Evacuation duties from 6 April 2026
New legal duties on residential evacuation planning in certain buildings take effect on 6 April 2026.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has said the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will apply to Responsible Persons (RPs) for residential buildings 18 metres or higher or with seven or more storeys, plus buildings over 11 metres that operate a simultaneous evacuation strategy.
The regulations are intended to improve safety for residents who may struggle to evacuate during a fire.
SFRS described these as relevant residents and said this includes people with mobility challenges, sensory impairments or cognitive conditions.
What Responsible Persons must do
SFRS set out duties for Responsible Persons (RPs) under the new regulations.
Responsible Persons must identify relevant residents who may need assistance to evacuate.
Responsible Persons must offer and complete a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA) for those residents, setting out specific needs.
Responsible Persons must develop and agree an Emergency Evacuation Statement with each relevant resident, explaining what to do in the event of a fire.
Responsible Persons must prepare a building-wide Emergency Evacuation Plan and store it securely in a Premises Information Box that fire crews can access.
Responsible Persons must share essential information with SFRS, with the resident’s consent, to support operational planning during an emergency.
Rob Jenks, Group Commander for Protection at SFRS, said: “This legislation is a vital step forward in protecting vulnerable residents.
“We’re here to support Responsible Persons in understanding and meeting these requirements.
“Our Protection Team can provide guidance and resources to help ensure compliance and keep people safe.
“The Grenfell Tower tragedy highlighted the urgent need for clear evacuation plans for those unable to self-evacuate.
“These new regulations go some way in ensuring that no one is left behind in an emergency.”
SFRS said residents in affected buildings will receive a letter advising them about the change.