How it Works in Stairwells (Interior/Exterior) & Elevator Landings
An area of refuge is a designated area in a building for assisted rescue during an emergency. The concept was established to provide a location for building occupants, who cannot traverse the stairs without assistance, to assemble and await for help or instructions by first responders.
While the function of the area doesn’t change, the location and terminology used sometimes does. The safe location, in interior stairwells, elevator landings, or building exteriors, can be referred to as an ‘Area of Refuge’, ‘Area of Rescue Assistance’ or ‘Elevator Landing Two-Way Emergency Communication’
Stairwells
The “Area of Refuge” or “Area of Rescue Assistance” concept was established to provide a location for building occupants who cannot traverse the stairs without assistance to assemble and await for help or instructions by first responders.
Person in the Stairwell
(Call Box)
- Andrea is in the stairwell and pushes the emergency button on the Call Box
- The call first rings at the Central Control Point (Base Station) and, if not answered, will transfer to a location staffed 24 hours a day by emergency personnel
- Andrea will hear audible dialing and a location message (plays when the call is answered) along with a visual indicator confirming that the call has been received
- Once the location message has played, two-way communication will occur
- The calling party in the stairwell cannot stop the call once the button has been pressed; only the called party can terminate the communication
Person at the Central Control Point
(Base Station)
- Kelly hears an audible signal that a Call Box is activated
- When she looks at the Base Station, she can see that the Call Box on the fourth floor is activated. She can lift the handset and press the lighted button to speak to Andrea
- Kelly has several options at this time:
- Speak to the calling party for as long as is required
- Put the call on hold, call for additional help, then reconnect with the calling party when she is ready to talk again
- Speak to all Call Boxes to ask if anyone else is trapped
- The call can only be terminated by Kelly
Stairwell required signs state ‘Area of Refuge’
Elevator Landings
The “Area of Refuge” or “Area of Rescue Assistance” concept was established to provide a location for building occupants who cannot traverse the stairs without assistance to assemble and await for help or instructions by first responders.
Person in the Elevator Landing
(Call Box)
- Andrea is in the elevator landing and pushes the emergency button on the Call Box
- The call first rings at the Central Control Point (Base Station) and, if not answered, will transfer to a location staffed 24 hours a day by emergency personnel
- Andrea will hear audible dialing and a location message (plays when the call is answered) along with a visual indicator confirming that the call has been received
- Once the location message has played, two-way communication will occur
- The calling party in the elevator landing cannot stop the call once the button has been pressed; only the called party can terminate the communication
Elevator Landing required signs state ‘Emergency Communication’
Person at the Central Control Point
(Base Station)
- Kelly hears an audible signal that a Call Box is activated
- When she looks at the Base Station, she can see that the Call Box on the fourth floor is activated. She can lift the handset and press the lighted button to speak to Andrea
- Kelly has several options at this time:
- Speak to the calling party for as long as is required
- Put the call on hold, call for additional help, then reconnect with the calling party when she is ready to talk again
- Speak to all Call Boxes to ask if anyone else is trapped
- The call can only be terminated by Kelly
Elevator Landing required signs state ‘Emergency Communication’
Exterior Stairwells
Area of Refuge Two-Way Communication System
The “Area of Refuge” or “Area of Rescue Assistance” concept was established to provide a location for building occupants who cannot traverse the stairs without assistance to assemble and await for help or instructions by first responders.
Person in the Exterior Stairwell
(Call Box)
- Andrea is in the exterior stairwell and pushes the emergency button on the Call Box
- The call first rings at the Central Control Point (Base Station) and, if not answered, will transfer to a location staffed 24 hours a day by emergency personnel
- Andrea will hear audible dialing and a location message (plays when the call is answered) along with a visual indicator confirming that the call has been received
- Once the location message has played, two-way communication will occur
- The calling party in the exterior stairwell cannot stop the call once the button has been pressed; only the called party can terminate the communication
Exterior Stairwell required signs state ‘Area of Rescue Assistance’
Person at the Central Control Point
(Base Station)
- Kelly hears an audible signal that a Call Box is activated
- When she looks at the Base Station, she can see that the Call Box on the first floor is activated. She can lift the handset and press the lighted button to speak to Andrea
- Kelly has several options at this time:
- Speak to the calling party for as long as is required
- Put the call on hold, call for additional help, then reconnect with the calling party when she is ready to talk again
- Speak to all Call Boxes to ask if anyone else is trapped
- The call can only be terminated by Kelly
Exterior Stairwell required signs state ‘Area of Rescue Assistance’
