What is an emergency plan?
If you are an employer, owner or occupier of premises that aren't a 'single private dwelling' (a private home), it's your responsibility to keep people safe from fire.
Though prevention is always best, you are required by law to make a detailed fire emergency plan. This plan makes sure that everybody knows what to do in the event of a fire and your people can take steps to keep themselves and members of the public out of danger.
What should be covered in your emergency plan?
A simple emergency plan must show that you have:
- A way to detect fire and raise the alarm
- A process for identifying false alarms.
- A clear understanding of who calls 999 and what information to provide to emergency services.
- An emergency evacuation plan with details of the type of evacuation (simultaneous evacuation, phased evacuation etc.), escape routes and exits.
- Clearly marked escape routes – these should be as short and direct as possible.
- Noted the location of refuge areas and communication devices in these areas.
- Fire safety signs and notices that inform occupants on what to do in the event of an emergency.
- Emergency doors that open easily – and emergency lighting if it is needed.
- Clearly defined roles and responsibilities of staff in the event of fire. Staff should receive fire safety training specific to their role.
- Set out a safe assembly point for all occupants.
- Identified who would be at risk and how best to support them, particularly vulnerable or disabled occupants who may require additional help.
- Appropriate firefighting equipment for the premises. For example, fire extinguishers, fire blankets etc. Staff should receive training on how to operate these if they are expected to use them.
You can find guidance about how to consider the needs of people with disabilities on GOV.UK. You can also download it, and a simple template to help you set out your emergency plan, at the bottom of this page.
What else should you consider in your fire emergency plan?
- Power/process isolation.
- Liaison with emergency services.
- Salvage plans for historic or valuable/irreplaceable items.
- Sleeping risk or other areas of special fire risk.
- Hazardous materials or dangerous substances. This information should be shared with emergency services as soon as possible.
- Records of testing and maintenance of fire safety equipment.
- Fire drills. Drills should be practised regularly and if any issues arise, they should be dealt with as soon as possible.
- Whether your fire emergency plan aligns with your Fire Risk Assessment. If it doesn’t, this needs to be discussed with the fire risk assessor and updates should be made to ensure it does align.
Does the emergency plan have to be recorded?
Recording the emergency plan is best practice.