RPEEPs: What They Are, Why They Matter, and Why They’re So Challenging to Deliver

Resident Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs) are becoming one of the most significant developments in fire safety within residential buildings. They are designed to ensure that individuals who may struggle to self-evacuate in an emergency—such as those with mobility, cognitive, or sensory impairments—have a clear, pre-planned method of getting to safety. At their core, RPEEPs are about one thing: protecting life. But in practice, they introduce a level of complexity that many Responsible Persons (RPs), building managers, and even fire and rescue services are still working through.

What are RPEEPs?

An RPEEP is a personalised evacuation plan tailored to a specific resident who may not be able to evacuate a building independently in the event of a fire. It considers the individual’s needs, the building’s design, and the available resources to support safe evacuation. This could include assistance from trained staff or nominated persons, the use of evacuation aids such as evacuation chairs, temporary safe refuge arrangements, or phased and supported evacuation strategies. Unlike general evacuation plans, RPEEPs are individual, dynamic, and require ongoing review as residents and building conditions change.

Why RPEEPs Matter

For residents, particularly those who are vulnerable, RPEEPs represent a major step forward in safety and inclusion. Historically, many high-rise residential strategies have relied on “stay put” principles, which do not always account for individuals who cannot respond quickly or independently if conditions change. RPEEPs aim to provide clarity and reassurance to residents, ensure no one is left without a plan in an emergency, improve outcomes in real incidents, and strengthen the duty of care placed on those managing buildings. From a life safety perspective, the intent is clear and necessary, aligning with a broader shift towards person-centred risk management rather than building-only compliance.

The Reality for Responsible Persons

While the principle of RPEEPs is widely supported, the practical delivery is where the challenge sits. Responsible Persons are now expected to identify residents who may require assistance, engage sensitively to gather personal information, develop individual evacuation plans, and ensure those plans are realistic, resourced, and deliverable. This is not a one-off task but an ongoing management responsibility requiring time, competence, and structure. There are also key challenges including data sensitivity where residents may be reluctant to share personal or medical information, changing occupancy as needs evolve, limited on-site resources to support evacuation, and the practical feasibility of implementing plans in real conditions. Ultimately, the Responsible Person carries both the legal and moral responsibility if plans fail.

The Impact on Fire and Rescue Services

RPEEPs also have implications for fire and rescue services. Operational response has traditionally been based on building design, firefighting tactics, and information available on arrival. The introduction of individual evacuation plans adds another layer of expectation around awareness and coordination. Challenges include accessing accurate and up-to-date information during incidents, integrating building-specific evacuation plans into operational decision-making, managing expectations around what firefighters can realistically deliver in time-critical situations, and balancing rescue priorities across multiple residents. This also raises wider questions around interoperability and how effectively information is shared between Responsible Persons and responding crews.

Why This is Both Necessary and Difficult

RPEEPs are a positive and necessary step forward, addressing a clear gap in how fire safety has historically been applied in residential settings, particularly for vulnerable individuals. However, they are not simple to implement. They require strong governance, structured processes, competent risk assessment, ongoing engagement with residents, and realistic strategies that can actually be delivered under pressure. Without this, there is a real risk that RPEEPs become a paper exercise rather than an effective life safety measure.

Moving Forward

The industry is still adapting, with Responsible Persons, managing agents, housing providers, and fire services all working through how RPEEPs can be implemented in a way that is both compliant and genuinely effective. The focus needs to remain on proportionate, risk-based approaches, practical delivery over theoretical compliance, clear communication with residents, and robust governance and assurance. Ultimately, RPEEPs are about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their ability, has a considered plan in place in the event of a fire. That is the right direction for the industry, but it will take time, structure, and a realistic understanding of the challenges to get it right.

Author: Sheldon Russell-Priest MiFSM