Evacuate Quickly and Safely in Any Situation

EVAC+CHAIR

EVAC+CHAIR makes it possible for everyone to evacuate quickly and safely in an emergency, making them key to Cal. State University Long Beach’s emergency preparedness plans.

Evacuate Quickly and Safely in Any Situation CONTINUING to improve campus safety in case of an emergency, EVAC+CHAIR Evacuation Chairs have been installed in every multiple-story building at California State University Long Beach to provide those with access needs — such as those who are wheelchair bound or have been injured — a safe means of evacuation during an emergency.

EVAC+CHAIRs — 120 of them are located strategically across campus — are marked with a bright yellow cover and a photo-luminescent sign above them. The chairs fold up, allowing them to be easily transferred to the individual in need, hang on the wall and are lightweight, weighing only 19 pounds.

The EVAC+CHAIR is a universal evacuation solution for smooth stairway descent, without the need of great physical strength or lifting. The device will assist staff, students and visitors with temporary or permanent mobility impairment. It is lightweight and easy to use allowing wheelchair users or less able-bodied people to be evacuated quickly and safely down stairs in the event of an emergency.

Cal. State University Long Beach has encouraged staff and students with a mobility impairment to make themselves known, to ensure they are given high priority should the worst happen and an EVAC+CHAIR need to be used.

Regular fire drills and practice training are also part of the plan in an effort to improve safety and to safeguard the smooth operation of procedures. “In the event of an earthquake or a fire, you’re not allowed to use the elevators so those with access and functional needs, persons with disabilities, or those who have been injured above the first floor won’t readily be able to get downstairs to ground level,” says John Rosene, emergency management and preparedness coordinator at the university. “So in an effort to be ahead of the curve, institutions are moving towards this.”

www.evac-chair.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

Digital Edition