On 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 came into force. They place new duties on those responsible for higher-risk residential buildings, focused on residents who would struggle to evacuate on their own. If you manage a relevant building, here is what you need to do.
What the regulations require
The regulations are designed to improve the safety of residents who cannot evacuate without help in the event of a fire. They require the responsible person to identify those residents, assess their needs, and put a personal plan in place so everyone knows what should happen if a fire breaks out.
Which buildings are covered?
The regulations apply to buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises that are either at least 18 metres tall or have at least seven storeys, or are more than 11 metres tall and operate a simultaneous evacuation strategy. In short, they target taller and higher-risk residential blocks, including many mixed-use and high-rise developments.
Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans
At the heart of the regulations are Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, known as RPEEPs. An RPEEP is required for any resident who cannot safely self-evacuate without assistance, which may include people with mobility, sensory, cognitive or health-related needs. The plan sets out what that resident should do, and what support is in place, if there is a fire.
What the responsible person must do
- Identify residents who may need help to evacuate.
- Carry out a person-centred fire risk assessment for each of them.
- Produce a written Building Emergency Evacuation Statement for each relevant resident, setting out what they should do in a fire.
- Review the process within 12 months, and at least every 12 months after that.
Participation is voluntary for residents, and their consent is needed both to take part and to share information with third parties such as the fire service.
How this fits with the rest of your fire safety
The regulations sit alongside the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and the duties created by the Building Safety Act. Evacuation planning works best when the building's physical fire protection is sound, which means well-maintained alarm, compartmentation and suppression systems. A maintained sprinkler system, for example, buys time by controlling a fire at the source, which supports any evacuation strategy. Keeping those systems in good order through regular servicing is part of demonstrating that your building is safe.
A simple compliance checklist
- Confirm whether your building falls within scope.
- Identify residents who may need assistance and seek their consent.
- Complete person-centred assessments and written evacuation statements.
- Set a 12-month review cycle.
- Check that alarm, compartmentation and suppression systems are maintained and documented.
Need help?
If you are not sure whether your building is covered, or you want to make sure your fire protection systems support your evacuation strategy, contact Eversafe for a free site survey and advice. For workplaces, see our guide to designing an evacuation strategy for your business.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Residential Evacuation Plans Regulations come into force?
They came into force on 6 April 2026.
Which buildings do they apply to?
Residential buildings with two or more domestic premises that are at least 18m or seven storeys, or over 11m with a simultaneous evacuation strategy.
What is an RPEEP?
A Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan for any resident who cannot safely evacuate without assistance.