Evacuation Chair Instructors Course

What's Included

Your course fee includes everything you need for a productive training day:

• Experienced Instructors - manufacturer-certified tutors with 25+ years of fire safety experience

• Evacuation Chair Equipment - hands-on practice with Elite Emergency Evacuation Chairs

• Training Manikins - Ruth Lee rescue manikins for realistic passenger evacuation practice

• Course Materials - reference documentation and training resources

• CPD Certificate - accredited by Exitmaster and the CPD Standards Office (valid 5 years)

• Phoenix STS Training Certificate - certification as a trained evacuation chair instructor

• Operator Certification - staff who assist during the practical exercises are certified as trained operators

• Post-Course Support - email access to our instructors for guidance after completing the course

• Renewal Reminder Service - we'll contact you before your certificate expires to arrange refresher training

What You Need to Provide:

• A suitable training area with staircase access (for on-site delivery)
• Space for classroom-based elements
• Comfortable clothing that allows freedom of movement for practical exercises

What You'll Learn

The course covers four core areas, balancing technical knowledge with practical instructional skills.

Evacuation Chair Fundamentals

Good instruction starts with knowing the equipment. You learn the different chair types, their design features, weight capacities, and where each is suitable. The module covers how evacuation chairs work, what makes them safe, and how to choose the right chair for a building.

Safe Operating Procedures

This is the practical core of the course. You master pre-use safety checks, passenger loading and securing, braking, and manoeuvring on stairs and level surfaces. Throughout, we stress manual handling principles that protect both operator and passenger.

Risk Assessment and Emergency Protocols

Evacuation chairs are one part of a wider emergency plan. You learn to assess risks before and during an evacuation, link chair procedures with building evacuation plans, and deal with problems such as blocked routes or equipment faults.

Instructional Techniques

Operating a chair and teaching others are different skills. This module shows you how to run an engaging session, demonstrate techniques, assess trainee competence, and give useful feedback. You then deliver a mock training session and receive feedback from our instructors.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, you will be able to:

• Operate evacuation chairs safely: pre-use checks, passenger transfer, stair descent, and storage
• Explain relevant Irish legislation and best practice guidance to trainees
• Identify equipment components and perform routine inspections
• Apply safe manual handling techniques throughout the evacuation process
• Design and deliver training sessions tailored to your organisation
• Assess trainee competency and provide actionable feedback
• Conduct risk assessments for evacuation chair deployment
• Advise on chair selection and placement within buildings
• Integrate evacuation chair procedures into emergency plans

Course Programme

The 7.5-hour programme runs in two sessions. It combines classroom theory with extensive practical exercises.

Morning Session: Theory and Legislation

• Welcome and Course Overview
• Fundamentals of Evacuation and Emergency Procedures
• Irish Fire Safety Legislation Overview
• Evacuation Chair Types, Features, and Applications
• Manual Handling Principles for Safe Operation
• Equipment Components and Pre-Use Inspections

Afternoon Session: Practical Skills and Instructor Development

• Practical Demonstration: Safe Operating Techniques
• Hands-On Practice: Passenger Loading and Securing
• Hands-On Practice: Stair Descent and Level Surface Manoeuvring
• Risk Assessment for Evacuation Chair Deployment
• Instructional Techniques and Adult Learning Principles
• Mock Training Delivery with Peer and Instructor Feedback
• Assessment and Certification

Assessment

Assessment is continuous throughout the day and includes:

• Practical skills evaluation - demonstrating safe chair operation
• Mock training delivery - planning and delivering a short training session to peers
• Peer and instructor feedback - constructive review of your instructional technique

Certification and Qualifications

Upon successful completion, you receive:

• Phoenix STS Training Certificate - confirming your qualification as an evacuation chair instructor

• CPD Certificate - accredited by Exitmaster and the CPD Standards Office, worth 6 CPD hours

• Instructor Certification - valid for 5 years, authorising you to deliver evacuation chair training in-house

Refresher training is recommended every five years to keep your certification current. Staff who assist learners during the practical exercises are also certified as trained evacuation chair operators.

Our Evacuation Chair Instructor Trainers

Our instructors are experienced fire safety and training professionals. Each brings over 25 years of real-world experience. They hold memberships with recognised professional bodies:

• NAHFO - National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers
• IFE - Institution of Fire Engineers
• IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
• IIESMS - Institute of Industrial Engineers and Safety Management Systems
• IIRSM - International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
• IHEEM - Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management
• L&DI - Learning and Development Institute of Ireland

All instructors are qualified People Moving and Handling Instructors and Evacuation Equipment Instructors. They complete manufacturer-approved refresher training every three years. Each holds at least Technician (T.IIESMS) recognition with the Institute of Industrial Engineers and Safety Management Systems.

Training Methods

We use a blended approach to maximise learning:

• Structured Presentations - clear coverage of legislation, equipment types, and procedures

• Practical Demonstrations - our instructors demonstrate correct techniques before you practise, so you know exactly what good looks like

• Hands-On Exercises - extensive practice with evacuation chairs and training manikins to build muscle memory and confidence

• Mock Training Sessions - you design and deliver training to your peers and get feedback on your teaching

• Group Discussion - sharing experiences and answering questions throughout the day

Nationwide Availability

The Evacuation Chair Instructors Course is delivered on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland. We also run scheduled public courses at venues throughout the country, including our training centre in Longford.

We regularly deliver this course in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Dundalk, Longford, and every county across Ireland. We can train a single staff member or a full team.

For on-site delivery, our instructors travel to you with all the equipment. For public courses, view upcoming dates and locations or contact us for an on-site training quotation.

Related Courses and Services

Explore our other evacuation, fire safety, and health and safety training courses and consultancy services:

• Evacuation Chair Training Course - operator-level training for staff who use evacuation chairs (prerequisite for this instructor course)
• Healthcare Evacuation Equipment Instructor Course (4-Day) - a 4-day instructor qualification covering ski sheets, evacuation chairs, and all healthcare evacuation equipment
• Evacuation Equipment Training Course - practical training on ski sheets and evacuation aids for healthcare and residential care settings
• Evacuation Planning - professional evacuation planning services for workplaces, including PEEPs and fire drill management
• Compartment Fire Evacuation Drills - HIQA-compliant timed evacuation drills for nursing homes and disability services
• Fire Warden Training Course - CPD-certified fire warden and fire marshal training delivered on-site across Ireland

Using an Instructor Course Responsibly

Instructor training supports internal delivery

An instructor course helps suitable staff deliver operator-level training in their own organisation. It is not automatic proof that an attendee can train every chair type, building layout, or user group without support. The organisation still decides who is competent and what they may teach.

What a good internal instructor needs

Internal instructors need more than confidence with the chair. They should understand local emergency arrangements and manual handling limits. They should know how to coach safely, stop unsafe practice, record attendance and competence, and escalate equipment or route problems. Operating a chair well does not automatically qualify someone to teach.

Keeping training current

Equipment, staffing, building layouts, and the needs of residents or employees all change. Instructor records should show refresher dates, equipment checks, course content, assessment decisions, and any restrictions. If the chair model or escape route changes, review the internal training plan. Do not rely on old assumptions.