Posted April 27, 2026

Care Home Fire Evacuation Plans In Focus

SS Systems are offering a UK-specific overview of a Care Home Fire Alarm Evacuation Plan with a detailed table of expected evacuation times, resident types, and compliance requirements.

Content aligns with UK legislation and guidance, including:

  • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)
  • Fire Safety Act 2021
  • Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
  • National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) – Fire Safety in Specialised Housing (2024)
  • HTM 05-03 Part B (Healthcare Fire Safety)
  • CQC (Care Quality Commission) Fundamental Standards

UK Care Home Fire Alarm Evacuation Plan – Detailed Overview

  1. Evacuation Strategy (UK Standard)

UK care homes almost always use:

  1. Progressive Horizontal Evacuation (PHE) Move residents into an adjacent 60-minute protected compartment on the same floor. This is the primary UK approach.
  2. Vertical Evacuation (Only if Required) Used when:
  • The next fire-safe compartment is threatened.
  • The building layout limits horizontal movement.

Vertical evacuation is slower and requires evac chairs or sleds.

  1. Defend-in-Place (Risk Assessed)

Short-term protection in a fire-resistant bedroom is sometimes used for:

  • Non-ambulant residents.
  • Residents on oxygen or specialist beds.
  • Dementia residents who become distressed by evacuation but only when compartmentation is robust.
  1. UK Expected Evacuation Times

These are typical UK benchmarks used during fire risk assessments and drills. (Note: Actual times must be confirmed by drill evidence — required by CQC & Fire and Rescue Services.)

Evacuation Performance Table

Floor / Area Resident Type Expected Horizontal Evacuation Time Expected Vertical Evacuation Time Equipment Required
Ground Floor Mobile 1–2 minutes N/A Staff guidance only
Semi-mobile 2-4  minutes N/A Walking aids + 1 staff
Non-ambulant 3-6 minutes N/A Slide sheets / floor sleds / wheelchairs
Dementia 2–5 minutes N/A Familiar staff support
First Floor Mobile 2-4 minutes 1–2 minutes per person Stairs with staff
Semi-mobile 3-5 minutes 2-4 minutes per person Staff + walking aid
Non-ambulant 4-7 minutes 3–5 minutes per person Evac chair / sled
Dementia 3-6 minutes 3–6 minutes per person Extra reassurance + 1–2 staff
Second Floor Mobile 3-5 minutes 2–4 minutes per person None
Semi-mobile 4–7 minutes 3–5 minutes per person Evac chair support
Non-ambulant 5–10 minutes 4–7 minutes per person Evac chair or mattress drag
Dementia 4–8 minutes 4–8 minutes per person Enhanced staff ratio
Bedrooms All 1-3 minutes to move into corridor or refuge N/A Fire doors + staff assist
Communal Rooms All 2–4 minutes depending on distance to refuge N/A Staff escort

Whole-floor clearance (UK benchmark):

  • Low dependency floor: ~ 8–12 minutes
  • High dependency floor: ~ 15–30 minutes
  1. Resident Types (UK Considerations)
  • Fully Mobile
    • Move quickly with verbal prompts.
    • Evacuated first to free staffing capacity.
  • Semi-Mobile
    • Require handholding, arm support, or sticks/frames.
    • 1 staff typically needed.
  • Non-Ambulant
    • May be bedbound, full-time wheelchair users, or have severe frailty.
    • Must have PEEPs with specified evacuation aids.
  • Dementia / Cognitive Impairment
    • May resist evacuation or become distressed.
    • Need familiar staff and calm communication.
  • Bariatric
    • Require specialised equipment.
    • Slower evacuation times must be reflected in the FRA.
  1. UK Legal & Regulatory Compliance
  2. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – The Care home provider must:
  • Conduct a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment.
  • Implement and maintain a robust evacuation strategy.
  • Ensure staff are competent and trained.
  1. Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 – For care homes, this includes:
  • Monthly fire door checks
  • Annual fire door inspections by a competent person
  • Updated floor plans provided to Fire and Rescue Service
  • Maintenance of alarm and evacuation equipment records
  1. Fire Safety Act 2021 – Strengthens requirements on external walls and flat entrance doors (relevant for mixed-use or supported living homes).
  2. National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Guidance – Defines expectations for:
  • Progressive horizontal evacuation
  • Compartmentation standards
  • PEEPs for residents with vulnerabilities
  • Staffing levels required to evacuate at night
  1. CQC Requirements (Regulation 12 – Safe Care & Treatment) – CQC expects:
  • At least annual full evacuation drills
  • Mandatory evacuation equipment training
  • Records showing that night staff can evacuate the building
  • Each resident to have an up-to-date PEEP
  • Evidence that evacuation times are realistic for dependency levels
  1. BS 5839 and HTM 05-03
  • Category L1 fire alarm recommended for care homes.
  • Automatic detection throughout.
  • Weekly testing of alarms.
  • Annual servicing by competent engineers.
  1. Essential Documentation (UK)

 

Document Requirement / Purpose
Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) Mandatory under FSO; must be reviewed annually or after changes.
PEEPs Required for every resident; updated monthly or when needs change
Staff Training Logs Mandatory for CQC and fire authorities.
Fire Alarm Test Log Required weekly.
Fire Door Check Log Monthly visual checks, annual inspection.
Evacuation Drill Reports CQC expects at least annual—often quarterly in care homes.
ECQC expects at least annual—often quarterly in care homes. Must include evac chairs, sleds, alarms, doors, extinguishers.
  1. Summary (UK Context)

A compliant UK fire evacuation plan must show that:

  • PHE is the default strategy.
  • Full evacuation is only attempted once safe refuges are exhausted.
  • Evacuation times are realistic and evidenced by drills.
  • Staffing levels 24/7 can support the evacuation of the heaviest dependency mix.
  • PEEPs and the FRA reflect resident needs.
  • The home meets legal requirements under FSO 2005, FSA 2021, and relevant guidance.
  • Regular testing, training, and record-keeping are in place.

Our team aims to deliver expert customer care, from site survey to completion through to ongoing maintenance. Developing a lasting relationship with a partner you can trust to protect you and your premises whilst ensuring your businesses and organisations are fully compliant to the latest legal requirements. We are CHAS accredited, BAFE registered and, SSAIB certificated with BS EN ISO 9001:2015 & Construction Line approved, so your organisation can be assured that all our fire, security and safety equipment is designed, supplied, installed and maintained in accordance with the latest British Standards.

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