Building Contacts

Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures - Introduction

600 California Street has developed Fire and Life Safety Emergency Procedures as a guide to understanding the life safety systems and procedures pertaining to the building. The primary role of all building tenants in an emergency is to know what to do when an emergency occurs and how to react appropriately.

Please ensure that all occupants are familiar with the enclosed material. We encourage you to duplicate it and provide each employee with a copy. Each tenant is required to provide the Building Management with its own emergency team response information by utilizing the Emergency Response Information form. We are required to have this information on file for inspection by the San Francisco Fire Department upon request.

The Management Office conducts an annual fire drill, required by the State of California and the San Francisco Fire Department. All tenants are required to participate in this mandatory drill.

The Building also conducts an annual Floor Warden Training for all Emergency Team members. The purpose of the training is to ensure that designated floor wardens understand all duties associated with that position. If additional instruction is needed, the Management Office is available to assist you.

Please click below to download the Tenant Emergency Response Plan

Emergency Contact

600 California Street requests that each tenant submit a Tenant Emergency Contact List for our records. This information is considered confidential and will only be used to notify designated individuals in the event of an after-hours emergency.

Please click below to download the Tenant Emergency Contact List form

Fire Department

911

Fire Department (Non-Emergency Fire)

(415) 558-3200

Police Department

911

Police Department (Non-Emergency)

(415) 553-0123

Ambulance / Paramedic

911

Poison Control

1-800-222-1222

Hazardous Spill Clean Up

(510) 633-0366

Building Management Office

(415) 391-3471

Lobby Security Console

(415) 391-3471

Please make sure these telephone numbers are readily available in the event an employee requires emergency medical care or the building is experiencing an emergency.

Important Notes:

If you call 911 as a result of a medical emergency, please be sure to also notify Building Management with your name, callback number, and location so that security may swiftly guide the paramedics to your exact location.

If the audible alarm within the building sounds, please do not call the Management Office, unless you have something specific to report. Building Management is aware of the noise, as well as the source of the alarm, whether it’s false or a legitimate emergency. Please keep the telephone lines clear so that Management may attend to the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Bomb Threat

Telephone threat

When a bomb threat is made over the telephone, obtain the following information from the caller:

Once the Management Office has been notified of a bomb threat, it is our policy to advise your firm's manager or officer. It is up to the manager or officer to decide whether it is appropriate to evacuate the office. In the event that you are asked to evacuate the Building, move away from the Building to allow for the clear passage of emergency personnel. Do not re-enter the Building until the Management Office, Police or Fire Department have given clearance.

Suspicious Packages or Mail Bombs

Letter bombs are usually sent through the mail addressed to a specific individual in the company, usually disguised to look like some sort of gift or a small package. Letter bombs have the power to kill or seriously maim anyone in close proximity. Letter bombs are usually contained within a large size manila envelope 1/4" to 1/2" thick and are fairly rigid.

However, the technology used in letter bombs has become increasingly sophisticated, and can be difficult to detect visually. Letter bombs have been mailed from cities or small towns in the United States, as well as from foreign countries. Be especially wary of letters that are mailed to titles: Chairman, President, Manager, Security Officer, etc. - rather than directly to named individuals.

If you suspect a parcel contains a letter bomb:

Civil Disturbance

Should a riot or civil disturbance occur outside the Building, the Security Staff will immediately lock all entrances to the building and elevators may be re-called to the lobby and taken out of service. The police will be notified. Building occupants will be instructed to Shelter-In-Place and be will be keep informed until the situation is clear.

If a disturbance should occur in the main lobby, all elevators will be turned off at the first floor, Security Staff will restrict access to the stairwells and the police will be summoned.

Earthquake

The building is designed to withstand most earthquakes. It is safer inside the building than outside. Should a major earthquake occur, Floor Wardens will be responsible for maintaining a calm atmosphere on their floor.

Earthquake Preparedness

Earthquake preparedness kits should include the following:

During an Earthquake:

Most earthquake-induced injuries are caused by falling objects or debris that have become dislodged by the quake. During an earthquake, please observe the following:

After an Earthquake:

Elevator Malfunction

The elevators at 600 California Street are equipped with a variety of features designed to ensure the safety of passengers during normal operation, during a malfunction of the equipment or other emergencies that may affect operation. On occasion, the elevators may malfunction even though they are properly maintained.

In the event of an entrapment or emergency in the elevator:

In the event of a power outage:

In the event of a power outage, elevators will continue to operate using our emergency power generator. Should an outage occur, elevator lights will remain on, but the car itself will temporarily cease moving. Each elevator will automatically return to the lobby, their doors will open, and they will remain inoperable until the power has been restored.

IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, ELEVATORS MUST NOT BE USED FOR EVACUATION. USE THE STAIRWELLS.

Evacuation

The San Francisco Fire Department will inform Building Management if a relocation or evacuation becomes necessary.

Relocation procedures

Only FOUR FLOORS will be relocated in the event of an emergency, fire, or smoke in the building.
These four (4) floors consist of:

For example: If an emergency or potential emergency is detected on the 5th floor and a partial evacuation is announced, the evacuation will occur as follows:

Emergency Location

Corresponding Floor

1st Floor ABOVE Emergency Floor

6th Floor

Emergency / Fire Floor

5th Floor

1st Floor BELOW Emergency Floor

4th Floor

2nd Floor BELOW Emergency Floor

3rd Floor

The following Relocation Procedures should be observed:

Relocation Symbols

Your Floor

Relocate to

Symbol

20

16

Circle

19

15

Square

18

14

Triangle

17

13

Star

16

12

Circle

15

11

Black Square

14

10

Triangle

13

9

Star

12

8

Circle

11

7

Square

Your Floor

Relocate to

Symbol

10

6

Triangle

9

5

Star

8

4

Circle

7

3

Square

6

Street

Triangle

5

Street

Star

4

Street

Circle

3

Street

Square

2

Street

Triangle

Evacuation procedures

Only FOUR FLOORS will be evacuated in the event of an emergency, fire, or smoke in the building.
These four (4) floors consist of:

The following Evacuation Procedures should be observed:

The building has two (2) enclosed stairwells - North & South.

North Stairwell - exits North onto Sacramento Street. Tenant’s using the North stairwell to evacuate should proceed North onto Kearny Street to Portsmouth Square Park.

South Stairwell - exits West onto the plaza between 650 California and 600 California. Tenant’s using the South stairwell to evacuate should proceed West onto California Street to Saint Mary’s Square Park.

Important notes:

Please click below to access the 600 California Street Evacuation Map

Persons Needing Assistance/Mobility Impaired

Handicapped personnel or guests may require assistance during an evacuation. During an evacuation or relocation, the following procedures should be observed:

  1. Persons needing assistance should be escorted and assisted by two (2) designated Relocation Aides.
  2. The two (2) designated Relocation Aides will transport the special needs person to the nearest stairwell landing when an evacuation or relocation is ordered.
  3. DO NOT use the elevators to evacuate the person needing assistance during an emergency.
  4. Persons needing assistance should NEVER BE LEFT ALONE.
  5. Special needs person is to remain on the stairwell landing with at least one (1) Relocation Aide until the SFFD arrives.
  6. Emergency responders from the Fire Department will generally be able to reach the handicapped to assist with their evacuation, but this may take time.

A list of all persons needing assistance is kept in the Management Office and Fire Command Center for use during an emergency. Tenants are responsible for updating this list as necessary and communicating any changes to the Management Office.

What to Do When Someone Refuses to Evacuate

During an emergency where evacuation is required, if an occupant refuses to evacuate, any tenant that encounters this person or is informed of this situation shall immediately report the name and exact location of this individual to the floor’s Floor Warden and the Management Office. Floor Wardens should then communicate this information to the Fire Department. Await instructions from City authorities.

Intruder / Active Shooter

In the event of a SUSPICIOUS PERSON or INTRUDER:

Notify the Management Office immediately at (415) 391-3471. Provide the following details:

In the event of aN ACTIVE SHOOTER:

DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

EVACUATE: When an Active Shooter is in your vicinity

SHELTER IN PLACE: If an evacuation is not possible, shelter in place

Your hiding place should:

TAKE ACTION: As a last resort, and ONLY if your life is in danger

In the event a HOSTAGE INCIDENT develops:

After the Police have been notified, inform the Management Office of the situation immediately at (415) 391-3471.

Fire and Smoke

If you smell SMOKE:

If you see FIRE and/or SMOKE and the alarm has NOT sounded:

In the event a fire leads to an EVACUATION or RELOCATION:

In the event of a SMALL FIRE:

Steps to operating a Portable Fire Extinguisher:

FIRE PREVENTION

Some simple precautions can be put in place by tenants to help prevent fire as follows:

Fire & Life Safety

600 California Street is equipped with state-of-the-art fire/life safety systems as follows:

Fire Alarm Pull Station
If you spot smoke or fire, pull down on the fire alarm pull station located at each stairwell exit and elevator lobby. This triggers the alarm to sound and alerts the monitoring station which will contact the Fire Department.

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are located on the ceiling throughout tenant spaces and corridors. When activated, they trigger the alarm to sound and automatically alert the monitoring station which will contact the Fire Department.

Sprinklers
The building is fully sprinklered. Sprinkler heads will activate with a significant rise in temperature.

Speakers
Speakers are located throughout the tenant floors and will sound a whooping tone when an alarm is activated. They are also used to transmit information.

Strobe Lights
Strobe lights located throughout the tenant floors will flash on and off when an alarm is activated. The strobe lights are intended for the hearing impaired.

Elevator Recall
Elevators are recalled to the ground floor during any alarm. Please do not use the elevators in the event of an alarm. Use the stairs to relocate or evacuate the building when you hear the alarm or see the strobes activated.

Emergency Lighting
In the event of a power outage, the emergency generator will power the emergency lighting for exiting.

Stairwells / Exiting
The exit stairwells are pressurized and act as a safe haven in the event of a fire.
There are two (2) exit stairwells in the building - North & South.
Stairwell #1: The South stairwell exits West onto the plaza between 650 California and 600 California.
Stairwell #2: The North stairwell exits North onto Sacramento Street.

Fire Extinguishers
Multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguishers are located throughout each floor. These should only be used in the event of a small trash can fire. They weigh approximately twelve (12) pounds and are easily handled ONLY if you are trained and knowledgeable in the use of extinguishers. Please do NOT attempt to use a fire extinguisher unless you have proper training. Never attempt to “control” a fire.
Do NOT use the extinguisher if the fire is spreading beyond the immediate area.
Do NOT use an extinguisher if the fire could block your escape route.

Fire Valves and Standpipe Connections
Fire hose and standpipe connections are for use by the San Francisco Fire Department. Fire hose connections are located on all floors in each exit stairwell. Standpipe connections are located outside the building on the corner of California and Kearny (on the Kearny Street side) and on the corner of Sacramento and Kearny (on the Sacramento Street side) and are used by the Fire Department to connect their hoses to fight a fire if water pressure is lost from the City.

Fire Doors
All exit doors at stairwells are fired rated doors. Please never prop these doors open.

Fire Alarms
The alarm system will sound only on the emergency floor, one (1) floor above, and two (2) floors below. Initial instructions to evacuate will be broadcasted over the Public Address System to only those four (4) floors. If necessary, additional evacuation instructions will be made by the San Francisco Fire Department’s Officer in Command or the building’s Life Safety Director. The instructions will be transmitted over the Public Address System to the rest of the occupants in the building.

Public Address System
Announcements will be made over the Public Address System in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Generator
The emergency generator is designed to power the emergency equipment in the building in the event of a power failure. The system is designed to give us eight (8) hours of electricity to provide operation of our life safety equipment, emergency lighting and power to operate one elevator in each bank elevator bank.

Garage Emergencies

In the event of a fire alarm on any or all of the three garage levels, please follow these procedures:

  1. Do not attempt to drive your vehicle out of the garage.
  2. Proceed immediately (do not run) to the nearest emergency exit stairwell. Do not use ramps. There are two stairwells, one at the south end (#1) behind garage elevators and one at the north end (#2) by exit ramps.
  3. Follow signage in the stairwells and walk up to street level exits. The south exit is on California St. and the north exit is on Sacramento St.
  4. Do not return to the garage or your vehicle until an all clear announcement has been made by authorized personnel.

In the event of a fire, smoke collects rapidly due to the low ceilings. It is very important to exit the garage via the stairwells as quickly and safely as possible.

Medical Emergencies

In the event of an injury or accident of a person in the building, ascertain as much information as possible and follow these general steps:

Security

Following the conclusion of the medical emergency:

Severe Weather / Flood

When severe weather conditions become apparent, the U.S.Weather Bureau describes conditions by two (2) classifications, a Watch or a Warning. This applies to the reporting of severe thunderstorms, the approach of weather conditions favoring the formation of tornadoes, a hurricane condition, a winter storm condition, etc. A Watch becomes effective when atmospheric conditions are present that can produce the particular weather phenomenon. A Warning means that the weather condition has been spotted and prompt action must be taken to enhance safety. Except in very rare circumstances, the decision to evacuate the building based on the above weather reports will not be made by Building Management, but rather by each Tenant Company. However, in the event these conditions do exist, the following guidelines should adhere to:

FLOODING

In the event of a flood that may cause damage to tenant property or affect the normal operation of the building, designated tenant representatives will be contacted by Building Management personnel, regardless of the time of day. The first priority is to ensure that no personal injury occurs as the result of a flood. The second priority is to discover the cause and prevent or minimize additional flooding. Once the flooding has been contained, clean-up operations will commence. Tenants will need to contact their insurance carrier to assess any damage to their property.

Power Failure

The loss of electrical service in any building can be an extremely disruptive and potentially dangerous situation.

600 California Street is designed to minimize the risk of a general power failure. Emergency generators are dedicated to provide continued operation of the life-safety systems, fans, emergency lighting and limited elevator operation for up to eight (8) hours in a power outage. They are regularly tested and confirmed operational in the event of an emergency. Typically, should a power failure occur, it will affect either an isolated area of the building or some larger portion of the downtown area. The Management Office will attempt to advise you regarding the length and cause of the power failure as soon as possible.

It is seldom necessary to evacuate the building during a power failure. Unless you are directed to do so through the emergency communication system, please remain in your offices.

Please... DO NOT CALL the Management Office unless you need to notify us of the location of a disabled employee.

Toxic Hazards

If there is a toxic spill or exposure, proceed immediately to an area where you are no longer exposed. Call 911. Provide the building's address, your floor and phone number, and also what type of spill has occurred. Take appropriate action to contain the hazard; close doors behind you, and always follow all safety procedures when working with toxic materials.

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