prevented.
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