Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans

We all want to know what to do during an emergency, like a fire breaking out in the building we live in.

In an emergency, you should follow your building’s evacuation strategy which may be stay put or simultaneous evacuation. However, in any event your flat is affected by fire, heat, smoke or by an alarm you should leave the building, using the safest route available.

But what if you need some extra help getting out?

If you think that would be the case for you – or someone you live with – then we want to make a plan to keep you safe.

And the official name for that plan is a Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan – which we’ll call RPEEP for short.

Who are these emergency plans for?

Whether you qualify for a RPEEP depends on a) whether you might need extra help and b) what kind of building you live in.

(a) A RPEEP is for anyone with a:

• Physical disability, like struggling to walk, see or hear, or having a long-term health condition
• Mental health condition, such as having severe anxiety
• Temporary injury, which you don’t usually have but could still stop you from getting out when you need to

(b) It also depends on the type and height of the building you’re in.

A RPEEP is for you if you’re in a building that’s either:

• at least 18 metres or 7 storeys high, OR
• over 11 metres and has a ‘simultaneous evacuation strategy’

(A simultaneous evacuation strategy means everyone is expected to leave the building at the same time during an emergency. The opposite is staying inside until you’re told it’s safe.)

What if you need an evacuation plan?

First of all, RPEEPs are voluntary, so we’ll only put one together for you if you want one. We do encourage you to get in touch if you think you might need one – they’re there to keep you safe.

If you do get in touch, we’ll put together a personalised plan that’s tailored to your specific situation.

We’ll then add it to our overall plan for how everyone will evacuate in your building, just so we know exactly who needs what support.

Finally, we can share your details with the local Fire & Rescue Service, but only your permission. And we’d never share any personal medical details, only:

• your flat number
• your floor level
• the type of help you might need