The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will be coming into effect on 6 April 2026 with the aim to improve the fire safety and evacuation of residents in specified residential buildings in England who would have difficulties evacuating a building by themselves in the event of a fire. This may be due to a physical mobility issue, some other disability such as having a sight or hearing impairment, or a cognitive condition. The Regulations also mandate building emergency evacuation plans in these buildings.
Responsible Persons toolkit – GOV.UK
What buildings do these regulations relate to?
The Regulations apply to all buildings that contain two or more sets of domestic premises, and which is either (a) at least 18 metres above ground level or have at least seven storeys; or (b) is more than 11 metres in height above ground level that has simultaneous evacuation strategies in place.
What will they require?
- The responsible person of a relevant premises will need to identify those residents with mobility or other impairments and create a person-centred fire risk assessment with the consent of the resident to support their evacuation.
- A written Emergency Evacuation Statement should be created for each relevant resident with their consent specifying what they should do in the event of a fire
- The Responsible Person will need to review the person-centred fire risk assessment with the resident every 12 months or where amendments or updates are identified e.g. where the condition of the resident has changed
Sharing information with the local Fire and Rescue Authority
Responsible Persons (RPs) have a duty to share some basic fire safety information with their local Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) to help keep residents safe in an emergency. This can only be done with the resident’s clear and informed consent.
This information must be stored in a secure information box on site – not sent to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
What information must be shared
With the resident’s agreement, the RP must share:
- The resident’s flat number
- The floor the flat is on
- Simple details about the level of help the resident may need to evacuate
- Whether the resident has an Emergency Evacuation Statement
This applies to all residents who take part in the Residential PEEPs process, even if they have their own evacuation arrangements. Plans may not always work on the day of an emergency, so the fire service needs to know where residents who may need help are located.
Why this information matters
In an emergency, Fire and Rescue Services have very limited time to act. Having clear, short and useful information helps them plan rescues or evacuations quickly and safely. RPs should also encourage residents to tell fire Control about their needs if they make a 999 call.
Personal data and consent
Only the minimum necessary information should be shared, and all data protection laws must be followed. RPs must:
- Explain the benefits and risks of sharing information
- Get explicit consent before sharing
- Explain that refusing consent does not stop the FRS from rescuing someone
- Allow residents to withdraw consent at any time
How information is shared
This information must be stored in a secure information box on site. If the building doesn’t already have a secure box, the RP must install and maintain one that meets legal standards.
