New fire safety regulations are on their way and it is important that you are prepared. The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 were introduced back in July 2025 but will come into force on 6th April 2026, in England only.
These new Regulations are designed to improve the evacuation process of residents in specific residential buildings – who may have a mobility issue or disability – and struggle to evacuate a building by themselves in the event of an emergency.
As a result, Residential PEEPS (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) will soon be a requirement to ensure you stay compliant and people stay fire safe.
To find out more about the new Regulations, including what Residential PEEPS are and why they are required, read our informative guide below.
Table of Contents
What Are Residential PEEPs?
A Residential PEEP should be a detailed evacuation plan, tailored to the individual, that covers several key areas to ensure that in the event of a emergency, the individual can be evacuated quickly and safely. This includes but is not limited to the following:
- Name of Resident
- Nature of Disability or Condition
- Whether any equipment is required for evacuation
- The designated evacuation route and method
- Location of Refuge Areas
- A scheduled date for a review of the PEEP
In order to learn this information, a personalised Fire Risk Assessment can be undertaken with the individual to discover their needs, and the particular risks.
Once the Residential PEEPs have been completed, copies of them are to be submitted to the local fire and rescue service, as well as a copy being kept on site within the information box on site.
Who Needs a Residential PEEP?
The new Regulations discuss what qualifies as a “relevant resident” in terms of issuing a Residential PEEP.
A “relevant resident” means a relevant person(1)—
(a) who is a resident of domestic premises in a specified residential building, where the domestic premises are that person’s only or principal residence, and
(b) whose ability to evacuate the building without assistance in the event of a fire is compromised as a result of a cognitive or physical impairment or condition.
As the regulation is divided into two separate criteria, it is important to tackle both points seperately.
Firstly, the “relevant resident” must be living in a building that contains two or more domestic premises, and is at least 18 metres above ground level or have at least seven storeys, or, is more than 11 metres in height and has simultaneous evacuation strategies in place. This is an evacuation strategy for certain buildings deemed to be high risk, where all residents should leave the building in the event of an emergency.
Secondly, an individual’s particular condition and needs should be discussed to decide whether they meet the criteria. Examples of people who need Residential PEEPs include people who:
- Use Wheelchairs or Mobility Aids
- Are pregnant
- Are impaired visually or of hearing that affects their ability to hear or see alarms
- Suffer from issues such as asthma or heart conditions which impacts their stamina.
Who Is Responsible for Enforcing Residential PEEPs?
The Responsible Person of the property will be tasked with overseeing the implementation of Residential PEEPs.
The “Responsible Person” is typically the owner of the building, or the person responsible for managing the property.
This person should initiate the roll-out of Residential PEEPs, identifying those in need, creating the individual plans, and also providing all necessary equipment and resources to allow the individuals to evacuate in accordance to the plan.
However, Residential PEEPs should be a collaborative effort. Health and Safety professionals may be consulted in order to provide expert guidance on the creation of the plan, and the relevant resident must provide all necessary information.
Before creating a Residential PEEP, the Responsible Person must first gain permission from the relevant resident.
What Happens If a Resident Does Not Give Permission?
A Resident can refuse to provide consent for a Personal PEEP. If they do so, the Responsible Person cannot force them to oblige. They can make them aware of the benefits in regards to their individual fire safety, but they must respect the resident’s decision. It is recommended that the Responsible Person keeps a thorough record of all communication to demonstrate what actions were taken.
Why Are Residential PEEPs Being Introduced?
These new regulations follow recommendations made in The Grenfell Tower Phase 1 Inquiry Report.
These recommendations included the following:
the owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to prepare personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for all residents whose ability to self-evacuate may be compromised (such as persons with reduced mobility or cognition)
This guidance has resulted in the government creating these new regulations last year, and they shall now come into force in April.
How UK Fire Consultants Can Help You
UK Fire Consultants aim to take the stress out of fire safety compliance. Our network of nationwide fire safety experts help you navigate the rules and regulations, using our years of industry experience to undertake Fire Risk Assessments at properties of all shapes and sizes, across the whole of the United Kingdom.
To ensure that Residential PEEPs can be accurately produced, an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment for the premises will be required.
Speak to the UKFC team today.
Request a Quote
Have a project or portfolio that you would like to work with us on? Get in touch and a member of our team will be in touch very shortly.