My Epsom block is currently stay put, how do I know if that is still right?

A stay put policy review requires the specialist to check compartmentation between flats and the condition of fire doors. If the barriers cannot contain smoke and flame for the required time, the specialist will recommend simultaneous evacuation instead.

What is the difference between stay put and simultaneous evacuation?

Under stay put, only the flat where the fire starts evacuates while others remain behind their front doors. Simultaneous means everyone leaves when the alarm sounds. The specialist decides which applies after inspecting the building structure.

Do I need a personal emergency evacuation plan for limited mobility?

Yes. The specialist writes a PEEP for any resident or worker who cannot use the stairs unaided. This names the person assisting them and the specific route they take to reach safety.

Where should the assembly point be with no private forecourt?

The specialist selects a public pavement or nearby open space far enough from the building to avoid falling glass but close enough for wardens to account for everyone quickly.

How often should the evacuation plan be reviewed and practised?

The specialist recommends reviewing the plan annually or whenever the building changes. Fire drills should happen at least once a year, though twice is better for larger blocks or busy workplaces.

Will residents and staff need to be involved on the day?

The specialist needs access to all common areas and a sample of flats or rooms. Residents do not need to evacuate during the visit, but wardens or caretakers should be available to answer questions.

What do I do with the plan once I have it?

The responsible person keeps the master copy and places a summary near the main entrance or on the communal noticeboard. The specialist advises on what must be displayed versus what stays in the management file.

Fire Risk Assessment Fire Door Inspection Compartmentation Fire Strategy Evacuation Plans Awareness Training Warden Training HMO assessments Student accommodation Nominated person Fire safety policy Safety Reports Extinguisher Testing

Fire Safety Services in Epsom: Choose a Service

New Malden Ewell North Cheam Tolworth Ashtead Epsom Downs Tadworth Carshalton Horton Leatherhead

Areas Covered

Responsible person Booking an assessment Review timing 2022 regulations Fire door checks Fire service letter HMO licence Common questions Autumn term checks Advice All articles

Guides

About Us How we work

Evacuation planning

Fire evacuation plans for Epsom homes and workplaces

Find out what an evacuation plan for flats or offices actually contains, how stay put and simultaneous strategies differ, and what the specialist firm will produce. Fire evacuation plans Epsom buildings rely on start with the layout and the people inside.

Book an assessment

A worker records fire safety checks near an extinguisher with a laptop and a rainy UK street visible.

What the plan covers

Escape routes: The specialist maps every corridor, stairwell and final exit to confirm residents or staff can leave without passing through a high risk area.
Assembly points: A safe gathering place is identified outside the building, accounting for traffic, pavement width and distance from falling glass or debris.
Personal emergency plans: Where someone has limited mobility, the specialist drafts a PEEP so wardens know exactly who needs help and how to provide it.
Evacuation strategy: The specialist determines whether a stay put policy remains appropriate or if simultaneous evacuation is required based on current compartmentation.

A person checks a wall-mounted fire extinguisher in a corridor with a clipboard.

Signs your plan needs attention

Buildings change over time. A layout that worked five years ago might not work now, and a policy written for one use can become wrong when occupancy shifts.

A worker in a hi-vis vest checks a smoke alarm while a clipboard with a checklist lies on a table.

New walls dividing the old corridors: Altered layouts block established routes. The specialist surveys the new floor plan and redraws the escape route plan office or flat residents follow.
Residents using wheelchairs or frames: Standard instructions assume full mobility. A peep assessment Surrey specialists carry out identifies who needs dedicated assistance during an alarm.
Council letter about fire safety: Regulators expect documented procedures. The specialist reviews the correspondence and produces the missing paperwork to satisfy the requirement.
No fire drills in over a year: Practice exposes blocked exits and confused staff. The specialist provides fire drill guidance Epsom building managers can schedule quarterly.

What you receive

The specialist firm examines the building, checks the existing fire strategy and produces documents based on what they find rather than a generic template.

A worker checks a fire door in a corridor as students walk past in the background.

Written evacuation plan: Step by step instructions for each floor, naming primary and secondary routes to the nearest final exit.
PEEP documents: Individual plans for residents or staff who need assistance, detailing who helps them and which route they take.
Strategy recommendation: A clear statement on whether stay put or simultaneous evacuation suits the current compartmentation and alarm system.

Questions about evacuation plans

Answers to what people ask before booking. Take other questions to the advice page. More questions.

My Epsom block is currently stay put, how do I know if that is still right?: A stay put policy review requires the specialist to check compartmentation between flats and the condition of fire doors. If the barriers cannot contain smoke and flame for the required time, the specialist will recommend simultaneous evacuation instead.
What is the difference between stay put and simultaneous evacuation?: Under stay put, only the flat where the fire starts evacuates while others remain behind their front doors. Simultaneous means everyone leaves when the alarm sounds. The specialist decides which applies after inspecting the building structure.
Do I need a personal emergency evacuation plan for limited mobility?: Yes. The specialist writes a PEEP for any resident or worker who cannot use the stairs unaided. This names the person assisting them and the specific route they take to reach safety.
Where should the assembly point be with no private forecourt?: The specialist selects a public pavement or nearby open space far enough from the building to avoid falling glass but close enough for wardens to account for everyone quickly.
How often should the evacuation plan be reviewed and practised?: The specialist recommends reviewing the plan annually or whenever the building changes. Fire drills should happen at least once a year, though twice is better for larger blocks or busy workplaces.
Will residents and staff need to be involved on the day?: The specialist needs access to all common areas and a sample of flats or rooms. Residents do not need to evacuate during the visit, but wardens or caretakers should be available to answer questions.
What do I do with the plan once I have it?: The responsible person keeps the master copy and places a summary near the main entrance or on the communal noticeboard. The specialist advises on what must be displayed versus what stays in the management file.

What shapes the cost of an evacuation plan

Every building differs in size, age and use. The specialist prices the work after understanding those variables rather than applying a single rate.

The specialist explains the exact cost for your building before any work begins.

Number of floors and exits: More storeys mean longer routes to map and more stairwells to check for obstructions or inadequate signage.
Current evacuation strategy: Shifting from stay put to simultaneous requires the specialist to reassess alarm coverage and communication methods throughout the building.
Number of PEEPs needed: Each individual plan takes time to draft because the specialist must identify specific helpers and test the proposed route.
Building use and occupancy: An office with trained staff differs from a residential block with children, elderly occupants or short term visitors.

Areas covered around Epsom

Enquiries are taken for buildings across Epsom and the surrounding towns. Specialist firms operating locally handle the site visits and write the plans.

If your town is not listed, send an enquiry to check availability.

Ask about an evacuation plan

Send details about your building and the specialist firm will respond with what they need to quote. Submitting this form does not commit you to anything.

No obligation
Local specialists
Clear next steps

Who should we ask for?Email addressHome postcodeNumber to callWhich town?Address, if you want to give itWhich job is it?What kind of building is it?Roughly how big is the building?What is your connection to the building?What have you noticed?

These details are passed to a specialist, as the privacy page describes.

What happens to your details is covered in the privacy notice. Nothing is charged to you for sending it. The specialist may pay Epsomfire when the enquiry is passed on. Approaching other firms for quotations stays open to you. One independent fire safety specialist receives what you send.

Or send an email to hello@epsomfire.co.uk