In the event of an emergency, ensuring that everyone in the building is evacuated quickly, efficiently and safely is a priority.
However, not everyone may be able to evacuate safely without additional assistance.
In this situation, there must be a plan in place. In this article, we provide guidance on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, or PEEPs. This includes what they are, why they are required, what they must cover and who is responsible for managing them.
Here at Hydro Protect, we are experts in fire safety, and design, install and maintain fire sprinklers in London. Our team are knowledgeable in the latest fire regulations, and can provide you with the advice you need to remain compliant. Get in touch with our experts today.
What Does PEEP Stand For?
PEEP stands for Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. This is a tailored plan for individuals who need assistance to safely evacuate a building during an emergency, such as a fire, perhaps due to mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments.
When Were Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans Introduced?
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans were introduced into workplaces in 2005. However, residential PEEPs, or RPEEPs, were legally mandated in England on April 6, 2026.
These new rules were put into place following the Grenfell Tower inquiry to support disabled and vulnerable residents in high-rise buildings. The government introduced these rules as part of the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, to create an alternative to the ‘stay put’ only philosophy for vulnerable residents.
What Is The Purpose Of A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan?
Having a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan in place ensures that individuals with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments can safely and independently evacuate a building in the event of an emergency. The PEEP provides a clear, tailored strategy and identifies the assistance, equipment and routes required, whilst also meeting legal safety requirements.
The assistance an individual may require could be, for example, wheelchair evacuation assistance, sign language interpretation or additional time to reach exits, and equipment can include evacuation chairs to descend stairs.
Who Needs A PEEP?
There are two types of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan: permanent and temporary.
A Permanent Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan is for those who require assistance in leaving a building in the event of an emergency. This could include:
- Those with mobility impairments, such as wheelchair users.
- The sensory impaired, such as those who are blind or hard of hearing.
- Those with medical conditions that affect their use of stairs, such as asthma.
- Those with neurodiversity or mental health conditions, such as anxiety.
- Those who may struggle to comprehend what to do in an emergency.
Permanent PEEPs are common in places such as care homes, whereas temporary PEEPs are those with medical conditions, such as the later stages of pregnancy, or short-term injuries like a broken bone.
To determine whether someone needs a PEEP, ask them whether they could evacuate the building efficiently, without aid. If there is any uncertainty, a PEEP is required.
When Is A PEEP Required?
As above, a PEEP is required when an individual needs additional assistance to evacuate a building in an emergency. This could be due to a permanent disability or impairment, or due to a temporary medical condition.
If you’re an employer, you must consider your legal obligations and responsibilities, specifically under your commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. There are two main pieces of legislation in the UK that cover PEEPs.
The Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 covers situations where a person requires additional support during an emergency evacuation. This could be due to a permanent or temporary disability or impairment. This additional support includes providing a PEEP for safe evacuation, tailored specifically to the employee’s individual circumstances and needs.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies across England and Wales, placing duties on employers to assess and manage fire risks in the workplace, including provisions for safe evacuation of employees. Whilst the order does not specifically mention PEEPs, it does require employers to make arrangements for a safe evacuation.
In a workplace, the employer must ensure an evacuation plan is in place. The employee does not have the right to opt out if their presence creates a safety risk, making the employer liable.
Residential PEEPs
In England, the government requires responsible persons, such as building managers, in specific high- and mid-rise residential buildings to proactively identify vulnerable residents and ensure that a tailored resident PEEP, also known as an RPEEP, is created. This applies to buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises that are at least 18 metres in height, and more than 11 metres in height with a simultaneous evacuation strategy.
Whether buildings between 11m and 18m, or 7 storeys or more, require an RPEEP depends on whether the building’s fire risk assessment deems a simultaneous evacuation strategy to be necessary.
A resident can choose to refuse a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment. It is voluntary for them to participate. A Responsible Person must offer the assessment, but they cannot force a resident to disclose medical data or participate. Should the resident refuse an RPEEP, the Responsible Person must document the resident’s refusal for due diligence.
What Should A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Include?
The content of a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan will depend on the needs of the individual and the building. It should include their specific medical or mobility details, designated primary and alternative escape routes, a clear list of assigned helpers, and requirements for specialised equipment. The plan must also outline safe refuge areas and emergency communication methods, tailored to the user’s needs.
For residential buildings, the process begins with a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA). This is an individual assessment carried out with the resident to understand how their specific impairment or condition affects their ability to evacuate. The findings of the PCFRA then inform the content of their RPEEP, including the agreed emergency evacuation statement – a written record of exactly how that resident will exit the building safely in the event of a fire.
You must also detail whether the person agrees with the plan, if they have been involved in the plan’s creation, and whether the plan has been properly communicated to all involved parties, including those assisting in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Who’s Responsible For A PEEP?
It is the responsibility of the managing agent/responsible person/nominated representative to complete the PEEP.
While the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does not specifically mention PEEPs, it requires the responsible person for a building to carry out the Fire Risk Assessment. This includes considering the needs of vulnerable people who may have difficulty escaping in an emergency, and thus, the creation of a PEEP.
Process For Creating A PEEP
Every Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan will be unique to the individual. However, there are several steps and considerations to make whilst planning.
Everyone who requires assistance, whether an employee or resident, including those temporarily impaired, must be identified.
Once an individual has been identified as potentially requiring assistance, a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA) must be offered. For residential buildings, this is a legal requirement under the 2025 Regulations. For workplace PEEPs, there is no PCFRA requirement. The PCFRA is conducted face-to-face and evaluates the resident’s specific needs in detail, forming the evidential basis for the evacuation statement and any mitigating measures put in place.
From there, identify primary and alternative escape routes, locate safety refuges and flag any physical obstacles, such as heavy doors. This should support you in deciding how the evacuation happens, whether aided by a designated partner, with specialised equipment or through altered working or living arrangements.
Once the initial plan has been created, conduct a silent walk-through with the individual and their assigned assistants to confirm the plan.
When everyone is happy with the plan in place, all involved must confirm with a signature, and copies must be provided to the building manager and, where appropriate, the local Fire and Rescue authorities, typically via a secure premises information box or electronic portal.
Workplace vs. Residential PEEPs
| Feature | Workplace PEEP | Residential PEEP (RPEEP) |
| Primary Legislation | Fire Safety Order 2005 | Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) Regs 2025 |
| Obligation | Mandatory for the employer. | Mandatory to offer; voluntary for residents. |
| Storage | Personnel file / Fire Safety Log. | Secure Premises Information Box (for FRS). |
| Assistance | Provided by trained colleagues. | Provided by neighbours, carers, or FRS (depending on the plan). |
Where Sprinklers Can Support A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
Under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans)(England) Regulations 2025, responsible persons must implement mitigation measures that are ‘reasonable and proportionate’ to enable vulnerable people to evacuate safely.
A fire sprinkler system is one of the most effective measures available to do so. By automatically detecting and suppressing a fire at its source, fire sprinklers will significantly slow the spread of fire and smoke, buying critical time for residents who need more time to reach exits, require assistance, or are dependent on specialist evacuation equipment such as an evacuation chair.
If a resident has a PCFRA that identifies that a self-evacuation within a standard timeframe is not possible, a sprinkler system could make an evacuation plan viable and safely executable.
Whilst sprinkler systems do not replace a PEEP, they will actively underpin and support it, making the plan more robust and reliable. This is particularly relevant in care homes, where sprinkler systems are now mandatory in all new builds in England from March 2025.
At Hydro Protect, we design and install sprinkler systems across London and can advise on how a suppression system can be a key part of a compliant and comprehensive fire safety strategy for your building.
Ensure That Your Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Is In Place
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan is a living document. It must be reviewed annually or whenever an individual’s health condition changes. Therefore, a PEEP created in 2026 that isn’t updated by 2027 may be considered ‘non-compliant’ during a fire safety audit.
To speak to a professional about your fire safety legislation compliance, and making sure that your building aligns with the latest regulations, as well as future legislative changes, speak to the team at Hydro Protect today.