Writing a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) sets out the arrangements needed to help an individual reach a place of safety during an emergency. Writing one involves consulting the person, assessing the building, agreeing routes and assistance, and ensuring the plan can be put into practice.

This guide explains who may need a PEEP, what to include and how equipment, training and regular reviews support effective evacuation arrangements.

What is a PEEP and who needs one?

Unlike a general evacuation procedure, a PEEP considers a particular person's needs alongside the building layout and available resources.

A PEEP should be considered for anyone who may have difficulty following the building's standard evacuation procedure. This can include people with:

• Mobility impairments: someone may need help using stairs, travelling longer distances or transferring into evacuation equipment.
• Hearing impairments: visual alarms, vibrating alerts or agreed personal notification may be needed if an audible alarm cannot reliably be heard.
• Visual impairments: assistance may be needed to navigate escape routes, identify obstacles or reach an exit.
• Cognitive or learning disabilities: clear instructions, familiar support, extra time or a particular communication approach may be necessary.
• Temporary conditions: an injury, recent surgery, pregnancy-related mobility difficulties or a temporary medical condition may affect evacuation.

Not every disabled person needs a PEEP. Decisions should reflect actual evacuation needs, not assumptions about a condition.

Is a PEEP a legal requirement?

Fire safety legislation requires organisations to consider people who may need assistance during an emergency.

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person to assess fire risks and establish suitable fire safety arrangements. The Equality Act 2010 also requires relevant organisations to consider reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

There is no single universal requirement for every disabled person in every building to have a document specifically called a PEEP. However, organisations must ensure their emergency arrangements adequately address the needs of people who require assistance.

See our guide to fire safety law and assisted evacuation in England and Wales for related guidance.

Residential evacuation planning

Certain higher-risk residential buildings in England are subject to additional requirements under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 6 April 2026.

These include specific duties relating to eligible residents who may need evacuation assistance. Residential evacuation planning has its own requirements and should not be confused with workplace or educational PEEPs.

How to write a PEEP: eight essential steps

Step 1: Consult the individual

Speak directly with the person about their abilities, preferences and likely evacuation challenges. Useful questions include:

• Can you recognise the alarm and understand evacuation instructions?
• Can you evacuate independently or use stairs?
• Do you need help with doors, changes in floor level or longer distances?
• Would you need assistance transferring into evacuation equipment?
• Could particular movements cause discomfort or injury?
• What assistance would you feel comfortable receiving?
• Do your requirements change throughout the day?

For children and young people, parents, carers and relevant professionals may also need to be involved. Establish what the person can do independently and where support is needed.

Step 2: Assess the building and escape routes

The plan must reflect the building where it will be used. Assess:

• The floors and areas the person occupies.
• Distances to suitable exits.
• Staircase width and gradient, landings and turning spaces.
• Fire doors and potential obstructions.
• Suitable evacuation lifts.
• Refuge areas and communication systems.
• Alternative routes and the building's overall evacuation strategy.

Evacuation equipment is not suitable for every staircase. Some manual chairs may be difficult to operate on steep stairs, while certain powered models may offer a more appropriate solution following assessment. Selection must account for the building, the individual and operator capabilities.

Step 3: Identify the assistance required

Determine whether the person needs help reaching an accessible exit, navigating stairs, transferring into equipment or understanding instructions. Alternative alarm notifications, trained staff or specialist equipment may be required.

Do not assume every wheelchair user needs an evacuation chair. Some people can use suitable accessible routes independently; others need assistance or equipment.

Step 4: Select suitable evacuation equipment

Where stairs present a barrier, evacuation chairs may provide a practical solution. Assess:

• The individual's weight and physical requirements.
• The equipment's maximum rated capacity.
• Stair design, gradient and landing space.
• Transfer requirements and the number of operators needed.
• Distance to the final place of safety.
• Whether upward evacuation is required.
• Equipment storage and accessibility.

Manual evacuation chairs are commonly used for assisted evacuation down stairs. Powered chairs may offer advantages where handling demands, steep stairs or upward evacuation need consideration.

Neither type should be selected without an appropriate assessment. The right chair is one that meets the person's needs and can be operated safely within the building.

Step 5: Identify who will provide assistance

Simply writing “staff will assist” is not enough. Identify:

• Who will provide assistance and how many trained operators are needed.
• How operators will be notified.
• Where they will meet the individual.
• Where equipment is stored.
• Who will help when the usual personnel are unavailable.

Account for annual leave, sickness, shift changes, lunch breaks and out-of-hours occupancy. A plan that depends on one person may fail during their absence.

Step 6: Document the evacuation procedure

Write clear instructions that those responsible can understand and follow during an emergency. Record the agreed route, assistance, equipment and alternatives if the usual arrangements are unavailable.

Use the template checklist below to structure the document. Only record sensitive personal information where genuinely necessary, store the PEEP securely and make it available to appropriate authorised personnel.

Step 7: Provide training and practise the plan

People implementing the plan must know what to do. Where evacuation equipment is required, practical training should cover:

• Equipment deployment and safe transfer procedures.
• Restraints and safety features.
• Operation on relevant staircases.
• Communication between operators.
• Emergency procedures and equipment limitations.

Reading a manual or watching a demonstration is not a substitute for suitable practical instruction. Operators need opportunities to practise in appropriate conditions.

Test evacuation procedures through suitable exercises, taking the individual's needs, consent and safety into account. Our evacuation chair training supports practical preparation for designated personnel.

Step 8: Review and update the PEEP

Review the plan at suitable scheduled intervals and following:

• Changes in mobility or support needs.
• A change of classroom, office or usual location.
• Building alterations or changes to escape routes.
• New equipment or changes in trained staff availability.
• Difficulties identified during exercises or relevant incidents.

A plan that worked previously may no longer be suitable after circumstances change.

What should a PEEP template include?

A template should provide a consistent structure without replacing individual assessment. Include:

1. Individual information: name or appropriate identifier, usual location, relevant contact details and the person responsible for the plan.
2. Evacuation requirements: mobility, communication, sensory and other relevant needs.
3. Building assessment: locations used, escape routes, stairs, refuges and potential barriers.
4. Equipment requirements: equipment type, location and relevant operating requirements.
5. Assistance arrangements: responsible personnel, operator numbers, notification methods and backup support.
6. Evacuation procedure: instructions for reaching safety, including alternatives if routes, equipment or assistance are unavailable.
7. Training and familiarisation: required instruction, practical training and exercises.
8. Review and approval: completion date, responsible person, review arrangements and agreed changes.

Writing a PEEP for schools and colleges

A student's PEEP must cover the different areas they use, not just their main classroom. Consider lessons on different floors, sports facilities, laboratories, assemblies, breaks and extracurricular activities.

Check whether:

• The student can evacuate from every area they use.
• Suitable routes and equipment are available.
• Enough trained staff are present throughout the day.
• Backup support is available when the usual teacher or assistant is absent.
• Parents, carers and relevant professionals have been consulted.

The strategy must not simply assume that a student unable to use stairs will remain inside until firefighters arrive.

Refuges and phased evacuation procedures must form part of an assessed, workable strategy with appropriate assistance, communication and contingency arrangements.

What is the difference between a PEEP and a GEEP?

Plan	Purpose	Example
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)	Addresses a specific person's evacuation requirements.	An employee's plan identifies equipment, personnel and procedures for assisted stair evacuation.
General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP)	Provides arrangements for people whose individual assistance needs are not known in advance.	A museum plans suitable equipment, accessible routes and trained personnel for visitors who may need help.

GEEPs are particularly relevant to public buildings such as shopping centres, hotels, leisure centres and entertainment venues. A GEEP does not replace an individual PEEP where one is needed.

Six common PEEP mistakes to avoid

1. Treating the plan as paperwork: a completed form does not demonstrate that arrangements are practical, understood or tested.
2. Relying on firefighters: workplaces and other non-domestic premises should not routinely depend on firefighters providing assistance the organisation should have planned.
3. Choosing unsuitable equipment: selection must reflect the individual, staircase and evacuation strategy.
4. Training too few staff: absences and shift changes can leave a plan without enough operators.
5. Neglecting maintenance: inspect and maintain equipment in line with applicable requirements, manufacturer guidance and the organisation's risk assessment.
6. Failing to review arrangements: changes to the person, building or personnel can make an existing plan unsuitable.

How Evacuation 360 can help

An effective PEEP combines suitable equipment, trained personnel and ongoing maintenance. Evacuation 360 offers:

• Evacuation chairs and equipment, including manual and powered chair options.
• Operator training and Train the Trainer courses to support internal evacuation chair training capability.
• Evacuation chair servicing to help maintain reliability and identify issues before equipment is needed.

The measure of a PEEP is whether its arrangements can actually be implemented—not how comprehensive the paperwork looks. Consult the individual, assess the building, prepare staff and keep the plan under review.

Contact Evacuation 360 to discuss equipment, training or servicing requirements.

Key takeaways

• A PEEP should reflect the individual's evacuation needs, the building layout and the resources available.
• Consult the individual before agreeing routes, assistance and suitable evacuation equipment.
• Identify trained personnel and backup arrangements for absences and shift changes.
• Practise the arrangements safely and review the plan when relevant circumstances change.