F-89 Emergency Action Plan (EAPD) / Fire Safety Director (FSD) Practice Exam

What is a key flaw in the EAP's system of designating primary and alternate stairwells?

1. The stairwells cannot accommodate large crowds

2. The populations on floors vary

3. Stairwells may become blocked during an emergency

4. One stairwell may be designated for elevators

The correct answer is: The populations on floors vary

The selection that identifies a key flaw in the EAP's system of designating primary and alternate stairwells corresponds to the variation in populations on different floors. In buildings, the number of occupants can significantly differ from one floor to another due to factors like number of offices, apartments, or other uses. This disparity may lead to one stairwell being overwhelmed by evacuees, while the alternate stairwell may have an insufficient number of users to clear safely. A well-structured emergency evacuation plan must consider these population variations to effectively manage the flow of people during an evacuation, ensuring that the designated stairwells can be utilized efficiently without creating bottlenecks. This understanding highlights that the dynamic nature of occupancy on each floor plays a critical role in the success of an emergency evacuation strategy, emphasizing the need for flexibility and efficacy in designating stairwells to facilitate orderly and safe escapes in emergencies.