Definition
Fire Emergency Plan
A fire emergency plan is a documented set of procedures describing how occupants should respond to a fire alarm — including evacuation routes, assembly points, fire warden roles, arrangements for persons needing assistance (PEEPs), and how to call the fire and rescue service. Required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and informed by the fire risk assessment, it must be communicated to all staff and reviewed regularly.
Terms mentioned in this definition
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View training courseWhat Must a Fire Emergency Plan Include?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to establish appropriate emergency procedures and to ensure that all relevant persons are informed of and trained in those procedures. BS 9999 provides detailed guidance on what a fire emergency plan should contain. At minimum, the plan should cover:
- How the fire alarm will be raised and which call points are used for first-stage and general alarms
- The designated evacuation routes from every part of the building, including primary and alternative routes
- The location of the assembly point(s) and the procedure for accounting for all occupants on arrival
- The roles and responsibilities of fire wardens — which areas they are responsible for, how they carry out sweeps, and how they report to the incident controller
- Arrangements for persons who may need assistance to evacuate — including Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and refuge points
- The procedure for calling the fire and rescue service — who calls, from where, and what information to provide
- Actions staff should take on discovering a fire (raise alarm, call 999, do not delay evacuation)
- Post-evacuation procedure — who makes the all-clear decision, when re-entry is permitted
Who Needs a Fire Emergency Plan?
All non-domestic premises subject to the RRO need documented emergency procedures. For premises with five or more employees, these must be in writing. Best practice — and the expectation of fire risk assessors working to PAS 79-1 — is to produce a written plan for all non-domestic premises regardless of size. The plan should be specific to the building — generic templates alone are not sufficient.
Communicating and Testing the Plan
A fire emergency plan is only effective if every person in the building knows it. The responsible person must:
- Brief all new employees on the fire emergency plan as part of their induction
- Display fire action notices at call points and on escape routes — summarising the key actions
- Ensure fire wardens receive specific training covering their individual roles within the plan
- Test the plan through regular fire drills — at least annually (more frequently for high-risk or high-turnover premises)
- Update the plan whenever the building layout, occupancy, or fire safety systems change
Linking the Plan to PEEPs
Any person in the building who may not be able to evacuate independently — including people with mobility impairments, visual or hearing impairments, cognitive disabilities, or temporary injuries — must have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) that is integrated into the fire emergency plan. PEEPs identify the assistance required, who will provide it, and any specialist equipment (such as evacuation chairs) that should be available on escape routes or at refuge areas.
Relevant UK Standards & Legislation
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005Articles 15–19 require emergency procedures, instruction to employees, and fire drills
- BS 9999:2017Provides detailed guidance on the content and format of fire emergency plans for different building types
- PAS 79-1:2020Fire risk assessment reports should reference whether an adequate fire emergency plan is in place
Related Terms
- Fire WardenGeneral Fire SafetyA fire warden (also called a fire marshal) is a designated person trained to assist with fire safety procedures in a workplace — including conducting evacuation drills, checking escape routes are clear, accounting for occupants at the assembly point, and supporting the responsible person in maintaining fire safety day-to-day. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to appoint a sufficient number of competent, trained fire wardens.View definition
- Assembly PointGeneral Fire SafetyAn assembly point is a pre-designated location outside a building where occupants gather following an evacuation, enabling the fire warden to account for all staff, contractors, and visitors before the fire and rescue service arrives. Assembly points must be clearly signposted, identified in the fire emergency plan, and positioned away from the building and clear of vehicle access routes.View definition
- Means of EscapeGeneral Fire SafetyMeans of escape are the designated routes — corridors, stairways, emergency exits, and final exit doors — by which building occupants can evacuate safely in a fire without obstruction. Adequate means of escape must be provided in all non-domestic premises under Approved Document B and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and must be identified and assessed in the fire risk assessment.View definition
- Personal Emergency Evacuation PlanGeneral Fire SafetyA Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is an individualised plan prepared for a building occupant who may need additional assistance to evacuate safely — including people with mobility impairments, visual or hearing impairments, cognitive disabilities, or temporary injuries. PEEPs identify the person's specific evacuation needs, the assistance and equipment required, the persons who will provide support, and must be reviewed whenever circumstances change.View definition
- Fire DrillGeneral Fire SafetyA fire drill is a planned practice evacuation of a building conducted to test emergency procedures, familiarise occupants with evacuation routes and assembly points, and assess fire warden performance. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS 9999, fire drills should be held at least annually — more frequently for high-risk or high-turnover premises — and outcomes, including evacuation times and any failures, must be recorded.View definition
Frequently Asked Questions
A fire emergency plan is a documented set of procedures describing how occupants should respond to a fire alarm — including evacuation routes, assembly points, fire warden roles, arrangements for persons needing assistance (PEEPs), and how to call the fire and rescue service. Required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and informed by the fire risk assessment, it must be communicated to all staff and reviewed regularly.
Requirements for fire emergency plan in the UK depend on the type of premises and applicable legislation, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and relevant British Standards. The responsible person for a premises must ensure adequate fire safety provisions are in place. The British Fire Consortium can provide guidance — contact our team or search our member directory to find a qualified specialist.
Fire Emergency Plan and Fire Warden are related fire safety concepts but serve different purposes. See our individual glossary entries for detailed definitions. For expert guidance on which applies to your premises, consult a BFC member company.
The British Fire Consortium offers EAL Level 3 accredited training covering fire safety systems including topics related to fire emergency plan. Our courses are the only nationally recognised Level 3 qualifications across all fire disciplines. View our training courses or use the member directory to find a qualified trainer near you.