What are PEEPs? A guide to inclusive fire safety plans

Any business that allows people on site must have a General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP). A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) must also be created for those who need one, to ensure fire safety is made accessible to all. 

Here, we cover the purpose of PEEPs and what they should include, along with key considerations.

What is a PEEP?

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is a bespoke escape plan for individuals who may be unable to reach a point of safety unaided, or within an adequate amount of time, during an emergency. It details additional assistance or special arrangements so the individual – and all around them – are aware of what they need to do to aid safe evacuation. It is the duty of the ‘responsible person’, as outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure PEEPs are created for anyone who needs assistance, as part of their fire risk assessment duties.

Who needs a PEEP?

There are two types of PEEPs: permanent and temporary. A permanent PEEP is needed for any person who needs assistance when leaving the building in an emergency. This may include:

• Mobility impaired people, such as wheelchair users.
• Sensory impaired people, such as those who are blind or hard of hearing.
• People with certain medical conditions that may affect their ability to use stairs, such as asthma.
• Those with neurodiverse or mental health conditions, such as anxiety.
• Those who may have difficulties comprehending how to act in an emergency.

As such, permanent PEEPs are commonly required in care homes. Conversely, temporary PEEPs apply to those with impermanent medical conditions, such as people in the later stages of pregnancy, or people with short-term injuries (such as a broken leg), for example.

If it’s still unclear whether an individual needs a PEEP, question whether they could evacuate the building unaided, promptly, during an emergency. If the answer is no, a PEEP is needed.

Process for creating a PEEP

Each PEEP will be unique to the business and the individual, but there are several steps that must be taken during the creation process.

Firstly, everyone who may need assistance (including those who are temporarily impaired) must be identified as someone who needs a PEEP. Each one should be drawn up in collaboration with the person it’s being created for, along with anyone who would be assisting in the case of an emergency. The PEEP should consider escape routes, evacuation procedures and safe spaces, which must be made clearly identified using fire exit signs, and any special equipment or additional training required, along with any other detail that needs to be communicated for a safe assisted evacuation. Regular drills should be carried out to test the methods, and the person who needs assistance should be informed of their involvement as and when it is needed. 

When the PEEP has been sufficiently tested and refined where appropriate, it must be recorded and filed. It should also be reviewed at least annually to ensure it’s still relevant and suitable, as an individual’s situation may change or the building layout may alter. Finally, all class one medical devices such as wheelchairs and hoists must be maintained and regularly inspected.

Key considerations

Writing PEEPs can become quite complex when taking into account the environment, people and possible behaviours that may occur during an emergency. Here are some key considerations:

Training

Any emergency plan relies on the ability of staff to respond efficiently in order for it to be effective. Therefore, staff will require appropriate training, which may include fire drills, appropriate use of fire extinguishers and specific training for nominated members of staff, such as fire marshals.

Temporary refuge

A temporary refuge is a designated safe space where people who require assistance can wait for it. Its construction should be fire-resistant and provide a safe route to final exit – for example, at the head of a stairway. The refuge area must be clearly indicated using signage, and should be of sufficient size to accommodate people using it as a refuge and any people passing through on their way out of the building.

Safe routes

As many escape routes as possible should be detailed within a PEEP, in case the primary escape route becomes obstructed. It’s crucial to ensure that security devices for fire doors are all operable by the evacuating persons.

Reaching ground floor

Whether or not a lift is considered acceptable as a means of escape in case of emergency is “subject to adequate fire risk assessment and development of a suitable fire safety strategy by a competent person.”

While BS 9999 notes that a lift not specifically designed as a fire fighting or evacuation lift is “not normally considered acceptable as a means of escape”, it is further stated that “a lift that is not explicitly designed for evacuation may be used for evacuation, provided that it provides the same functionality as an evacuation lift” and subject to a risk assessment. Therefore, it’s crucial that the use of lifts in the event of an emergency should be individually risk assessed and put into context as part of a wider building fire strategy in order to establish suitability.

With regards to descending stairs safely, wheelchair users or people with physical, visual or cognitive impairments may need physical assistance.

Blind and partially-sighted persons 

Orientation training should be offered, which must include alternative ways out of the building. If a blind person uses a guide dog, it is important the dog is also given ample opportunity to learn these routes. 

Deaf and hearing impaired persons 

If surrounded by people who can hear, most deaf people will not require special equipment as they will be able to see and understand the behaviour of those around them. However, deaf or hearing impaired persons who are alone will need an alternative method of being alerted to an emergency. For example, many alarm systems have visual indicators in the form of a flashing light, or vibrating pager systems can be used. 

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