Emergency Response Plans
An Emergency Response Plan is made up of a number of different documents - ranging from contact lists and log sheets, to site plans and flow charts.
Every building of historic significance should have an Emergency Response Plan, but how complicated that plan is depends on the complexity of the building.
Visit Historic England's Writing an Emergency Response Plan page for detailed guidance and templates to help you get started.
Salvage Plans
A Salvage Plan is one of the documents that forms the Emergency Response Plan. If your organisation has items that would need to be salvaged in the event of a fire, you need a Salvage Plan.
What is a salvage plan
A salvage plan explains what actions need to be taken in the event of an emergency in order to protect a heritage building and its contents. A salvage plan helps our firefighters to:
- identify the items of historical value
- find specific items to be removed first
- know how to safely remove the items
- know their way around the building
Who’s responsible for a salvage plan
Every museum, gallery and historic building should have a nominated person responsible for the salvage plan. This person would ideally know which items are of most importance, and how best to remove them or protect them in place if the items cannot be moved.
The nominated person is responsible for ensuring a salvage plan exists, and is kept up-to-date.
Need help with your salvage plan?
For advice, guides and useful templates to assist with on what should be included in your salvage plan visit:
How to write a salvage planIf you need further help our expert Heritage Team offers support and advice to organisations developing their salvage plans: