The University of Sheffield
Information Commons

What you should know BEFORE an emergency

  • Find out where the fire exits are. In an emergency, your nearest safe exit may not be your usual way in and out of the building.

  • Your fire assembly point is the CiCS Computing Centre car park – opposite the IC Main Entrance.

  • There is a fire alarm test at 10:00 every Monday morning. The alarm should sound for no more than 30 seconds. If the alarm sounds for longer, evacuate immediately and report to your fire assembly point.

  • We have a drill every year in the first few weeks of the new academic year.

  • If you do not take your UCard with you when you evacuate the building, please inform a member of IC staff when you are allowed back in as you will not be able to get through the entry gate.

What to do IN an emergency


If you discover a fire:

  1. Sound the alarm.
    There are break-glass call points situated around the building.

  2. Inform the emergency control centre of the location of the fire.
    Either dial 4444 from an internal phone or ask a member of IC staff to do it.

  3. Leave by the nearest safe exit.
    This may not be your usual way in and out of the building. Do not stop to collect belongings; do not use the lifts.

  4. Report to your fire assembly point.
    The CiCS Computing Centre car park opposite the IC Main Entrance.

  5. Do not re-enter the building until you are told to do so.

If you hear the alarm:

  1. Leave by the nearest safe exit.
    This may not be your usual way in and out of the building.

  2. Do not stop to collect your belongings.


  3. Do not use the lifts.


  4. Report to your fire assembly point.
    The CiCS Computing Centre car park opposite the IC Main Entrance.

  5. Do not re-enter the building until you are told to do so.

If you need assistance to evacuate the IC

Go to the nearest refuge point, situated in the lift lobby areas on each level, and follow the instructions displayed above the refuge communications system. You will be evacuated from the building when the response team arrives. See the link below for full details: The safe evacuation of people who require assistance to leave the building relies fundamentally on sufficient trained staff being available when the alarm is raised. During certain `out of hours´ periods access will be restricted. See the statement from Safety Services for full details: