Regulations for evacuation during fire come into place

Fahad Redha

April 13, 2026
3 min read

Regulations for evacuation during fire come into place

New national fire safety regulations have come into force on 6^th April 2026 that aim to strengthen evacuation arrangements for residents who might need some support to leave a building in the event of a fire.

The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 introduce a new process called Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs), which apply to multi-occupied residential building in England which contain two or more domestic premises and are either 16 metres (or seven stories) or higher, or more than 11 metres in height where a simultaneous evacuation strategy is in place. The regulations will place new legal duties on ‘Responsible Persons’ such as building owners, landlords, managers.

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To prepare for the new regulations, the London Fire Brigade says it has been “working closely with a range of internal teams and external stakeholders.” These include its partners across housing, fire safety, and disability advocacy, “to ensure systems, guidance, and operational processes are in place ahead of the go-live date.”

Under the new regulations, “Responsible Persons” will be required to take “reasonable steps” to identify those who might have difficulty evacuating without assistance due to physical or cognitive impairment. Such residents mut be offered a personalised fire risk assessment and, if the resident agrees, an emergency evacuation statement. A building-wide emergency evacuation plan must be developed and maintained.

The introduction of RPEEPs also hopes to increase the amount of personalised fire risk assessments carried out, alongside the Brigade’s existing Home Fire Safety Visits, “helping to further support residents who may be at greater risk,” it said.

Essential information such as flat number, floor level, and a basic indication of the assistance required, will be shared with the Brigade, with their explicit consent. No detailed personal or medical information would be disclosed. The Brigade says it has put in place “the systems and processes needed to receive this information securely and use it to support operational response in the event of a fire.”

Participating in the RPEEP process is voluntary for residents and consent can be withdrawn at any time.

“The Brigade encourages Responsible Persons to take a personalised approach, engage with residents, and keep evacuation arrangements under regular review to ensure they remain effective over time,” it said. More information for Responsible Persons can be found on London Fire Brigade’s website.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.