Chris Evans had to evacuate from his breakfast show three years ago. He explained when they came back on air that they had a silent two-stage alarm in the studio. It had sat on ‘amber’ for a while (the first stage) but it turned ‘red’ during an interview, so as soon as the feature had finished he played the next track and they all left the studio.
As you’d expect, the alarm wasn’t heard on air. That was a criticism of the new studios at Salford (see the Football Focus video upthread) that they did have audible fire alarms that disrupted the on-air output.
Now having actually watched the programme myself I think Tom Bradby handled the situation very well. Let's not forget there are procedures when a Fire Alarm goes off. Having been a Fire Marshall myself you don;t leave the building straight away; you await for instructions. Thankfully everybody was ok.
Now having actually watched the programme myself I think Tom Bradby handled the situation very well
I agree. He's seems able to ad-lib a sensible statement, in a clear yet not patronising manner.
Unlike many of the current crop of continuity announcers
As you’d expect, the alarm wasn’t heard on air. That was a criticism of the new studios at Salford (see the Football Focus video upthread) that they did have audible fire alarms that disrupted the on-air output.
Indeed. On the three occasions when the fire alarms have gone off on BBC Radio 5 Live, they have been heard on-air every time. Two of them have been uploaded to YouTube:
Let's not forget there are procedures when a Fire Alarm goes off. Having been a Fire Marshall myself you don;t leave the building straight away; you await for instructions
That's a fairy uncommon arrangement, usually it's a case of get out and ask questions later, unless it's a two stage system.
It would be unusual for a broadcast studio with a two stage system not to have at least the first stage as just a flashing beacon.
When I worked in a supermarket (and I'm assuming this is a commonplace system) there were two levels of alarm; an intermittent one to say an alert was being investigated and we should prepare to evacuate, and a continuous one to order an immediate evacuation. As that Final Score clip showed, the initial alarm was to await further instructions.
I’m sure we’ll see something in the tabloids tomorrow along the lines of ‘CHAOS at ITV News as Tom Bradby is evacuated from studio.’
On the subject of exaggerated headlines, maybe you could edit your opening post to udpate the headline now it's clear that it was a fire alarm, not an actual fire?
I’m sure we’ll see something in the tabloids tomorrow along the lines of ‘CHAOS at ITV News as Tom Bradby is evacuated from studio.’
On the subject of exaggerated headlines, maybe you could edit your opening post to udpate the headline now it's clear that it was a fire alarm, not an actual fire?
I didn’t create the thread.
That is true but you now have the power like He-man to change it
I presume they, like many major 'mission critical' operations have degrees of evacuation. A complex algorithm within the alarm system determining the validity and scope of the 'alarm'. In consequence critical staff will leave only once the alarm system determines a step up in the level of evacuation. Highly sensible. I worked in such an environment for my working life. Only once was a total evacuation of site ordered. Key personnel staying at post throughout normally.
And in normal English!!?
Incidentally, which bit of this caused confusion? Just curious.
Let's not forget there are procedures when a Fire Alarm goes off. Having been a Fire Marshall myself you don;t leave the building straight away; you await for instructions
That's a fairy uncommon arrangement, usually it's a case of get out and ask questions later, unless it's a two stage system.
But not an at all uncommon arrangement in secure buildings, where the risk of staying put has to be balanced against the risk of somebody manufacturing an evacuation for nefarious purposes like attacking the assembled staff. I wouldn't be surprised if ITN (or at least parts of the building) have more nuanced policies along those lines.
Don't forget that ITN's HQ is two separate buildings connected by the atrium. If the fire was in one building there may be details of the procedure that differ to the other.
