Managing The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025

The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 mark a major advancement in protecting residents in higher-risk residential buildings. These regulations require building owners and managers to identify “relevant residents” who may have difficulty evacuating on their own. Once identified, the responsible person must conduct Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs) and prepare Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for those who may struggle to self-evacuate during a fire.

Understanding the Legislative Requirements

The regulations create specific requirements for identifying and protecting vulnerable residents in domestic properties. The legislation outlines the pathway the responsible persons must follow. First, there is a duty to identify relevant residents who require assistance; this involves proactively asking residents if they would need help evacuating and identifying those with physical or cognitive impairments. Once a resident is identified, the responsible person must undertake a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA). This assessment looks at the specific risks associated with that resident’s compromised ability to evacuate their flat during a fire. It is also recommendable to assess general fire risks at this time too. Where risks and vulnerabilities are identified during a PCFRA, reasonable mitigation measures should be suggested and agreed.

Following the PCFRA assessment and mitigation, the legislation requires the creation of a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) which are referred to as an ’emergency evacuation statement’ in the legislation. This must detail exactly how the resident will evacuate or be assisted during an emergency. Finally, there is a critical requirement to make this information accessible to the Fire and Rescue Service. These plans must be stored securely in the building’s information box and shared electronically where required, ensuring that emergency responders have immediate access to vital information about who needs help and where they are located. Throughout this entire process, the legislation emphasizes that all interactions must maintain the dignity and respect of the resident.

A Comprehensive Approach: From Awareness to Action

Effective compliance begins with general awareness across the organisation. Every member of the staff should have the foundational knowledge to recognise when a resident might need assistance, as this initial identification is the critical first step in the safety pathway. Our training ensures that all staff understand who relevant residents are and the types of assistance that should be offered so as many people as possible can spot the early signs of mobility or cognitive impairments that trigger the need for further assessment. Once a need is flagged, the training guides staff through the technical and interpersonal requirements of the full legislative pathway, starting with an explanation on what a person centred fire risk assessment is. Staff are trained to suggest and agree upon reasonable mitigation measures to reduce those identified risks before developing a bespoke PEEP. Finally, the course covers the critical requirements for information sharing to ensure local fire and rescue services have access to vital data.

The Strategic Advantage of In-House Teams

Training internal teams to navigate these steps offers distinct advantages, in-house staff are best positioned to identify individuals who may require a plan through their daily interactions with residents. The familiarity they have with residents ensures the trust necessary for sensitive conversations regarding health or mobility, making residents much more likely to disclose a medical condition or a difficulty with stairs to a familiar face. Furthermore, staff who visit the organisations buildings regularly possess an intimate knowledge of the layout and are more likely to notice changes in a resident’s condition, such as deteriorating mobility, which ensures that safety measures remain current. Utilising internal teams also provides a more effective route to compliance, allowing for regular reviews and updates with an understanding and collaboration across the organisation the risk something is missed is minimised. PEEPs and PCFRAs are not one-off tasks; residents’ needs evolve, and in-house staff are uniquely placed to review plans regularly and update evacuation statements promptly without waiting for scheduled external audits.

Prioritising Respect and Resident Engagement

The success of applying the legislation depends heavily on the accuracy of resident identification and the quality of the assessments conducted. Our training goes beyond a simple understanding of the legal requirements; it equips staff with the essential communication skills needed to manage the identification process with sensitivity and respect. For those directly responsible for completing PCFRAs and PEEPs, the course provides the technical knowledge necessary to fulfil these duties accurately. This includes a specific focus on making the fire service aware of high-risk individuals and updating Premises Information Boxes (PIBs) in line with industry guidance to ensure emergency responders have immediate access to important evacuation plan information. Simultaneously, it provides wider teams with a clear understanding of how initial identification fits into the broader safety framework.

Properly trained staff are able to initiate interactions as supportive measures designed to enhance safety and support inclusion. Throughout the process, our training emphasises resident dignity, which includes offering individuals the clear option to opt out of an assessment. The training ensures staff understand the importance of formally recording these decisions, ensuring both respect for the resident’s wishes and a robust audit trail for the organisation.

Conclusion

By investing in the training of internal teams, organisations can build a sustainable, responsive safety culture where compliance is integrated into daily tasks. Ultimately, equipping in-house teams with the skills to manage resident identification, PCFRAs and PEEPs ensures that legal obligations are met with the necessary care, dignity, and efficiency that residents deserve.