Shelter in Place

PAFA’s Security & Operations Department have developed a shelter-in-place plan in the event of a natural or man-made disaster that may prohibit students, staff and visitors from leaving the building.

This plan is the official guide on how to respond in the event that a Shelter-In-Place command is given. The main objective is to move students and staff to designated safe locations until the disaster is declared over.  The plan is implemented when directed by the police and/or fire department or another federal, state or local agency.

The Philadelphia Fire Code requires various buildings to develop a plan to shelter occupants inside the building in the event of a hazardous material, biological, or other emergency outside the building. The purpose of the shelter- in-place is to safeguard occupants during an emergency outside the building by preventing or limiting the infiltration of hazardous materials into the building by closing doors, shutting off air handling/HVAC systems and moving occupants away from perimeter windows and doors to safer locations in the building.

Where possible these locations will be near restrooms. Once a year there will be a shelter-in-place drill conducted to ensure occupants know what to do and where to go in an emergency.

Contents

1 Procedures

2 Shelter Locations

  • 2.1 Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building

  • 2.2 Historic Landmark Building

3 Physically Disabled Persons

4 All Clear

5 Annual Shelter-In-Place Drill

  • 5.1 Building Staff Procedures

  • 5.1.1 Operations & Security Department

  • 5.1.2 Operations

  • 5.1.3 Security

  • 5.2 All-Clear Signal

  • 5.3 Operations Department

Procedures

The Security & Operations Department will announce via the Alertnow emergency notification system and public address system when a shelter-in- place emergency is occurring.

Security will recall the elevators to the lobby level by manually initiating a recall via the keyed override switches behind the desk in the Lobby. They will also close and lock all outside doors at the lobby level and loading dock. Please note that in accordance with City Fire Code, all fire exit doors will be accessible for egress.

Stair tower doors will be unlocked during the emergency to allow for inter floor travel. In some types of emergencies occupants in the lower levels will be directed to the upper floors to avoid possible exposure to outside contaminants that are heavier than air.

The Operations staff will shut down all air handling equipment and close all outside air dampers. Security & Operations personnel will monitor the emergency and will be provide updates to the building occupants via the public address system.

Shelter Locations

Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building

FloorRoom3Digital Lab
Kitchen4Faculty Lounge
Room 467
Room 4696Crit Room7Wood Shop9Advanced Still Life & Crit Room10Room 1023

Historic Landmark Building

FloorRoomBasementSecurity Office and Surrounding Area

Physically Disabled Persons

Security personnel shall ensure that those with a physical disability be assisted to their shelter location.

All Clear

When notified that the emergency is over, Security & Operations personnel will direct all occupants via the public address system to evacuate the building until the building air handling systems are operated to remove any contaminates.

Annual Shelter-In-Place Drill

The annual shelter-in-place drill will be scheduled through the Security & Operations office. Please note that a full building evacuation is not required during the annual drill.

Building Staff Procedures

Operations & Security Department

Control Room officer will announce over the two-way radio that the Shelter in Place Plan has been activated by the City of Philadelphia. All building personnel are to report to their designed areas.

Operations & Security will monitor the emergency and will provide updates to the building occupants via the public address system.

Operations

Director of Operations or the Senior Maintenance Mechanic will secure all HVAC and ventilation equipment via the HVAC Computer Control System.

Security

Director of Security or Security Supervisor from the Fire Command Panel will make the following announcement by activating the “ALL TALK” switch:

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE. 

DUE TO AN EMERGENCY OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HAS DIRECTED 128 N. N BROAD STREET TO IMPLEMENT OUR SHELTER IN PLACE PLAN. 

PLEASE PROCEED TO YOUR DESIGNATED SHELTER LOCATION AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. 

(REPEAT MESSAGE AGAIN)

Security Officer will recall all elevators to the lobby level by manually via the keyed override switches behind the Hamilton Lobby security desk.

Security Officers will lock all outside doors not designated as fire exits at the ground floor lobby and loading dock.

All-Clear Signal

When notified that the emergency is over, the Director of Security or Security Supervisor will make the following announcement from the Fire Command Panel at the lobby desk:

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, MAY I HAVE YOU ATTENTION PLEASE. THE EMERGENCY OUTSIDE THE BUILDING IS OVER AND THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS ALL CLEAR.

ALL BUILDING OCCUPANTS ARE NOW DIRECTED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING.

ELEVATORS ARE BEING PLACED BACK IN SERVICE AT THIS TIME.

(REPEAT MESSAGE AGAIN)

The Security Officer will restore all elevators to normal service in order to assist with the building evacuation. Security will ensure that no one is allowed back into the building until the Operations staff grants approval.

Operations Department

After the building occupants have evacuated the building, the Director of Operations or Senior Maintenance Mechanic will start the building HVAC and ventilation systems in order to flush any contaminants from the building.