Evacuation Planning
Evacuation planning ensures all building occupants can exit safely during emergencies including fire, gas leaks, or security threats. Phoenix STS develops comprehensive evacuation procedures, conducts supervised fire drills, and creates Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for people with disabilities. We help you meet the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and Fire Services Act 1981 requirements. Professional indemnity insured.
Evacuation Planning Services Ireland
Effective evacuation planning is a legal requirement for all Irish workplaces. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and General Application Regulations 2007, the person in control of premises must establish procedures to protect occupants from serious and imminent danger.
Contrary to common belief, responsibility for safe evacuation does not rest with the fire brigade. It falls squarely on those in control of the premises. Phoenix STS helps you fulfil this duty through documented evacuation procedures, regular fire drills, staff training, and ongoing support.
🔥 Legal Requirement: Emergency Evacuation Procedures
The General Application Regulations 2007 (Part 2, Chapter 1) require employers to establish emergency procedures including evacuation arrangements. The Fire Services Act 1981 requires persons in control to take all reasonable measures for safe evacuation.
Fire drills must be conducted at intervals specified in your emergency plan or fire risk assessment. Failure to comply can result in enforcement action, prosecution, and increased liability.
BEng
Fire Engineers
CPD
Certified Training
Nationwide
Ireland Coverage
PI Insurance
Full Cover
Evacuation Planning Enquiries
Why You Need Professional Evacuation Planning
⚖️ Legal Compliance
Irish legislation requires documented evacuation procedures and regular fire drills. Non-compliance can result in HSA enforcement notices, prosecution under fire safety legislation, and personal liability for directors and managers.
🚨 Life Safety
Effective evacuation planning saves lives. When occupants know what to do, where to go, and who is responsible, evacuation times reduce dramatically. Confusion and panic are minimised when procedures are practised regularly.
♿ Inclusive Evacuation
People with disabilities, mobility impairments, or sensory conditions require Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). Evacuation planning ensures nobody is left behind and that appropriate assistance is available.
🏢 Insurance Requirements
Insurers increasingly require evidence of evacuation procedures and fire drill records. Demonstrating proactive evacuation planning can influence policy terms and premiums, and supports claims in the event of an incident.
📋 Fire Risk Assessment Support
Evacuation planning is a key component of your fire risk assessment. Documented procedures, drill records, and PEEP arrangements demonstrate that identified risks have been addressed with appropriate control measures.
👥 Competent Persons
Legislation requires nomination of competent persons to implement emergency procedures. Evacuation planning identifies roles, responsibilities, and training needs for fire wardens, assembly point marshals, and evacuation chairs operators.
What’s Included in Your Evacuation Planning Service
Phoenix STS provides comprehensive evacuation planning tailored to your premises:
✅ Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Written procedures detailing actions on discovering a fire, hearing the alarm, and evacuation routes
✅ Fire Drill Planning
Scheduled fire drill programme with scenarios, observation criteria, and documentation
✅ Supervised Fire Drills
On-site supervision of fire drills with timing, observation, and detailed debrief reports
✅ Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans
Individual PEEPs for staff or visitors with disabilities or mobility impairments
✅ Fire Warden Roles
Definition of fire warden responsibilities, sweep procedures, and reporting lines
✅ Assembly Point Procedures
Roll call procedures, headcount verification, and communication with emergency services
✅ Evacuation Equipment Assessment
Recommendations for evacuation chairs, ski sheets, or other equipment where required
✅ Fire Safety Register
Documentation system for recording drills, equipment checks, and training records
✅ Evacuation Plan Drawings
ISO 23601:2009 compliant floor plans showing escape routes (optional add-on)
Our Evacuation Planning Process
Site Assessment
We assess your premises including building layout, occupancy levels, means of escape, fire detection systems, and any specific challenges such as multi-storey buildings, vulnerable occupants, or complex layouts.
Procedure Development
We develop written evacuation procedures tailored to your premises, defining actions on alarm activation, evacuation routes, fire warden duties, assembly points, and arrangements for people requiring assistance.
PEEP Development
Where required, we develop Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for individuals with disabilities, mobility impairments, or other conditions affecting their ability to evacuate independently.
Fire Drill Execution
We supervise fire drills, observing evacuation times, staff response, fire warden performance, and assembly point procedures. Detailed reports identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Training and Review
We provide fire warden training, evacuation chair training, and general staff awareness. Procedures are reviewed annually or when significant changes occur to your premises or occupancy.
Fire Drills and Evacuation Planning
Fire drills are a critical component of evacuation planning. They test your procedures, familiarise occupants with evacuation routes, and identify weaknesses before a real emergency occurs.
What We Observe During Fire Drills
- Response time: How quickly do occupants begin evacuating after alarm activation?
- Fire warden performance: Do wardens sweep their areas and report to the assembly point?
- Evacuation routes: Are escape routes clear and used correctly?
- Assembly point procedures: Is roll call conducted? Are visitors and contractors accounted for?
- PEEP implementation: Are people requiring assistance evacuated safely?
- Total evacuation time: How long until the building is confirmed clear?
- Communication: Are fire wardens communicating effectively?
All findings are documented in a fire drill report and recorded in your fire safety register for compliance evidence.
Legislative Framework for Evacuation Planning
Evacuation planning is required under multiple pieces of Irish legislation:
- Fire Services Act 1981 (as amended): Requires persons in control of premises to take all reasonable measures for fire safety, including providing adequate means of escape and ensuring occupants can evacuate safely.
- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005: Requires employers to prepare emergency plans and procedures, nominate competent persons to implement them, and conduct drills at appropriate intervals.
- General Application Regulations 2007: Part 2, Chapter 1 details requirements for emergency procedures including evacuation arrangements, first aid, and fire-fighting measures.
- Building Control Regulations Part B: Fire safety design requirements affecting means of escape, which inform evacuation planning.
⚠️ Professional Indemnity Insurance
All Phoenix STS evacuation planning services are covered by comprehensive professional indemnity insurance. This protects your organisation and provides assurance that our work meets professional standards. Certificates available on request.
Why Choose Phoenix STS for Evacuation Planning
✅ BEng Qualified Fire Engineers: Our team includes degree-qualified fire engineers who understand building fire dynamics, means of escape, and evacuation strategies.
✅ Practical Experience: We have supervised hundreds of fire drills across offices, factories, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities, and retail premises.
✅ Tailored Procedures: Every evacuation plan is customised to your specific premises, occupancy, and operational requirements.
✅ PEEP Expertise: We develop effective Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans that work in practice, not just on paper.
✅ CPD-Certified Training: Our fire warden training and evacuation chair courses are CPD certified.
✅ Nationwide Coverage: We serve clients throughout Ireland from our Longford base.
✅ Ongoing Support: Annual reviews, updated procedures when your premises change, and advice when you need it.
✅ Professional Indemnity Insured: Full PI cover for your peace of mind.
Evacuation Planning for All Sectors
Phoenix STS provides evacuation planning services for premises of all types:
🏢 Offices
🏭 Industrial
🏨 Hotels
🏫 Schools
🏥 Healthcare
🛒 Retail
🍽️ Hospitality
🏗️ Construction
For healthcare facilities including nursing homes and designated centres, see our specialised Healthcare Evacuation Planning service designed for HIQA Regulation 28 compliance and progressive horizontal evacuation strategies.
Evacuation Planning FAQs
How often should we conduct fire drills?
The frequency of fire drills should be determined by your fire risk assessment and emergency plan. As a minimum, most workplaces should conduct at least one fire drill per year. Higher-risk premises, those with shift workers, or buildings with vulnerable occupants may require more frequent drills. New buildings or significantly changed premises should conduct a drill as soon as practicable.
What is a PEEP and who needs one?
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is an individualised plan for someone who may need assistance to evacuate. This includes people with mobility impairments, visual or hearing impairments, cognitive conditions, temporary injuries, or pregnancy. PEEPs identify what assistance is needed, who will provide it, and what equipment (if any) is required.
Do we need to evacuate during every fire alarm?
Yes. Every fire alarm activation should be treated as a real emergency until confirmed otherwise. Occupants should evacuate immediately following your documented procedures. Investigation of the cause should only occur after evacuation is complete or by designated persons who have confirmed the location is safe.
Who is responsible for evacuation in our building?
The “person having control” of the premises is legally responsible for evacuation procedures. In practice, this duty is delegated to fire wardens, floor wardens, or emergency response team members. These competent persons must be trained, know their responsibilities, and be present in sufficient numbers during all occupied hours.
What records do we need to keep?
You should maintain a fire safety register containing: fire drill records (date, time, evacuation time, observations, attendees), fire warden training records, PEEP documents, evacuation procedure documents, and any incident reports. These records demonstrate compliance during inspections and support insurance claims.
Can you supervise our fire drills?
Yes. Phoenix STS provides supervised fire drill services. We attend your premises, observe the drill from multiple vantage points, time the evacuation, assess fire warden performance, and provide a detailed written report with recommendations. This independent observation identifies issues that internal staff might miss.
Do you provide fire warden training?
Yes. We offer CPD-certified fire warden training covering fire warden duties, sweep procedures, fire extinguisher use, evacuation coordination, and communication. Training can be delivered on-site at your premises or through our public courses.
What areas of Ireland do you cover?
Phoenix STS provides evacuation planning services nationwide across Ireland. We are based in Longford with easy access to all regions. Our consultants regularly work with clients throughout Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster.
Related Fire Safety Consultancy Services
Evacuation planning works alongside other fire safety services to protect your premises:
For healthcare facilities, see our Healthcare Evacuation Planning and Nursing Home Fire Safety Compliance packages.
Fire Safety Training Courses
Complement your evacuation planning with staff training:
We offer a full range of on-site fire safety courses and online fire safety courses with CPD certification, including fire warden training, fire extinguisher training, and evacuation chair training.
Protect Your People. Meet Legal Requirements. Be Prepared.
Effective evacuation planning saves lives. Ensure your premises has documented procedures, trained staff, and tested arrangements before an emergency occurs.
Contact Phoenix STS today for a quotation. Nationwide service. Professional indemnity insured.
Page updated: January 2026
