Fire alarms
In the event of a fire, the fire alarm will activate. Our fire alarms have flashing lights as well as sound to alert visitors with hearing impairments.
Emergency evacuation
In the case of an evacuation, all visitors inside the Library will be led to safety by Library staff or by a member of the fire brigade. Standard green fire exit safety signage marks the emergency evacuation routes.
Main evacuation routes from:
Visitor Centre on the ground floor
Leave via the main entrance and out onto George IV Bridge street. Our accessible lifts can be used in the event of an evacuation, and staff can assist with this if needed.
General Reading Room on the first floor
Leave via the exit to the stairway at the south side of the General Reading Room. This route includes eight flights of stairs (115 steps) down to the Cowgate street area. From there, make your way back up the steep hill to the front door on George IV Bridge.
Special Collections Reading Room on the second floor
Leave via the north side of the Special Collections Reading Room. Go down three flights of stairs (56 steps) and out via the Advocates Library at Parliament Square.
Medical condition or disability
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
You may have a medical condition or disability making it difficult to negotiate the stairs or the hill during an evacuation. When you first register as a Library member, we will complete a short Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) questionnaire with you.
Evacuation route
Your evacuation route will be via the fire-protected lift (790mm) at the south side of the General Reading Room.
If the lift is not available, we will help you using Evac+Chairs down one flight of stairs at the north side of the General Reading Room and out via the Advocates Library at Parliament Square.
If you are unable to self-transfer to an evacuation chair, let us know in advance of your visit. We will arrange an accessible space for you to consult material.
We will then bring you back into the building via the fire-protected lift or the main entrance.
If you have visual impairment and would like help to leave the building during an emergency evacuation, alert a member of staff.
Special Collections Reading Room
To ensure safe emergency evacuation of the Special Collections Reading room, mobility-impaired visitors and wheelchair users will be provided with access to special collections material within the General Reading Room instead.
Contact us
Got a question about the Library's collections and services? Chat with us online or use the enquiry form.