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Healthcare Premises

Residential care settings house vulnerable individuals, many of whom require assistance to evacuate. A tailored fire risk assessment and effective evacuation strategy are essential to protect residents, staff, and visitors.

To DO’s

● Healthcare premises must consider patients who cannot self-evacuate

● Emergency planning should be regularly tested

● Fire Risk Assessments should reflect the complexity of medical environments


Fire Risk Assessment

You must keep a written fire risk assessment, regularly reviewed and updated if the building use or layout changes.

It should:

  • Account for vulnerable persons unable to self-evacuate
  • Be tailored to shared or multi-occupancy medical facilities
  • Identify all fire hazards and sources of ignition
  • Include an emergency plan based on assessed risks

Evacuation Strategy

An evacuation strategy is essential:

  • Staff must be trained in roles and staged evacuations
  • PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) should be created for relevant patients
  • Drills should be conducted regularly

Evacuation Strategies

Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (Residential PEEPs) (gov.uk)


Additional Considerations

  • Fire detection and alarm systems should account for isolated or shielded wards
  • Escape signage must be clear, even in reduced lighting
  • Fire doors should never be wedged open

Fire Safety Signage and Wayfinding


Risk Management Templates

Use standard pro formas to assess your premises — but adapt them to reflect the specific structure, medical use, and patient needs of your facility.

Fire Risk Assessment Guide for Health Care Premises (gov.uk)


Other Guidance