Difference between GEEPs and PEEPs

Understanding the difference between GEEPs and PEEPs is important for anyone responsible for fire safety in residential buildings. GEEPs and PEEPs both relate to safe evacuation, but they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts. In England, the new Residential PEEPs regulations now add a formal legal process for certain residential buildings..

What is a GEEP?

A GEEP is a General Evacuation Emergency Plan. It sets out the building’s overall evacuation arrangements and is designed to help all occupants understand what to do in the event of a fire. A GEEP is usually part of the wider fire safety strategy for a building and may include information such as evacuation routes, alarms, assembly points and evacuation procedures.

GEEPs are not personalised to one individual. Instead, they explain the default evacuation plan for the building and how occupants should respond if there is a fire. In practice, a GEEP supports the building’s fire risk assessment and helps ensure people know how the building is expected to be evacuated.

What is a PEEP?

A PEEP is a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. It is a plan made for an individual who may need support to evacuate safely in an emergency. PEEPs are relevant where a person may have difficulty evacuating without assistance because of a physical mobility issue, sight or hearing impairment, or a cognitive condition.

In residential settings in England, the new Residential PEEPs regime now creates a structured process for certain buildings and relevant residents. This includes identifying relevant residents, carrying out a person-centred fire risk assessment, agreeing reasonable and proportionate mitigation measures, recording an emergency evacuation statement where agreed, and reviewing the arrangements regularly.

The main difference between GEEPs and PEEPs

The simplest way to explain the difference is this:

• GEEPs are for the building.
• PEEPs are for the person.

A GEEP explains the general evacuation strategy for all occupants. A PEEP sets out the specific support or actions needed by one resident to evacuate safely. In buildings where Residential PEEPs apply, the building’s emergency evacuation plan and the individual resident’s arrangements should work together.

Why Residential PEEPs matter now

From 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 come into force for specified residential buildings in England. These regulations supplement the Fire Safety Order and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and require Responsible Persons to take reasonable steps to identify relevant residents and support their fire safety and evacuation needs.
The regulations apply to high-rise residential buildings and to certain multi-residential buildings over 11 metres with simultaneous evacuation strategies. They also require a building emergency evacuation plan, so the focus is no longer only on individual support but on how the building-wide evacuation plan and resident-specific arrangements fit together.

Who Residential PEEPs apply to

A relevant resident is someone whose home in the building is their only or principal residence and whose ability to evacuate without assistance is compromised by an impairment or condition. This may include physical mobility issues, sight or hearing impairment, or a cognitive condition such as dementia or a learning disability.

The Responsible Person must use reasonable endeavours to identify relevant residents. The resident cannot be compelled to take part, but the Responsible Person should explain the benefits of engaging with the process and offer a person-centred fire risk assessment.

What the Residential PEEPs process includes

The Residential PEEPs process includes:

• identifying relevant residents.
• offering a person-centred fire risk assessment.
• agreeing reasonable and proportionate mitigation measures.
• setting out what the resident should do in the event of a fire, where agreed.
• reviewing the arrangements at least every 12 months, or sooner if circumstances change.
• sharing limited prescribed information with the Fire and Rescue Authority, but only with the resident’s explicit informed consent

How PEEPs support fire safety

PEEPs help make evacuation safer for people who cannot rely on the building’s standard evacuation plan alone. They can include practical measures such as support from a neighbour or carer, changes to how the resident is alerted, or other proportionate measures that improve the chance of safe evacuation. The exact solution should be based on the person-centred fire risk assessment and what is reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.

It is important that PEEPs do not create new risks elsewhere in the building. Measures that compromise compartmentation, obstruct escape routes, or place an unreasonable burden on other residents are unlikely to be considered reasonable and proportionate.

Sharing information with the Fire and Rescue Authority

Where a resident consents, limited information may be shared with the local Fire and Rescue Authority to help inform its operational response. This includes the resident’s flat number, floor number, the likely level of assistance needed, and whether an emergency evacuation statement exists. The resident’s explicit informed consent is required before this information can be shared.

This information may be shared digitally or via a secure on-site information box, depending on the local Fire and Rescue Authority’s preference. The data should be limited to what is necessary and handled in line with data protection requirements.

What the GEEP process involves

A General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) typically includes several key components to ensure the safety of all building occupants during an emergency. Here are some common elements:

• Building Layout: Detailed maps showing all exits, stairwells, and the location of emergency equipment
• Evacuation Procedures: Detailed guidelines on safely evacuating the building, including designated assembly points away from the building
• Communication Devices: Information and training on the use of alarms, public address systems, and other communication tools to alert occupants
• Emergency Equipment: Locations and instructions for using fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and other emergency equipment
• Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities: Detailed procedures and evacuation equipment for aiding individuals with restricted mobility or other disabilities
• Roles and Responsibilities: Clear definitions of the roles and responsibilities of the Responsible Person, including any volunteer fire wardens / marshals and emergency personnel during an evacuation
• Training and Drills: Regular updates of any changes and where possible, evacuation drills to ensure everyone is familiar with the procedures. Ensure that anyone with roles and responsibilities are sufficiently trained.
• Emergency Lighting and Signage: Adequate emergency lighting provision and visible signs and notices throughout the building to guide occupants to the nearest exit during an emergency

These components help ensure that everyone in the building knows what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency.

Summary

In short, a GEEP explains the building’s general evacuation strategy, while a PEEP addresses the needs of an individual who may require assistance to evacuate. In England, the new Residential PEEPs regulations make this distinction more important than ever for Responsible Persons managing specified residential buildings.

If you are a Responsible Person, building manager or fire safety professional, now is the right time to review your building’s evacuation strategy, resident engagement process and information-sharing arrangements to ensure they reflect the updated legal framework.