A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is an individual plan designed to help a person evacuate a building safely in the event of an emergency. PEEPs are intended for people who may require assistance to evacuate because of a disability, impairment or other condition that affects their ability to leave a building independently.
The objective of a PEEP is to identify an individual’s evacuation needs and the measures required to enable a safe evacuation.
A Person-Centred Approach
A PEEP is specific to the individual. It considers how a person’s circumstances may affect their ability to respond during an emergency and identifies appropriate arrangements based on their needs. Depending on the individual, this may include considerations relating to mobility, hearing, vision or cognitive impairment.
Residential PEEPs in England
In England, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 came into force on 6 April 2026. The Regulations introduce a Residential PEEP process for certain higher-risk residential buildings.
The Regulations apply to:
- Residential buildings containing two or more domestic premises that are 18 metres or more in height or at least seven storeys, or
- Residential buildings over 11 metres where a simultaneous evacuation strategy is in place.
What the Regulations Require
The Residential PEEP process includes several key elements for relevant residents who may have difficulty evacuating without assistance:
- Identification of residents who may require support.
- A person-centred fire risk assessment.
- Consideration of reasonable and proportionate measures to reduce evacuation risks.
- A written Emergency Evacuation Statement setting out what the resident should do in the event of a fire.
- Sharing relevant information with the local Fire and Rescue Authority where the resident has consented.
- An ongoing process of review to ensure arrangements remain appropriate.
The Role of the Responsible Person
The Regulations place duties on the Responsible Person, typically the building owner or manager, to implement the Residential PEEP process where the Regulations apply. They supplement existing duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended, and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
Why Fire Doors Matter
Although a PEEP focuses on evacuation arrangements, the effectiveness of any evacuation strategy depends on the building’s fire safety measures functioning as intended. Correctly specified, installed and maintained fire doors form an essential part of compartmentation, helping to resist the spread of fire and smoke and protect escape routes while occupants evacuate or remain safely within protected areas, depending on the building’s evacuation strategy.
Keeping Plans Under Review
A PEEP should not be regarded as a one-off document. The Residential PEEP process includes an ongoing cycle of review so that evacuation arrangements remain suitable if a resident’s circumstances, the building or its fire safety measures change.
As fire safety legislation and guidance continue to develop, effective evacuation planning remains an important component of building safety. For those buildings within scope of the Regulations, Residential PEEPs provide a structured framework to help ensure that residents who may need assistance have appropriate evacuation arrangements that are documented, reviewed and, where applicable, communicated to the local Fire and Rescue Authority.
