Guide

How is a fire drill run, and what does it measure?

A drill is a measurement, not a display: time, behaviour and whether the systems actually work are measured.

What is measured

Evacuation time, the time to complete the roll call at the assembly point, whether the alarm is heard from every point, whether emergency lighting works, whether exits are clear, whether teams know their duties and whether communication works. A drill that is not measured teaches nothing, however dutifully it is performed.

Realism

A drill everyone knows about, with an announced time, measures the best case. Running at least one unannounced drill shows the plan in real conditions. An unannounced drill is still planned with its safety measures.

Varying the scenario

If every drill uses the same scenario, only that scenario is learned. A different starting point, a blocked exit or a night shift tests the plan's real resilience.

Afterwards

The output of a drill is not a report but corrective action. Every gap found is tied to a task with an owner and a date and checked at the next drill.

In Optifora

The emergency module keeps the drill record with its times and attendance; it turns gaps into tasks and carries them to the next drill's agenda.

  1. Choose the scenarioDecide which scenario this drill will test.
  2. Plan the safetyTake measures so the drill itself creates no risk.
  3. Set up measurementDecide who measures times, roll call and system checks.
  4. Run itCarry out the drill as planned and record observations.
  5. Derive the gapsWrite every measured gap with an owner and a date.
  6. Close and repeatOnce gaps close, repeat with a different scenario.

Manage this in Optifora

Optifora is not a single program but a compliance platform assembled from modules. The catalogue states which module is ready today and which is on the roadmap.

See what Optifora is