Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

There are still non-standing charges tariffs around. For extremely light users such as myself, standing charges are very inequitable. I use 2-3 (never go over 3) kwH per 24 hours and am with E b i c o via SSE. Averaged £2.90 per week in 2015 for electricity and 83p a week for the gas cooker.

Mind you, I cook and boil the tea kettle on the gas and have very highly efficiency rated fridge, tabletop freezer and washer.

[Deleted User]

NewShadow wrote: »

You would be the one not complying by ignoring the instructions to remain where you were.

Once the evacuation signal he's been sounded, it cannot be countermanded

You can only return to work, once the roll call has been taken, everyone accounted for, and the alarm has been verified as a false alarm.

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

As it stands my electricity bill looks like plummeting from £567 annually to only £266 a year.

My electricity bill in < £180 a year.

I bet you never expected to see a man, announcing that his is smaller than yours.

maryb

But until the evacuation signal is sounded you are supposed to stay at work. The first signal is just to put you on notice. No-one is saying they wouldn't get the hell out if it turned to a full evacuation alarm. But I think a lot of people wonder if they can trust their employer not to automatically sound the stay at work alarm rather than the evacuate alarm, which might need higher authority from someone who may not be around.

I was at a meeting in Docklands once when I was 8 months pregnant. They had a fire drill and we were on the 16th floor. I couldn't easily see my feet and walking down that many stairs was very stressful. But what really struck me was how slow it was for those on the upper floors. It sounds like NewShadows's office have sensible arrangements to evacuate floor by floor so you don't end up with gridlock on the landings - but which floor goes first?

Karmacat

Frugalsod wrote: »

For those who have suffered devastation from Storm Katie our thoughts are with you.

Hmmm. I've deleted the photos cos not doing so would take up a lot of space in the thread. And I'm not finding them funny.

My roof has been trashed. Porch roof has been trashed. Two fences are down. Sister's roof also trashed.

NewShadow

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Once the evacuation signal he's been sounded, it cannot be countermanded

You can only return to work, once the roll call has been taken, everyone accounted for, and the alarm has been verified as a false alarm.

I get the impression we're disagreeing, but I can't tell what about.

The situation was that an alert was sounded but no to evacuate.

I'm not sure if the confusion relates to the procedures in our respective workplaces.

We have three alarms (well more, but three basic ones)

1. Be aware an incident has been reported in the building. please stay calm and await further instructions.

2. An incident has been reported in the building. please leave the building by the nearest available exit

3. An incident has been reported in the building. If safe to do so, please evacuate via the (direction) exit.

These alerts can be zoned by core and floor, so in the event of an incident it's important to comply to ensure you're not heading towards the incident.

You indicated if the alarm went off, and the instruction was to remain where you are, you would immediately exit the building - that is contra to instruction.

I agreed I would do the same if I had heard or felt what I thought was an explosion.


As for going to the coffee shop in the second example - in the scenario we were told explicitly it was a drill, and it is not against my workplace's policy to leave the muster location after reporting in and ensuring your line manager knows where you're going - this allows for first aid and resilience plans to be implemented in an actual emergency.

NewShadow

maryb wrote: »

but which floor goes first?

If it's a fire, the floor with the fire, then the one's directly above and below, then the ones above.

We have stairwells in each core, plus 2 maintenance stairs in the middle of the floor, so they can direct people down different stairs in waves.

All people with limited mobility have personal evacuation plans - either a specific place to wait for a marshall or a designated buddy - to help them out of the building.

maryb

Sounds as if it has been thought through quite well NewShadow. But the cynic in me wonders whether a large financial organisation still wouldn't leave it as late as possible before sounding the evacuation.

One building I worked in had a C osta in the lobby. I'd be tempted to just be happening to go down to get a coffee if the stay at your desk alarm sounded

Frugalsod

GreyQueen wrote: »

There are still non-standing charges tariffs around. For extremely light users such as myself, standing charges are very inequitable. I use 2-3 (never go over 3) kwH per 24 hours and am with E b i c o via SSE. Averaged £2.90 per week in 2015 for electricity and 83p a week for the gas cooker.

Mind you, I cook and boil the tea kettle on the gas and have very highly efficiency rated fridge, tabletop freezer and washer.

I have just signed up for a twelve month dual fuel deal so once I have settled in and got through a winter I will have a better guide as to switching next year.

In a few weeks I will be getting a new washing machine and I think that the evidence is pointing towards me getting as an efficient washer as possible. I am not bothering with a washer dryer as they compromise too much to get the best of both worlds but not excel in any way.

As for heating I have my ceramic hot water bottles and these work a treat. I also have my tea light heaters and it if it gets really cold I will light them.

Siebrie

Due to the disruption in Brussels, and some banks having a bank holiday on Friday and Monday, my monthly salary will reach my bank account five days late. We are fine, and I assume most people here would be fine. Am I right?