Claire Blakemore, the new MD of Evac+Chair, discusses how innovative solutions, training and annual maintenance can ensure safe evacuation for everyone in an emergency
The selection of an appropriate evacuation chair requires careful consideration and a thorough assessment of both the building, its evacuation route(s) and any PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) or GEEPs (General Emergency Evacuation Plans) that are in place, to ensure safety and compliance.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, amended by The Fire Safety Act in 2021, stipulates that the designated responsible person must take reasonable steps to ensure everyone can evacuate in the event of an emergency.
Employers must ensure that their commercial building meets the required standards by conducting regular fire risk assessments, informing all employees of the identified risks and maintaining the appropriate measures to minimise these.
Installing the correct Evac+Chair helps to meet these legal obligations and assists in the protection of employees and visitors; should an emergency evacuation occur.
Firefighters can take 30 minutes to assist with an evacuation, however, the correct Evac+Chair can evacuate a 24-story building in just 14 minutes*.
Evac+Chairs are proven to be the safest and fastest method of evacuation for those who require assistance; which includes individuals with permanent, invisible or temporary mobility impairments; such as pregnancy or mental health conditions.
Evacuation assessments
Evac+Chair provides complimentary evacuation assessments, conducted by their team of nationwide experienced and dedicated specialists.
It evaluates the needs of any employees who have a PEEP including their weight, height and medical condition, as well as assessing safety and usability; particularly concerning training.
The assessment considers the type of evacuation; ascent, descent or a combination, stair configuration and evacuation route(s), potential obstacles, refuge and assembly points.
Additionally, it is imperative that the Evac+Chair is fitted with the correct belts, to ensure the evacuation chair operates correctly.
The type of belts required is dependent on the staircase nosing material, also identified during the assessment.
Quality and reliability
Evac+Chair is a proud UK manufacturer and has been designing and producing innovative life safety products for over 40 years.
Based in the West Midlands, in a state-of-the-art headquarters and utilising world-class technologies and processes; Evac+Chair is committed to ensuring its products meet the highest quality standards, are fit-for-purpose and right first time.
Be fully prepared
After purchasing an Evac+Chair(s), the first step is to install the evacuation chair(s) at the designated evacuation points within your building.
This ensures that the Evac+Chair is readily accessible in case of an emergency.
Training: Certified training is essential to ensure that your Evac+Chair can be operated safely and effectively.
Evac+Chair offers industry-leading training courses across the UK, conducted by a team of highly skilled in-house and experienced trainers.
Courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of your environment and personnel, aiming to build confidence and competence in operating your Evac+Chair and therefore being fully prepared should an emergency evacuation occur.
Maintenance: As a Class 1 Medical Device, an Evac+Chair requires annual servicing and maintenance to ensure its safe operation, as outlined in the PUWER Regulation.
Evac+Chair offers 1-, 3- and 5-year maintenance contracts, conducted by their nationwide in-house service team.
The Evac+Chair service team will inspect your evacuation chair(s) and replace any worn parts with genuine replacements, that no other third party can supply.
Annual maintenance is crucial to ensuring your Evac+Chair(s) will be fully operational in an emergency.
Plan: Having an evacuation plan that includes either a General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) or a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) will help ensure should the worst happen; you will be fully prepared to evacuate everyone.
These plans are crucial as they ensure that everyone knows what to do in an emergency, including trained personnel such as Fire Marshalls and operators of assistive equipment.
The plan should be regularly practiced, tested and adapted (if required), therefore ensuring lives will be protected.
Interview with Claire Blakemore
Congrats on the new role – what drew you to Evac+Chair?
I’ve always been immersed in industries focused on helping people, particularly through product management.
My career began at a company that produces rehabilitation equipment which instilled in me a passion for creating solutions that genuinely enhance people’s lives.
As my career evolved, I transitioned from product management to leading businesses.
My roles have consistently aligned with my interest in industries that protect, rescue, and support people, often in critical situations.
When I met Ges Wallace, the former MD of Evac+Chair, his passion for the company and the people it helps was so genuine.
It’s hard to say no to a role where you can see the direct impact of the products you’re involved with.
Evac+Chair is a company with a strong culture, a solid philosophy, and products that truly make a difference in times of crisis.
That resonates deeply with me.
I’ve always been drawn to environments where we can provide innovative solutions to real problems.
The products we create at Evac+Chair International are not just highly engineered; they’re lifesaving.
It’s incredibly meaningful to work on something that goes beyond profit—something that genuinely helps people in their most vulnerable moments.
This gives a profound sense of purpose, which I find crucial in any role.
I truly believe that every building with stairs should have an Evac+Chair.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to escape safely, not just those of us who are able-bodied.
In emergencies, it’s often every person for themselves, but we need to ensure that equipment is available so that everyone can escape safely and in a timely manner.
I’m genuinely passionate about this because I’ve seen firsthand how people with physical impairments are often considered last in emergency situations.
I know that people in wheelchairs are often at the bottom of the priority list during evacuations.
That’s something I find morally unacceptable.
It’s our duty to make businesses aware of the importance of providing products like Evac+Chair.
We all know someone who might need this—whether it’s a parent, a friend, or a colleague.
Ensuring their safety shouldn’t be an afterthought; it should be a priority.
What are your initial priorities as the new MD of Evac+Chair?
Continuing the excellent work the team has already accomplished and amplifying our efforts to raise awareness—not just of our brand, but more importantly, of the critical need for our solutions.
The team has done a phenomenal job, and I see an opportunity to push even further by engaging more actively with governmental bodies.
Our goal is to advocate for increased investment in safety solutions like ours, not because businesses are reluctant, but because there is often a lack of awareness about the importance of these products.
I believe it’s our responsibility to educate and inform both businesses and end-users about the vital role these solutions play in ensuring everyone’s safety.
How do you plan to drive the continued growth of Evac+Chair around the world?
Our plan to drive the continued growth of Evac+Chair, both in the UK and overseas, is focused on a few key strategies.
First and foremost, our mission is to raise awareness that our products aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re a must-have.
It’s crucial to emphasise both the moral and legal responsibilities that come with ensuring safety, and our goal is to make more people aware of this need.
To support this, we’re committed to ongoing investment in our business, starting with our people.
We aim to be the employer of choice in our industry by fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
By continuously investing in our team, we can ensure that we remain at the forefront of safety solutions.
Another critical area of focus is our commitment to manufacturing in the UK.
We’re incredibly proud that our products are made here, and we want to continue that tradition.
To sustain and grow our UK manufacturing, we need to expand our sales, both domestically and internationally.
We’re actively seeking to build more partnerships, not just in the UK but across the globe.
We’re committed to growing our presence in the UK, but also in Europe, the Middle East, and the US, where we already have a strong foothold.
We believe in the superior quality of our products and the value of supporting UK manufacturing, and our goal is to establish Evac+Chair as a leading British-made product in markets worldwide.