Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (Residential PEEPs)

• all buildings in England that are high-rise residential buildings, that is, buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises (‘multi-residential’) that are at least 18 metres above ground level or have at least 7 storeys or more, and

• all multi-residential buildings more than 11 metres in height above ground level (typically a building height of 5 to 6 storeys ) that have simultaneous evacuation strategies in place.

The Residential PEEPs process includes a suite of measures which should be undertaken by the Responsible Person: Residential PEEPs: Factsheet

What is required

• A person-centred fire risk assessment – typically centred on a conversation between the Responsible Person and the resident – to understand their particular risks and identify how their fire safety and evacuation can be enhanced.

• An emergency evacuation statement setting out what the resident should do in the event of a fire (if agreed between the Responsible Person and the resident).

• Information for the local Fire and Rescue Authority regarding the location and indicative level of assistance needed by residents who have engaged with the Residential PEEPs process, to inform Fire and Rescue Services’ operational response in an emergency where necessary, and in the rare case that they need to support these residents’ evacuation (where the resident has explicitly consented to the sharing of that information) and also where the Fire and Rescue Authority initiate the evacuation of the building.

• This information is forms part of your Building Emergency Evacuation Plan (BEEP) and should be located in the Secure Information Box on the premises and additionally submitted to the local Fire and Rescue Service

• Information gathered should be subject to regular reviewing every 12 months.

A resident is a ‘relevant resident’ for the purposes of these Regulations if the domestic premises in which they reside (which must be in scope of the Regulations) is their only or principal residence; and their ability to evacuate the building without assistance in the event of a fire is compromised as a result of a cognitive or physical impairment or condition.

This plan must include:

1. a copy of the instructions to residents as required under Regulation 9(2)(b)(i) of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 [footnote 3]

2. whether there are relevant residents

3. information on any other arrangements for evacuating the building, for example if an Evacuation Alert System has been included, as recommended for new 18m+ buildings under the guidance to the Building Regulations 2010 within Approved Document B.

The Plan will need to be aligned with the Fire Risk Assessment for the property.

An example of a simple building emergency evacuation plan is as follows:

• This building is under a Stay Put evacuation strategy. It has x flats across y floors. Residents have been told to do x in the event of a fire via the ‘instructions to residents’. There are relevant residents in the building. See further Residential PEEPs information in the box for information on the location of flats housing relevant residents.

• The building emergency evacuation plan should also include any broader measures implemented as a result of Residential PEEPs – these are measures that are implemented as a result of Residential PEEPs but that benefit multiple residents as opposed to one individual relevant resident. Such measures might include, for instance, handrails or signage.

• The building emergency evacuation plan may include further relevant information beyond the matters noted above. For example, in those cases where a building has an evacuation lift, it should set out how that is intended to be used in the event of a fire. Where RPs have developed plans or protocols for the use of evacuation lifts in their evacuation plans, or FRS have advised on these, we would be interested in hearing about these, for potential inclusion in the RP Toolkit.

• The RP may combine the building emergency evacuation plan with the floor plans and/or building plan required under Regulation 6 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Building Evacuation Plans should be summitted to your Local Fire and Rescue Service, for buildings in Lancashire, please send your BEEPs below. This information should not include any personal information of residents, if referring to residents in the plans, ensure only flat number and floor number are used.

You ONLY need to complete the building emergency evacuation plan if;

• Your high-rise multi-residential buildings is 18 metres high or at least 7 storeys or

• is a multi-residential buildings more than 11 metres in height typically of 5 storeys or more that have simultaneous evacuation strategies in place.