UK fire service urges legislators to identify high rise resident in special need of evacuation
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Surrey Fire Service Urges Action Ahead of Major Change to UK Fire Safety Law
Surrey, England — According to the BBC, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is urging building owners and managers to prepare for significant new legal duties coming into force this spring, aimed at protecting residents who may struggle to evacuate during a fire.
From 6 April, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will require “responsible persons” in certain residential buildings to identify residents who need assistance to escape, and to complete a person‑centred fire risk assessment for each of them. The change follows key recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which highlighted the absence of clear, individual evacuation plans for vulnerable residents.
Rob Jenks, Group Commander for Protection at SFRS, said the Grenfell disaster exposed “the urgent need for clear evacuation plans for those unable to self‑evacuate,” stressing that the new duties are designed to prevent similar failures.
Under the regulations, responsible persons must also:
- Develop and agree an emergency evacuation statement with each relevant resident
- Set out what that resident should do in the event of a fire
- Prepare a building‑wide emergency evacuation plan
- Ensure plans are kept up to date and communicated clearly
The rules apply to residential buildings 18 metres or seven storeys and above, as well as buildings over 11 metres that operate a simultaneous evacuation strategy.
SFRS said the changes represent a major shift in accountability for high‑rise safety and urged building managers to begin preparations immediately to ensure compliance by April.
Photo Credit: Get Archive.net Public Domain Photo
Firemen from Ft. Campbell Fire Department use a litter to carry a wounded soldier during a simulation training exercise 8 May at Fort Campbell, Ky. An STX was conducted to evaluate Ft Campbell’s emergency service response time and procedures, the simulation included a crashed helicopter, several fires and wounded personnel portrayed by Ft. Campbell soldiers.
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Further Reading:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2k802qqevzo
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/community/fire-and-rescue