Evacuation Procedures

The scripted, written, and preplanned procedure of how an audience in a specific venue is to exit during an emergence (especially a fire or other disaster). Venue staff must be trained and regularly practice their evacuation procedures in order to ensure proper functionality of the procedure in the event of an actual emergency. In general terms an evacuation procedure has the house managment staff and ushers directing the audience to imeadiatly exit the facility through spicific hallways and exit doors in a calm and orderly fashion. Often times patrons with movement disabilities are escorted out first as a logistical concern.

In many cases a facility’s evacuation procedures may need to be approved or reviewed by their Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ); often a fire marshal, or the venues insurance provider.