New Requirements for Responsible Persons Under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025

The UK Government has released draft regulations addressing a key recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry The proposed Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 focus on ensuring the safe evacuation of residents with cognitive or physical impairments in residential buildings. While extending to England and Wales, the regulations will apply only in England, pending approval from the Welsh Senedd.

Application and scope

The regulations apply to “specified residential buildings,” defined as those with two or more domestic premises and:

• A height of at least 18 metres,
• At least seven storeys, or
• A height over 11 metres with a simultaneous evacuation strategy.

This expands coverage beyond the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA), potentially marking the beginning of broader reforms.

Key responsibilities for responsible persons

Person-Centered Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRA): Managing agents or building owners must offer to conduct a PCFRA for any “relevant resident” and carry out the assessment upon request. A relevant resident is a permanent occupant whose ability to evacuate independently is compromised by physical or cognitive conditions. Examples include those with mobility impairments, sensory processing differences, neurodegenerative conditions, or temporary injuries.

The PCFRA must evaluate fire safety risks in the resident’s unit and common areas and the resident’s evacuation capability.

Following the assessment, responsible persons must discuss and implement appropriate mitigation measures as well as determine cost-sharing arrangements with residents.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Statements (PEES): After a PCFRA, responsible persons must document agreed evacuation approaches in a PEES. These must be reviewed annually as a minimum or as needed.

Information Sharing with Fire Authorities: Responsible persons must provide local fire services with details about relevant residents’ needs, subject to consent. This information may be stored in a secure information box within the building.

Building Emergency Evacuation Plans (BEEP):

A BEEP must outline evacuation strategies, including details on residents with PEES. The plan must be reviewed annually, shared with fire services, and updated in secure information boxes.

Preparing for Compliance:

Drafted alongside standards like BS9792, these regulations emphasise accountability and tailored fire safety. Organisations are advised to start to prepare the residents and their internal processess for the introduction of these new requirements over the next few months.

As parliament debates the draft legislation, these regulations represent a critical step towards improving fire safety and ensuring inclusive evacuation strategies for vulnerable residents.