Compartment Fire Evacuation Drills
HIQA Regulation 28 Compliant — Rescue Manikins — ASET/RSET Analysis — Nationwide
Book Compartment Fire Evacuation Drills
Independently assessed fire evacuation drills for nursing homes and designated centres. Two qualified assessors, rescue manikins, smoke simulators, and comprehensive ASET/RSET analysis reports.
Test Your Evacuation Capability Under Realistic Conditions
Phoenix STS delivers independently assessed compartment fire evacuation drills at your facility using rescue manikins, smoke simulators, and portable fire extinguishers. Our qualified assessors test your staff's ability to evacuate residents safely within required timeframes. Each drill cycle averages 30-40 minutes, with a full-day session yielding 8-10 drills. Two qualified assessors attend every session for precise timing and comprehensive documentation using ASET (Available Safe Egress Time) and RSET (Required Safe Egress Time) benchmarks.
Why Compartment Fire Evacuation Drills Matter
Protecting residents requires regular, realistic evacuation practice.
HIQA Compliance
Demonstrates compliance with HIQA Regulation 28 and the HIQA Fire Safety Handbook 2025. Provides documented evidence for inspections and registration renewals.
Realistic Testing
Rescue manikins simulating resident weight and smoke simulators create accurate conditions that test real evacuation capability, not just procedures on paper.
Independent Assessment
External qualified assessors provide objective evaluation of your evacuation procedures, free from internal bias or familiarity.
Staff Confidence
Repeated practice under realistic conditions builds genuine competency and confidence. Staff who have practised are better prepared for real emergencies.
Gap Identification
Identifies procedural, equipment, and staffing issues before a real emergency exposes them. Allows corrective action in a controlled environment.
Due Diligence
Provides comprehensive documented evidence of evacuation testing for HIQA inspectors, fire authorities, insurers, and registration bodies.
What Gets Tested During Drills
Our assessors evaluate every aspect of your evacuation capability.
Staff Response
Response to fire alarm activation, initial actions, and time from alarm to first evacuation movement.
Resident Movement
Room clearance techniques, resident handling, and movement to place of safety using appropriate equipment.
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation
Compartment-to-compartment evacuation procedures following progressive horizontal evacuation principles.
Evacuation Equipment
Proficiency with ski sheets, evacuation mats, evacuation pads, and other equipment appropriate to your facility.
Fire Door Operation
Fire door operation, closure, and compartment integrity during evacuation. Checks that compartmentation is maintained.
Communication
Coordination between staff members, communication with management, and handover procedures during the evacuation.
Pre-Drill Briefing
We review your facility layout, discuss compartments to be tested, confirm staffing levels, and brief staff on the drill format. Equipment is set up including rescue manikins and smoke simulators.
Drill Execution
Fire alarm is activated for the target compartment. Staff respond as they would in a real emergency. Our two assessors time every action and document observations throughout.
ASET/RSET Analysis
We measure Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) against Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) to determine whether your evacuation meets safety benchmarks for each compartment.
Debrief
Immediate verbal debrief with staff after each drill cycle, highlighting strengths observed and areas requiring attention. Constructive feedback to build confidence.
Comprehensive Report
Full written report delivered with individual evacuation times, ASET/RSET analysis, strengths identified, areas for improvement, and prioritised actionable recommendations.
Pre-Drill Briefing
We review your facility layout, discuss compartments to be tested, confirm staffing levels, and brief staff on the drill format. Equipment is set up including rescue manikins and smoke simulators.
Drill Execution
Fire alarm is activated for the target compartment. Staff respond as they would in a real emergency. Our two assessors time every action and document observations throughout.
ASET/RSET Analysis
We measure Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) against Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) to determine whether your evacuation meets safety benchmarks for each compartment.
Debrief
Immediate verbal debrief with staff after each drill cycle, highlighting strengths observed and areas requiring attention. Constructive feedback to build confidence.
Comprehensive Report
Full written report delivered with individual evacuation times, ASET/RSET analysis, strengths identified, areas for improvement, and prioritised actionable recommendations.
Legislative Framework
Compartment fire evacuation drills are a key component of fire safety compliance for nursing homes and designated centres under Irish legislation and HIQA guidance.
Health Act 2007 — HIQA Regulation 28
Regulation 28 requires the registered provider to ensure adequate arrangements for detecting, containing, and extinguishing fire, and for the safe evacuation of residents. Regular fire drills, including compartment evacuation, are expected as part of demonstrating compliance. View on Irish Statute Book
Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003
The Fire Services Acts place duties on persons having control of premises to take reasonable measures to guard against fire and to ensure safe evacuation. Premises must have adequate means of escape and fire safety management procedures. View on Irish Statute Book
Benefits
For Your Residents and Staff
- Confidence that staff can evacuate them safely in a real emergency
- Reduced risk through regular, realistic practice
- Staff trained to use evacuation equipment competently
- Improved response times through repeated drill cycles
- Clear communication procedures during emergencies
- Identification and correction of issues before they matter
For Your Organisation
- Documented HIQA Regulation 28 compliance evidence
- Independent verification of evacuation capability
- ASET/RSET analysis demonstrating safety margins
- Comprehensive reports for inspectors and registration bodies
- Evidence of due diligence for insurers and fire authorities
- Prioritised recommendations for continuous improvement
Our Consultants
Our fire evacuation drill assessors hold MIIRSM, CPSH.IIESMS, and CMIOSH qualifications with extensive experience in healthcare fire safety. Two qualified assessors attend every session to ensure accurate timing and comprehensive documentation.
Phoenix STS is Ireland's first CPD-certified fire safety training provider for the nursing home sector. All drill assessment services are covered by comprehensive professional indemnity insurance.
Compartment Fire Evacuation Drill FAQs
Content last reviewed: March 2026.
A full-day session (7 hours) yields 8-10 drills. Morning sessions (4 hours) provide 5-6 drills and afternoon sessions (3 hours) provide 3-4 drills. Each drill cycle averages 30-40 minutes including setup, execution, and debrief.
No. Phoenix STS provides rescue manikins simulating resident weight, smoke simulators, portable fire extinguishers, and all timing equipment. You provide access to compartments, staff at normal operating levels, and your own evacuation equipment (ski sheets, mats, pads).
Drills are conducted in compartments and areas agreed in advance. We work with your management to minimise disruption. Residents are not involved in the drills — rescue manikins are used to simulate resident evacuation.
ASET (Available Safe Egress Time) is the time from ignition until conditions become untenable. RSET (Required Safe Egress Time) is the time needed to complete full evacuation. For safe outcomes, ASET must exceed RSET. Our reports measure both and calculate the safety margin.
HIQA inspectors expect to see evidence of regular fire drills and evacuation capability under Regulation 28. Our comprehensive drill reports with timed evacuation data, ASET/RSET analysis, and recommendations provide documented evidence of compliance.
HIQA expects regular fire drills as part of ongoing fire safety management. Best practice for nursing homes is to conduct compartment evacuation drills at least quarterly, with all compartments tested over the course of each year.
Yes. You choose which compartments to test. We recommend prioritising the largest compartments (highest resident numbers) and any compartments where previous drills identified concerns.
Our assessors hold MIIRSM, CPSH.IIESMS, and CMIOSH qualifications with specific expertise in healthcare fire safety. Two assessors attend every session for accurate, independent assessment.
We provide an immediate verbal debrief after each drill cycle. The comprehensive written report with full ASET/RSET analysis, evacuation times, and recommendations is delivered within 5 working days.
Phoenix STS provides compartment fire evacuation drill services nationwide across all 26 counties of Ireland. We are based in Longford with easy access to all regions.
Nationwide Compartment Fire Evacuation Drill Services
Phoenix STS provides compartment fire evacuation drill assessment services throughout Ireland. Based in Longford with nationwide coverage, our qualified assessors work with nursing homes, disability services, hospices, and all designated centres across all 26 counties.
Related Services
Explore our full range of healthcare fire safety services.
Nursing Home Fire Safety Training
CPD-certified fire safety training for nursing home staff.
Healthcare Evacuation Planning
Comprehensive evacuation planning for healthcare facilities.
Book Compartment Fire Evacuation Drills for Your Facility
Do not wait for a real emergency to discover gaps in your evacuation procedures. Book independently assessed compartment fire drills and give your staff the practice they need to protect your residents.