The finalised Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 mark a decisive shift in building safety. With just months before they take effect, Responsible Persons face a clear challenge: identify vulnerable residents, assess real risks, and build evacuation plans that work in practice. The new Toolkit and Factsheet offer much needed clarity, but the real test lies in how organisations act now to support those most at risk.

Published 15 January 2026

In Lessons from Grenfell regulating the safety of vulnerable residents we considered The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 (the “Regulations”). These have now been finalised and will come into force on 6 April 2026.

What matters

Responsible Persons have around three months to prepare for the changes the Regulations introduce which require them to identify if the Regulations apply to buildings for which they are responsible (see our previous article¹- Buildings caught by the Regulations) and to identify and support vulnerable residents (“relevant residents”) who may need assistance leaving the building in the event of a fire by taking steps such as:

• preparing emergency evacuation statements for relevant residents following completion of a person-centred fire risk assessment
• preparing a building emergency evacuation plan for buildings to which the Regulations apply

What matters next

To prepare for the commencement date, Responsible Persons (RPs) should now:

• assess whether the Regulations apply to their buildings
• begin preparations to comply with the new duties, including using reasonable endeavours to identify relevant residents
• review existing evacuation strategies
• familiarise themselves with the RPs Toolkit² and Residential  PEEPs Factsheet³, which were published by the government on 4 July 2025

Further steps to prepare for commencement

The steps above will assist RPs in undertaking the following further preparatory steps:

• offer and conduct person-centred fire risk assessments (PCFRAs) for relevant residents who request them
• discuss and agree emergency evacuation statements with residents
• determine and implement mitigating measures, including cost responsibilities
• provide information to the local Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), with the resident’s consent
• prepare and maintain a building emergency evacuation plan
• install and maintain a secure information box if required
• establish procedures for all plans, assessments and mitigation to be reviewed annually, or earlier as needed

The finalised Regulations

Two further provisions appear in the finalised Regulations:

• Regulation 12 confirms the duties imposed by the Regulations do not require or authorise the processing of information which would contravene data protection legislation but the duties will be taken into account in deciding if the processing breaches that legislation
• Regulation 14 amends the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 to mandate that the secure information box required by section 4 of those Regulations is capable of containing the documents required to be placed in it by those Regulations and by The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025

The following key draft provisions have been amended in the finalised Regulations:

• Regulation 3 adds the words “above ground level“ when describing buildings caught by the Regulations which are more than 11 metres in height; this reflects the same wording used in the draft Regulations, and which appear again in the final version, when referring to buildings at least 18 metres in height

• Regulation 6(2) clarifies that, when conducting a person-centred fire risk assessment ("PCFRA"), the following must be assessed:

  • the risks⁴ to the relevant resident arising from their compromised ability to leave the building without assistance in the event of fire
  • any other risks to the resident as regards the building considering their cognitive or physical impairment

The toolkit

The Toolkit is a practical resource designed to help RPs improve fire safety for residents who may struggle to evacuate during a fire. It complements but is separate from the Regulations and is intended to be useful even for buildings outside the scope of the new legal requirements. RPs can save time and resources by learning from others’ experiences.

The Toolkit shares real-life examples and case studies from housing providers with varying resources responsible for numerous building types, covering the following themes:

• use of PCFRAs
• identifying and engaging residents
• providing “in-flat” fire safety measures
• information sharing with the FRS

Feedback and contributions are invited which should promote the Toolkit evolving best practices.

1. Using PCFRAs

• Orbit Housing: Uses general risk assessments when residents move into supported / specialised housing, with automatic safeguarding referrals to relevant organisations following the assessment, including to the local FRS. Risk assessments are generally carried out by Orbit’s ‘scheme officers’, who are familiar with the property and its residents, however, they can also be carried out centrally, with one person dealing with all the high-rise residential buildings. Scheme officers are given IOSH general risk assessment training supplemented by additional internal training. Orbit has used the London Fire Brigade’s checklist when fire specific risk assessments have been required.
• Hammersmith & Fulham Council:  Offers PCFRAs in all their high-rise buildings, using housing officers’ knowledge of residents. The Council started by offering PCFRAs to residents already known to be vulnerable, first by letter and then following up with phone calls. The PCFRA is resident-led, focusing on the resident, assessing what they can and cannot do and then considering what they should do in the event of a fire.
• South Holland District Council: The Council offers PCFRAs to all new tenants using simple three question assessments. Serious cases are referred the FRS and if it transpires that evacuation is not feasible, residents may be relocated.

2. Identifying and Engaging Residents

Existing staff knowledge is used to identify potentially vulnerable residents with calls following up on letters. Voluntary participation is encouraged. Some councils attend home visits with the FRS.

3. Provision of ‘In-Flat’ Fire Safety Measures

Such measures include, for example:

• fire-retardant bedding
• smoke detectors and sprinklers
• misting systems
• specialised alarms for sensory impairments
• vibrating pillows

4. Information Sharing with the FRS

Secure Information Boxes or direct communication is used to share key information with the FRS, subject to residents’ consent.

The factsheet

The Factsheet is not intended to be guidance but has been published to provide information about the Regulations to RPs, residents and other interested parties. The opening paragraphs usefully summarise the duties RPs must meet under the Regulations once they come into force and emphasizes the requirement for residents’ consent throughout every stage of the process, including the decision to participate in the preparation of evacuation statements, agreeing the statement and the sharing of information with the FRS. The Factsheet goes on to set out the contents of the Regulations.

Comment

The finalised Regulations mark a significant step in implementing the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendations. They place clear and enforceable duties on RPs to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents. The publication of the RPs Toolkit and Factsheet provides practical examples and practical support which should assist with compliance and should help RPs demonstrate that they have taken reasonable steps to meet their obligations under the Regulations. RPs must now act, in the countdown to 6 April 2026, to identify relevant residents, conduct PCFRAs, and prepare evacuation plans.

Looking ahead, the success of these reforms will depend on effective collaboration particularly between RPs, residents and the FRS. Feedback and shared learning will be key to evolving best practices and ensuring the Regulations deliver meaningful change.

And finally…

We will continue to monitor developments as the implementation date approaches and will support RPs in interpreting and applying the Regulations in practice.

[1] Lessons from Grenfell regulating the safety of vulnerable residents

[2] Responsible Persons toolkit - GOV.UK

[3] Residential PEEPs: Factsheet - GOV.UK

[4] "“risk” means the risk to the safety of persons from fire"- Article 2 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.