Fire Drills and Evacuation Planning: Getting Everyone Out Safely

Why Drills Matter More Than Paperwork

In a real fire, people do what they have practised, not what a document says they should do. Smoke, noise and adrenaline strip away anything that has not become habit. That is why the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person not just to have an emergency plan, but to establish procedures and give staff adequate safety training, which in practice means running fire drills.

Start With the Evacuation Plan

Your fire risk assessment should shape the plan. As a minimum it needs to cover:

• How a fire is raised and how the alarm sounds in every part of the building
• Escape routes and alternative routes if the primary one is blocked
• The assembly point, far enough away to be safe and out of the way of fire engines
• Who does what: fire marshals, anyone responsible for calling 999, whoever checks the signing-in book
• Arrangements for visitors and contractors who do not know the building
• How you will account for everyone once outside

PEEPs: Do Not Leave Anyone Behind on Paper

Anyone who may need help to evacuate, whether because of a permanent disability, a temporary injury, pregnancy or a hearing impairment that means they may not hear the alarm, needs a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). A PEEP is agreed with the individual and sets out exactly who assists them, by what route, and using what equipment. A refuge point is a place to wait for assistance that is coming; it is never an instruction to wait indefinitely and hope.

How Often to Run Drills

At least once a year is the widely accepted minimum for most workplaces, and many premises benefit from every six months. Run them more often where staff turnover is high, where you operate shifts (night workers need drills too, on their shift), or where the premises are higher risk, such as care settings and buildings with sleeping accommodation. New starters should walk the escape routes as part of induction rather than waiting months for the next drill.

Running a Drill That Teaches You Something

• Vary the conditions. Occasionally block a primary escape route (safely, with a marshal explaining) so people practise using the alternative.
• Time it. Note how long full evacuation takes and track the trend.
• Watch behaviour. Who finished a phone call first? Who went back for a coat or laptop? Who propped a fire door open on the way out? These are the habits to fix.
• Test the roll call. Accounting for people is where many drills quietly fail, especially with flexible working, visitors and contractors on site.
• Debrief honestly. Gather the marshals, capture what worked and what did not, and record the drill with its lessons and actions. A drill that finds problems is a success; a suspiciously perfect drill has usually just failed to look.

Fire Marshals Make the Difference

Well-trained fire marshals turn a plan into an orderly evacuation: sweeping their areas, assisting those who need help, closing doors, reporting to the assembly point. Make sure you have enough to cover leave, sickness and every shift, and refresh their training periodically.

Integral Safety delivers Fire Awareness training covering evacuation, extinguishers and marshal duties, alongside professional fire risk assessments across the East Midlands. Contact us to make sure your plan works when it matters.