FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURES

Horsmonden Social Club Booking Terms and Conditions

Approved at Horsmonden Social Club Committee Meeting on 1st July 2025
Review date 30th June 2026

 

Which property do these Fire Evacuation Procedures apply to?

These Fire Evacuation Procedures apply to The Institute Building, Green Road, Horsmonden, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 8JS (the “Premises”), owned by Horsmonden Parish Council and occupied by Horsmonden Social Club (“HSC”).

 

Who do these Fire Evacuation Procedures apply to?

These Fire Evacuation Procedures apply to all committee members of HSC (“Committee Members”), any person working at the bar inside the Premises (Bar Volunteer), all members of HSC (Club Members), any person who has booked an event or function at the Premises (“Event Organiser”) and all visitors to the Premises, including guests invited by the Event Organiser (“Visitors”).

All Committee Members, Bar Volunteers, Club Members and Event Organisers are required to read and familiarise themselves fully with these procedures.
Event Organisers are responsible for ensuring that all guests they have invited to their event/function are provided with a copy of the procedures and asked to familiarise themselves with them.
 

Sound of the alarm

The sound of the alarm will be a continuous warning siren.

 

Raising the alarm

If a fire is discovered by the Event Organiser, a Committee Member, Club Member or a Visitor, they must immediately inform one of the Bar Volunteers, working behind the bar at the Premises.

If a Bar Volunteer discovers a fire, or if a Committee Member, Club Member, or a Visitor notifies a Bar Volunteer of a fire, the Bar Volunteer must raise the alarm, without delay, by activation of the alarm on the alarm panel in the front lobby, or commencing manual warning (whistle, shout, etc.).

A fire detected by automatic detectors will trigger the fire alarm.

 

Action to be taken on hearing the alarm

The following actions should be taken on hearing the alarm:
  • The Bar Volunteer who has been notified of (or who discovered) the fire will take charge of and lead in the fire evacuation, immediately sounding the alarm if it has not already been sounded and dialling 999 to request the Fire Service – providing them with their name, the address of the Premises (as above), contact number and details of the fire.
  • All Club Members, Committee Members, Bar Volunteers, the Event Organiser and Visitors will evacuate the Premises in a calm and orderly manner, aiding those needing additional help in evacuating.
  • Bar Volunteers (assisted by Committee Members if present) will carry out a sweep of the Premises to ensure all areas of the Premises are clear (including the kitchen, both toilets, snooker room and cellar) if safe to do so, and ensure all doors are closed on the way out
  • If safe to do, electrical mains (fuse box in the front lobby) should be switched off before leaving the building.
  • No person shall be permitted to re-enter the Premises until it has been confirmed that it is safe to do so by the Fire Service.
  • All Visitors, Club Members, Committee Members and Bar Volunteers must go to the Fire Assembly Point. (On the Green, opposite the Premises).
  • Bar Volunteers and any Committee Members present will check that all Committee Members, Club Members, Bar Volunteers and Visitors are accounted for. If the evacuation has taken place during an organised event the Club Member who booked the event will assist with this process.
  • Bar Volunteers and a Committee Member (if any present) will liaise with Fire Service upon their arrival, informing them of the presence and location of gas cylinders (in the cellar) and generally assist by providing as much relevant information as possible.

 

Escape routes

The escape routes from the building are:

  1. Via the snooker room door
  2. Main front door(The exit door in the kitchen is not a designated escape route. Persons located in the kitchen at the time that a fire alarm is sounded may leave the building via the kitchen exit door. However, all other persons in the Premises should leave via one of the two escape routes designated above).

 

Fire assembly point

The assembly point is on the green opposite the Premises.

 

Fighting fires – Extinguisher use

The fire extinguisher is located in the front lobby. Fire extinguishers should only be used:

  • by persons who have received training and feel confident in their use, and
  • where and when it is safe to do so, for example where there is a clear means of escape or the fire is small.

Personal safety always takes priority and, if in any doubt, staff or visitors should not attempt to extinguish a fire.

 

Location of key safety hazards or other fire related equipment

  • Fire extinguisher: Front lobby
  • Mains fuse box: In cupboard in front lobby
  • Mains water inlet:   Snooker room
  • Gas/oxygen cylinders:   Cellar
  • Location of fire alarm panel: Front lobby