Site Management · Mandatory · Pre-Construction

Fire Evacuation Plan

The Fire Evacuation Plan details the procedures for evacuating the construction site in the event of a fire, including alarm activation, escape routes, assembly points, roll-call procedures, and fire marshal duties. It must account for all site occupants including those with mobility impairments and be practised through regular drills. The plan must be updated as the building progresses and escape routes change.

Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. RRO 2005 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.

Fire Evacuation Plan — Site-Specific and Practiced

The fire evacuation plan describes what happens from the moment a fire is discovered to all persons safely at the muster point and the Fire and Rescue Service called and given access. It must be specific to this site, at this stage, with these escape routes and this alarm system.

A plan that exists but has never been practiced is a theory. Workers who have never heard the alarm or walked the escape route will not perform a rapid, orderly evacuation.

“Evacuation plan must be updated every time escape routes or site layout changes” — Construction site layouts change constantly. An escape route viable at groundworks may be blocked by scaffold at structural frame, and may change again at fit-out. A plan reflecting a previous stage may direct workers towards blocked or non-existent routes.

Fire Evacuation Plan — Key Content

Element	Content
Alarm signal	What the alarm sounds like. Where alarm points/break-glass are located. Action on hearing.
Raise alarm	How to raise: break-glass point; call site manager; call 999. Who calls 999.
Escape routes	Primary and secondary from each area. Marked on site plan. Updated as site progresses.
Assembly point	Muster point location. Clearly signed and accessible. Far enough from structure (minimum 15m typical).
Roll call	Site manager takes roll call from attendance register. All persons accounted for — confirm to FRS.
Fire warden	Named fire warden for each area/floor. Sweep procedure. Report to site manager.
FRS access	Which gate provides access. Key box code. Named person to meet FRS. Site plan provided.
Re-entry	No person to re-enter until FRS gives all-clear.
Drill schedule	Frequency of drills. Next planned date.

Common Mistakes

Muster point too close to building or blocking FRS access — must be outside the falling debris zone and not block the FRS access route. Typically 15m from low-rise, more for taller structures. Confirm with FRS.

Fire drills not conducted — many sites never conduct a drill. Required under RRO 2005. Large sites every 3 months. Records must be kept including time to evacuate, issues, and actions taken.

Evacuation plan not updated after scaffold erection — scaffold may block the primary escape route and create new routes via scaffold stairs. Must update immediately and re-brief workers.

Roll call not possible — no accurate attendance register — the plan includes 'roll call using register' but this is only effective if the register is accurate and accessible. F7 and F4 must be kept current.

FRS cannot access site — locked gate with no key access provision — common and potentially catastrophic. Key safe location must be communicated to FRS in advance. Emergency gate opening must be in the evacuation plan. Key safe codes and site plans registered with the local FRS station.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must a fire drill be conducted?

The RRO does not specify a fixed frequency. Industry guidance: every 3 months for 100+ workers; every 6 months for 20-99; at minimum once for small sites. Also required after: significant site changes, large intake of new workers, or an incident revealing weaknesses.

What is the fire warden's role during evacuation?

Sweep the designated area to confirm all have evacuated; check toilets, plant rooms, and isolated spaces; confirm the area is clear to the site manager at muster; account for lone workers. The fire warden must not re-enter a smoke-filled building.

Does the plan need to cover RIDDOR?

The evacuation plan is about immediate response — evacuation, roll call, FRS access. RIDDOR is a separate post-incident obligation. The emergency plan (F14) should cross-reference RIDDOR as part of post-incident management.

Should the plan include procedures for specific scenarios?

Yes — primary route blocked by fire; worker not accounted for at roll call; worker trapped (contact FRS, do not attempt rescue without training); fire alarm fails (raise verbally, call 999 directly). Cover these in fire warden training and induction.

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