Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans - PEEPs Ireland

PEEP Legislative Framework in Ireland

The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 require persons in control of premises to take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of persons on the premises in the event of fire. For premises where mobility-impaired persons may be present, this includes having specific evacuation arrangements for those individuals.

For nursing homes and designated centres, HIQA Regulation 28 (Fire Precautions) requires that adequate precautions are taken against the risk of fire, including appropriate evacuation arrangements for all residents. HIQA inspectors assess whether individual evacuation plans are in place and whether staff are trained in their implementation.

The Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies and employers to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. In the context of fire safety, this includes providing personal emergency evacuation plans that ensure disabled persons can evacuate safely.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to assess risks to all employees and to prepare emergency plans that account for employees with disabilities or temporary impairments. PEEPs for affected employees are a direct requirement of this obligation.

BS 9999:2017 (Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings) provides detailed guidance on developing PEEPs, including assessment criteria, plan content, training requirements, and review schedules. Phoenix STS follows BS 9999:2017 guidance in developing all PEEPs.

What Should a PEEP Include?

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan is only effective when it covers every aspect of how an individual will be moved to safety during an emergency. Each PEEP must be tailored to the specific person, taking account of their physical capabilities, cognitive function, and the building they occupy. A generic template may serve as a starting point, but the finished document must reflect the reality of that person's situation in that particular premises.

The assessment begins with a thorough evaluation of the individual's mobility. Can they walk unaided? Do they use a wheelchair, walking frame, or other mobility aid? How far can they travel without resting? These are practical questions that directly affect the evacuation route selected and the time required to reach safety. Cognitive assessment is equally important - a person with dementia may not recognise an alarm, may become confused during evacuation, or may resist being moved from a familiar environment.

Each PEEP must specify the exact evacuation route for that individual. This is not simply the nearest fire exit - it is the safest route considering their particular needs. For a wheelchair user, this might involve a different corridor to avoid stairs. For a resident with limited vision, the route should follow walls and handrails that provide tactile guidance. The plan should also include an alternative route in case the primary route is blocked by fire or smoke.

Equipment requirements form a critical part of the plan. Depending on the individual's needs, this may include an evacuation chair, ski sheet, transfer board, carry chair, or evacuation mattress. The PEEP must specify which piece of equipment is to be used, where it is stored, and confirm that staff have been trained in its operation. Equipment should be tested with the individual before it is relied upon during a real emergency - what works in theory does not always work in practice.

Staffing is another essential element. The PEEP must state how many staff members are needed to assist with evacuation and identify who those staff members are during each shift. This is particularly important during night-time hours when staffing levels are reduced. If three staff are needed to evacuate a particular resident using a ski sheet, and only two staff are on duty at night, the plan has a fundamental gap that must be addressed.

Communication needs must be documented clearly. A person with a hearing impairment may not hear a conventional fire alarm and may require a vibrating pager, visual alarm beacon, or direct staff notification. A person with a visual impairment needs verbal guidance and physical assistance to navigate evacuation routes. A person with cognitive impairment may need calm, simple instructions and a familiar staff member to guide them.

The plan must identify the assembly point and set out post-evacuation care arrangements. For residents of nursing homes or care facilities, this includes maintaining warmth, administering medication if required, and ensuring continuity of care at the assembly point. The PEEP should also include review triggers - events that require the plan to be updated. These include any change in the individual's mobility or cognitive function, a fall or hospitalisation, a change to the building layout, installation of new equipment, or a change in staffing levels. At minimum, every PEEP should be reviewed annually, but in practice reviews should happen whenever circumstances change.

PEEP Development Process

Developing a PEEP is not a desk exercise. It requires a trained assessor to work directly with the individual, their care team, and the building itself. The process begins with an initial assessment carried out by a person competent in fire safety and familiar with evacuation planning. This assessor reviews the individual's care records, speaks with nursing and care staff, and meets the person to understand their specific needs and preferences.

Consultation with the individual is a legal and practical requirement. Where the person has capacity, they should be involved in decisions about their own evacuation. Even where cognitive impairment limits involvement, family members or advocates should be consulted. The individual or their representative may raise concerns or preferences that would not be obvious from a records review alone.

A building walkthrough is essential. The assessor must physically walk the proposed evacuation route with the individual (where possible) to identify potential obstacles, measure corridor widths, check door opening forces, and assess whether the route is viable given the person's capabilities. Stairways, ramps, threshold strips, and heavy fire doors can all present barriers that are not apparent on a floor plan.

Equipment selection follows the route assessment. The assessor determines which evacuation device is most appropriate, sources or confirms the equipment, and arranges a trial with the individual. A ski sheet evacuation, for example, should be practised at least once so that both staff and the resident are familiar with the process. This trial also allows the assessor to confirm how many staff are needed and how long the evacuation takes.

Once the PEEP is documented, it must be signed off by the person in charge of the premises and communicated to all relevant staff. Every staff member who may be involved in evacuating that individual must be briefed on the plan, know where the equipment is stored, and understand their specific role. The PEEP should be integrated with the overall fire safety management plan for the premises, and the fire drill programme should include practising the evacuation of actual residents rather than relying on simulated drills alone.

Regular review keeps the PEEP current. As a minimum, each plan should be reviewed annually, but best practice requires a review after any significant change - a fall, a deterioration in health, a change in room allocation, building works, or a change in staffing levels. Each review should be recorded and the updated plan reissued to all relevant staff.

PEEPs in Nursing Homes - HIQA Requirements

Nursing homes and other designated centres in Ireland are regulated by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) under the Health Act 2007. Regulation 28 (Fire Precautions) of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations requires that adequate precautions are taken against the risk of fire, with particular emphasis on arrangements that are appropriate to each individual resident.

The HIQA National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland reinforce this requirement. Standard 7.4 states that each resident has an individual emergency plan that takes account of their specific needs, including mobility, sensory impairment, and cognitive function. During inspections, HIQA inspectors routinely check that PEEPs exist for every resident, that they are current, and that they have been practised during fire drills.

Common inspection findings related to PEEPs include plans that have not been updated following a change in a resident's condition - for example, after a fall that reduced mobility or after a diagnosis of dementia. Inspectors also frequently find that staff are unaware of the specific arrangements for individual residents, that evacuation equipment is not accessible or has not been tested, and that night-time evacuation arrangements have not been adequately planned for reduced staffing levels.

Linking PEEPs to the fire drill programme is essential for HIQA compliance. Drills should not only test the alarm system and general evacuation procedures - they should also test the specific arrangements set out in individual PEEPs. This means practising the actual evacuation of residents using the designated equipment and routes, particularly during night-time simulations when fewer staff are available. HIQA inspectors look for evidence that drills have tested the evacuation of residents who require assisted evacuation, not just ambulant residents.

Night-time PEEPs deserve particular attention. Most nursing home fires occur when residents are asleep and staffing is at its lowest. The PEEP must account for the time it takes to wake and orientate a confused resident, the reduced number of staff available to operate evacuation equipment, and the possibility that multiple residents may need to be evacuated simultaneously. A robust night-time PEEP is one of the most important documents in a nursing home's fire safety management system.

Phoenix STS works with nursing homes across Ireland to develop, review, and maintain PEEPs that meet both the legal requirements under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and the regulatory expectations of HIQA. Our assessors are experienced in healthcare evacuation planning and understand the practical realities of evacuating residents with complex needs. Contact us to discuss your PEEP requirements.

PEEP Services Across Ireland

Phoenix STS delivers personal emergency evacuation plan services to healthcare facilities, nursing homes, workplaces, and organisations across all 26 counties in Ireland. From our midlands base, our experienced consultants travel to your premises to conduct individual assessments, develop tailored PEEPs, and train your staff.

Whether you operate a nursing home in Kerry, an office complex in Dublin, or a healthcare facility in Donegal, Phoenix STS provides professional, sensitive PEEP services. We understand the specific requirements of HIQA-regulated settings and the broader obligations of employers and care providers under Irish legislation.