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 — comprehensive 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 — participants who assist during practical exercises also receive certification 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

Understanding the equipment is the foundation of effective instruction. You’ll learn about different chair types, their design features, weight capacities, and appropriate applications. This module covers how evacuation chairs work, what makes them safe, and how to select the right chair for different building configurations.

Safe Operating Procedures

The practical core of the course. You’ll master pre-use safety checks, passenger loading and securing techniques, braking system operation, and manoeuvring on stairs and level surfaces. Emphasis is placed on manual handling principles that protect both operator and passenger from injury.

Risk Assessment and Emergency Protocols

Evacuation chairs operate within a broader emergency context. You’ll learn to assess risks before and during evacuations, integrate chair procedures with building evacuation plans, and handle contingencies such as blocked routes or equipment issues.

Instructional Techniques

Knowing how to operate a chair is different from knowing how to teach others. This module develops your ability to deliver engaging training sessions, demonstrate techniques effectively, assess trainee competency, and provide constructive feedback. You’ll practice delivering 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, including 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 is divided into two sessions, combining 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 maintain your certification. Staff members who assist learners during practical exercises will also receive certification as trained evacuation chair operators.

Our Evacuation Chair Instructor Trainers

Our instructors are experienced fire safety and training professionals with 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 and hold a minimum of 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 — covering legislation, equipment types, and procedural frameworks in an engaging, accessible format

• Practical Demonstrations — our instructors demonstrate correct techniques before you practice, 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, receiving constructive feedback on your instructional technique

• Group Discussion — sharing experiences and addressing questions throughout the day in a supportive learning environment

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 all counties across Ireland. Whether you need training for a single staff member or a full team, we have a delivery option to suit your needs.

For on-site delivery, our instructors travel to your location with all necessary 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) — comprehensive 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