This week, on 8 June 2021, the Home Office has published a consultation with proposals to implement recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, which provided that personal emergency evacuation plans (“PEEPS”) should be put in place for high-rise residential buildings.
You might already be aware of PEEPS, as many workplaces have adopted them. In this instance, a PEEP will seek to provide those who cannot get out of a building unaided with a plan specific to them to escape a building in a fire emergency. Such persons could be (but are not limited to):
- Those with mobility impairments.
- Those with cognitive impairments.
- The hard of hearing/deaf.
- Those with sight impairments or those who are blind.
The consultation proposals aim to strengthen existing fire safety legislation under the Fire Safety Order 2005, by requiring the “responsible person” (the person having control of the building, or a degree of control) to:
- Prepare a PEEP for every resident in a high-rise residential building who self-identifies to the reasonable person as unable to evacuate in the event of a fire.
- Maintain up-to-date information about these residents.
Information gathered is then suggested to be kept in a place which is accessible to the fire service.
The consultation closes on 19 July 2021.
If you have any queries relating to building safety, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the building safety team via Joe Brightman, Ian Seeley, Molly Frankham or James King. Alternatively, you can email our dedicated email address at buildingsafety@ellisonssolicitors.com.
