Fire Safety Evacuation Procedure UK: Employer Guide

Overview

A fire safety evacuation procedure is the written plan that sets out how people will leave a building safely if a fire starts, and how the responsible person will manage the event until the fire and rescue service takes over. It is not a single document handed down from head office, it is a living set of arrangements that reflect the specific layout, the people who use the building, and the risks identified during the fire risk assessment.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must put in place suitable emergency procedures, ensure routes and exits are kept clear, appoint competent people to help implement measures, and give staff the information and training they need. The evacuation procedure sits at the heart of all that.

It links the fire risk assessment to what happens in practice: who sounds the alarm, which routes people take, where they assemble, how vulnerable individuals are helped out, and who liaises with the fire brigade on arrival. Done properly, it also addresses contractors, visitors, and anyone else who might be in the building at the time.

Key steps

1. Carry out a fire risk assessment first. Your evacuation procedure has to be built on the findings of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the premises. Identify fire hazards, who might be at risk, and what controls are needed. The procedure then reflects the real layout, occupancy patterns, and the specific risks your assessment has flagged. 2. Set out clear roles and responsibilities. Name the responsible person and any competent people appointed to assist, such as fire wardens or marshals. Make clear who raises the alarm, who sweeps designated areas, who helps people with mobility needs, who counts heads at the assembly point, and who meets the fire and rescue service on arrival. 3. Document escape routes, signage, and assembly points. Map out the primary and secondary escape routes from every part of the premises, including alternatives if the main route is blocked. Record how exits are signed, how lighting and signage are maintained, and the location of external assembly points far enough from the building to be safe. 4. Address vulnerable people and visitors. Plan how individuals with mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments will be assisted, including the use of personal emergency evacuation plans where appropriate. Set out how visitors, contractors, delivery drivers, and other non-staff are briefed on arrival and accounted for during an evacuation. 5. Train, test, and keep records. Give staff induction and refresher training on the procedure, run practice evacuations at sensible intervals, and test alarms and emergency lighting regularly. Keep written records of training, drills, tests, and any changes to the premises that trigger a review of the procedure or the underlying risk assessment.

Common questions