A PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) is a bespoke escape plan for anyone who cannot evacuate a building safely and without assistance in an emergency. It's a legal requirement under both the Equality Act 2010 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Do you have anyone who may need assistance evacuating?
This helps determine if you need PEEPs.
What is a PEEP?
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is a tailored emergency escape plan for individuals who cannot safely evacuate a building unaided during an emergency such as a fire.
PEEPs are developed for people who have:
- Mobility impairments - wheelchair users, those using walking aids, temporary injuries
- Visual impairments - blind or partially sighted people who may be unfamiliar with the building
- Hearing impairments - deaf or hard of hearing people who may not hear alarms
- Cognitive impairments - learning disabilities, dementia, confusion
- Temporary conditions - broken leg, late-stage pregnancy, post-surgery recovery
- Other needs - certain medical conditions, anxiety disorders, or any other circumstance that affects evacuation ability
A PEEP isn't just about physical disability. It's for anyone who might struggle to evacuate quickly and safely on their own, for any reason. This includes temporary conditions and situations.
Who needs a PEEP?
The answer is simple: anyone who cannot evacuate independently and without assistance.
Employees
If you employ someone who needs assistance to evacuate, you must provide a PEEP. This is a legal requirement under:
- The Equality Act 2010 (reasonable adjustments for disabled employees)
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (duty to protect all employees)
Residents
In residential settings (care homes, supported housing, HMOs with vulnerable residents), PEEPs are essential for:
- Elderly residents with mobility issues
- People with disabilities
- Anyone with conditions affecting their ability to evacuate
Visitors and customers
You should also consider how you'll assist visitors who may need help evacuating:
- Wheelchair users visiting your premises
- People with guide dogs
- Anyone who informs you they may need assistance
While you may not create formal written PEEPs for every visitor, you need procedures and trained staff to assist anyone who needs help evacuating.
Legal requirements
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Fire Safety Order requires the "responsible person" to ensure effective means of escape for all occupants, including those who may need assistance.
Article 8 specifically states that routes and exits must be appropriate for all persons who may use them. Article 15 requires suitable arrangements for emergency evacuation, taking into account the needs of vulnerable people.
The Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act requires employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. This includes ensuring they can evacuate safely in an emergency.
Failing to provide a PEEP for someone who needs one could constitute disability discrimination.
Fire Safety Act 2021
The Fire Safety Act 2021 reinforced existing duties and extended them to include the structure, external walls, and common parts of multi-occupied residential buildings. This makes PEEPs even more critical in residential settings.
Not having a PEEP when one is needed can result in enforcement action, prosecution, and civil claims. More importantly, it puts lives at risk.
What should a PEEP contain?
An effective PEEP is specific to both the individual and the building. It should include:
Personal information
- Name of the person
- Location of their workstation/room/usual location
- Nature of their disability or condition (with their consent)
- Any relevant medical information
Evacuation details
- Normal evacuation route - primary escape route and any considerations
- Alternative routes - what to do if the primary route is blocked
- Assistance required - what specific help is needed
- Assistants - named individuals responsible for helping (primary and backup)
- Equipment needs - evacuation chairs, wheelchairs, hearing loops
- Communication method - how to alert them (visual alarm, personal alert, buddy system)
Assembly point arrangements
- Where the person will go after evacuation
- How they will be accounted for
- Any specific needs at the assembly point (seating, shelter, medication)
Refuge areas (if applicable)
- Location of refuge areas (if the building has them)
- How to use them and when
- Communication from refuge to incident controller
Training and practice
- Training the individual has received
- Training assistants have received
- Fire drill participation and any issues identified
The most important part of any PEEP is that everyone involved knows their role and that the plan has been practiced and proven to work.
Conducting a PEEP assessment
Creating an effective PEEP requires consultation with the individual concerned. They know their needs best.
Step 1: Initial conversation
Arrange a private, respectful conversation with the individual to discuss:
- Whether they feel they could evacuate safely without assistance
- What specific assistance they might need
- Any concerns or preferences they have
- Their consent to create a PEEP and share relevant information
Approach this sensitively. Some people may be reluctant to admit they need help or worried about drawing attention to their disability. Frame it as standard safety planning, not as singling them out.
Step 2: Assess the building and routes
Walk through the evacuation routes with the individual if possible:
- Can they navigate the routes independently?
- Are there obstacles or challenges (steps, heavy doors, narrow corridors)?
- Can they hear/see alarm systems?
- How long would evacuation take?
- Are there suitable refuge areas?
Step 3: Identify assistance needed
Determine:
- What help is needed - physical assistance, guidance, communication support
- Who will provide it - name specific assistants (at least two per person for redundancy)
- What equipment is required - evacuation chairs, portable ramps, communication devices
- How assistants will be alerted - that someone needs their help
Step 4: Document the plan
Write down the PEEP in a clear, accessible format. Include:
- All the elements listed in "What should a PEEP contain" above
- Signed agreement from the individual (where possible)
- Review date
- Distribution list (who has a copy)
Step 5: Train and practice
- Brief all named assistants on their roles
- Provide any necessary training (e.g., using evacuation chairs)
- Include the individual in fire drills
- Record what worked and what didn't
- Adjust the plan accordingly
Office effectively evacuates wheelchair user
A small marketing agency employed a graphic designer who used a wheelchair. Her workstation was on the first floor of a building with no lift. The agency conducted a PEEP assessment and implemented a clear plan.
During an actual fire alarm (false alarm), the employee was evacuated smoothly and quickly. Both she and management were confident the system worked. The practice drills had been crucial.
PEEPs work when they're specific, practiced, and developed in consultation with the person concerned. It's not about paperwork - it's about genuinely enabling safe evacuation.
Review and updates
PEEPs must be living documents, not static paperwork filed and forgotten.
Review every PEEP:
At least annually - Regular reviews ensure the plan remains current and effective.
After any fire drill or real evacuation - Did the plan work? Were there problems? What needs to change?
When circumstances change:
- The individual's condition or mobility changes
- They move to a different location in the building
- Building layout or escape routes change
- Named assistants leave or change roles
- New equipment or technology becomes available
When the individual requests it - If they feel the plan isn't working or their needs have changed.
PEEP Management Schedule
As soon as someone is identified as needing assistance
Train named assistants on their responsibilities
Practice the PEEP during evacuation drills
Discuss what worked and what needs improvement
Review all PEEPs with individuals and update as needed
Revise whenever circumstances change
Training staff
Everyone in your organisation should understand PEEPs at some level:
All staff should know:
- What a PEEP is and why it matters
- That some colleagues may need assistance evacuating
- Never to assume someone doesn't need help
- To follow instructions during evacuations
Named assistants must know:
- Who they're responsible for assisting
- What specific assistance is needed
- Where to find any required equipment
- Primary and alternative evacuation routes
- How to operate evacuation equipment (e.g., evacuation chairs)
- What to do if they're not present when alarm sounds
Fire wardens/marshals should know:
- Who in the building has a PEEP
- How to check PEEPs are being implemented during evacuation
- How to account for everyone, including those needing assistance
Training isn't optional. If assistants don't know how to help, or worse, do it incorrectly, they could put themselves and the person they're helping at risk.
Guest and visitor considerations
You can't create formal PEEPs for every visitor, but you must have procedures:
Before the visit
If someone books a meeting or appointment, give them the opportunity to disclose any assistance they might need:
- Include a question on booking forms
- Ask when confirming appointments
- Provide contact details for discussing requirements
On arrival
- Visitors with obvious disabilities should be discreetly offered assistance information
- Explain evacuation procedures when signing in
- Assign staff member as temporary assistant if needed
- Show them the nearest exits and refuge areas
General procedures
Document your general approach to assisting visitors:
- Staff trained to offer help respectfully
- Evacuation chairs and equipment accessible
- Clear procedures for accounting for visitors
- Information in reception about requesting assistance
Employee vs Visitor PEEPs
Employee PEEPs
- •Formal written document
- •Detailed and personal
- •Named assistants
- •Regularly practiced
- •Reviewed at least annually
- •Legal requirement for disabled employees
Visitor Plans
- •General procedures document
- •Flexible arrangements
- •Duty fire warden or available staff
- •Briefed on arrival
- •Updated as facilities change
- •Reasonable adjustment requirement
Bottom line: Employees need detailed, practiced PEEPs. Visitors need effective procedures and trained staff ready to assist anyone who needs help.
Confidentiality and data protection
PEEPs contain sensitive personal information about disabilities and health conditions.
Data protection considerations
Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018:
- Lawful basis - Processing is necessary to protect vital interests or for compliance with legal obligations
- Consent - Seek informed consent from the individual where possible
- Minimal disclosure - Only share information on a need-to-know basis
- Secure storage - Keep PEEP documents secure but accessible to those who need them
- Retention - Only keep PEEPs as long as needed, destroy when the person leaves
Who needs to know?
Balance safety with privacy:
Must have access:
- Named assistants
- Fire wardens/marshals
- Line managers
- Health and safety team
- Emergency services (in an actual emergency)
Don't need routine access:
- Other employees
- Contractors
- Visitors
Explain to the individual who will have access to their PEEP and why. Most people are comfortable with necessary sharing when it's explained respectfully and kept confidential.
Common mistakes and challenges
Mistake 1: Generic PEEPs
A PEEP must be personal and specific. Copying a template without tailoring it to the individual and your building makes it useless.
Mistake 2: Not practicing the plan
A PEEP that's never been practiced is just paperwork. You won't know if it works until you try it, and by then it might be too late.
Mistake 3: Forgetting about assistants' absence
What happens if the named assistant is on holiday or off sick? Always have backup assistants and make sure everyone knows who they are.
Mistake 4: Assuming people will ask for help
Many people with disabilities are reluctant to draw attention to their needs. You should proactively ask and offer support.
Mistake 5: Focusing only on physical disability
Don't forget about hidden disabilities - hearing impairment, cognitive conditions, anxiety, temporary injuries. PEEPs aren't just for wheelchair users.
Mistake 6: Not updating after drills
Fire drills are your chance to test PEEPs. If something doesn't work, update the plan immediately.
In residential care settings, failing to have adequate PEEPs has led to prosecution after fatal fires. This isn't bureaucracy - it's genuinely life-saving planning.
PEEP template guidance
While every PEEP must be personalised, a good template includes these sections:
Section 1: Personal Details
- Name, department/room number, contact details
- Brief description of mobility, sensory, or other relevant considerations
Section 2: Awareness of Emergency
- Can the person hear/see standard alarms?
- Any additional alert methods needed (pager, flashing beacon, buddy notification)?
Section 3: Evacuation Process
- Can they evacuate independently if assisted to the exit?
- What physical assistance is required?
- Equipment needed (evacuation chair, wheelchair, walking frame)?
- Primary evacuation route
- Alternative route
Section 4: Assistance
- Named assistants (at least two)
- Contact details for assistants
- What to do if assistants aren't available
Section 5: Refuge Areas
- Location of nearest refuge area
- When to use it
- How to communicate from refuge
Section 6: Assembly Point
- Designated assembly point
- Any specific needs there
Section 7: Training and Drills
- Training completed by the individual
- Training completed by assistants
- Participation in drills and outcomes
Section 8: Review
- Date PEEP created
- Review date
- Signature of individual (where possible)
- Signature of assessor
Keep the PEEP concise and practical. Emergency situations are stressful - assistants need clear, actionable information they can follow under pressure.
Frequently asked questions
A PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) is for a specific individual. A GEEP (Generic Emergency Evacuation Plan) is a general plan for how to assist people with common types of disability - often used for visitors or in buildings with many people needing assistance. Both may be needed, but PEEPs are more detailed and personal.
No. Refusing to employ someone because they're disabled or need a PEEP would be unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. You must make reasonable adjustments, which includes providing a PEEP. Only if the adjustment would be genuinely unreasonable (extremely rare) could it be justified.
Some people may be uncomfortable or feel singled out. Explain that it's about ensuring everyone can evacuate safely and that you have a legal duty. If they still refuse, document that you've offered, explain the risks, and consider whether you can demonstrate their safety without a formal PEEP. Seek professional advice in this situation.
Possibly. Being on the ground floor removes some evacuation challenges but doesn't eliminate all of them. Someone with mobility impairments may still need assistance, someone with hearing impairment still needs to know there's an alarm, and evacuation may involve steps or heavy doors.
This is challenging. If an employee genuinely cannot evacuate safely without assistance and works alone, you may need to: use technology (monitored alarm systems), adjust working arrangements so they're not alone, or consider if they can safely work in that environment. Take specialist advice.
Only temporarily in a properly designed refuge area while awaiting assistance. A PEEP must never have 'stay put' as the final plan. Everyone must be able to evacuate the building eventually. If the building has no suitable refuge, you need equipment or assistance to evacuate immediately.
Be respectful and private. Explain that you're reviewing emergency plans and want to ensure everyone can evacuate safely. Ask if there's anything that might make evacuation difficult for them, and offer to discuss arrangements. Frame it as normal safety planning, not as highlighting their disability.
At minimum: how to operate any equipment (evacuation chairs), the person's specific needs, the evacuation routes, and what to do in different scenarios. Training should be hands-on and practiced, not just reading a document. Commercial training courses are available for evacuation chair use.
Next steps
Make sure you understand your overall fire safety duties:
What is a fire risk assessment? →
Who is the responsible person? →
Need help developing effective PEEPs for your premises? A qualified fire safety professional can assess your building, consult with individuals, and create robust personal emergency evacuation plans that meet legal requirements.
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