Beyond the Minimum: Effective Programs for Persons Requiring Assistance in Commercial Office Towers
In every commercial office tower, the safety of occupants during an emergency is not just a moral responsibility — it’s a requirement. One critical but often misunderstood obligation is ensuring that Persons Requiring Assistance (PRA) can safely evacuate or relocate during an incident.
Too often, PRA planning is reduced to a single instruction: “Wait by the elevator until fire services arrive.” While this may seem practical in the moment, it fails to address the safety of that PRA, and to meet the true intent of emergency planning requirements. This leaves building owners, property managers, and tenants vulnerable to unnecessary risk.
Meeting the Requirements — and the Intent — Fire Code / OHSA / Accessibility
There are many requirements that require building owners, tenants and employers to have an active program for PRA evacuation and relocation — not just a list of names. The program must include:
- Identification of PRAs in the building.
- A clear, rehearsed procedure for PRA’s based on the approved Fire Safety Plan.
- Communication protocols between the PRA, their employer, the building Owner and Fire Services
- Assignment of trained “assist teams” or designated supervisory staff personnel – Fire Wardens.
- Training of those individuals - Required by Fire Code and OHSA.
- Identification of safe evacuation zones, floor transfer methodologies, equipment / supports needed to accomplish this, defend in place locations, and the required materials to actually “defend in place.”
The intent - have an organized, well-documented process that can be activated instantly, even before first responders arrive.
Addressing Unique Needs — No Two PRAs Are the Same
Persons Requiring Assistance may include individuals with mobility limitations, vision or hearing impairments, medical conditions, or temporary injuries. Each person’s needs will differ —demanding unique preparedness plans from tenants and employers in the building, that align with the base building fire safety plan.
A strong PRA program will:
Consider different assistance methods (e.g., evacuation chairs, buddy systems, safe refuge areas).
Account for both permanent and temporary PRAs.
Establish clear roles for building staff, tenant representatives, and floor wardens.
Landlord–Tenant Collaboration is Critical
Commercial office towers often have dozens of employers under one roof. This means building owners and property managers cannot manage PRA safety in isolation — it requires close coordination with every tenant.
- Tenants must identify PRAs in their workforce and train internal staff on their role in the plan.
- Landlords must provide the infrastructure, procedures, and oversight to ensure those plans integrate with the building-wide program.
- Joint training sessions ensure all parties know the process and can execute it confidently.
This collaborative approach not only improves safety outcomes but also reduces legal and reputational risks for both landlord and tenant.
Training and Drills: The “Living” Part of the Plan
Having a PRA list in a binder isn’t enough. Training must be ongoing, inclusive, and scenario-based. For High-Rise buildings in Ontario already requiring quarterly Fire Drills involving Supervisory Staff, a best practice is to consider or test the PRA Process in one of these drills. This ensures:
- PRAs know what to expect.
- Assist teams are confident in their roles.
- Tenants understand their part in the chain of communication.
- Tenant Fire Wardens receive unprecendented learnings that can be immediately applied to the entire building.
- Lessons learned, and or identified gaps can be shared with all Supervisory Staff.
When plans are regularly tested and refined, both response speed and safety outcomes improve dramatically.
Final Thoughts
We have had the opportunity to work alongside hundreds of CRE industry leaders, who are all passionate about creating a living, collaborative system where landlords, tenants, and PRAs themselves are active participants in building safety.
When the alarm sounds, there’s no time to figure it out — your plan should already be in motion, and we would love to help.
About National Life Safety Group
At National Life Safety Group, we help commercial building owners and managers move beyond “minimum compliance” to create safety programs that truly protect people. Our team has extensive experience designing and implementing Persons Requiring Assistance (PRA) programs that meet the letter and spirit of the Ontario Fire Code — while addressing the unique realities of high-rise commercial office towers and the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
From working hand-in-hand with tenants to training assist teams and integrating PRA protocols into full-building emergency management plans, we deliver solutions that are compliant, practical, and defensible. Our expertise ensures that when the alarm sounds, your PRA plan isn’t just on paper — it’s in action.