Primary Legislation
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 — Section 11
Section 11 places duties on employers to prepare and maintain adequate plans and procedures for emergencies, including arrangements for firefighting and the evacuation of people present in the workplace. The measures required depend on the nature of the work and the size of the workplace.
Clearly presented evacuation plans can support the communication of escape routes and emergency arrangements. They are a practical aid to implementing emergency procedures
Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 — Section 18
Section 18 establishes fire-safety duties for persons having control over premises within the scope of the section. These include taking reasonable measures to guard against fire and ensuring, so far as reasonably practicable, the safety of people on the premises in the event of a fire.
The Fire Services Acts address duties of persons controlling premises in relation to fire safety. Clear evacuation information can support the practical communication of escape arrangements.
Regulations and Official Guidance
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 address workplace emergency routes, exits and safety signage. Evacuation plans can complement these arrangements by helping occupants understand escape routes and the wider layout of a building.
The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 include a specific requirement for an emergency evacuation plan in each self-contained house within a multi-unit building. The regulations also set out separate fire safety requirements for common areas.
The Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings provides a framework for assessing fire safety and making proportionate recommendations to address identified deficiencies. It is relevant where a fire safety assessment is required by a fire authority and can help inform decisions about the fire safety measures and supporting documentation appropriate to a premises
I.S. EN ISO 7010
GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS — SAFETY COLOURS AND SAFETY SIGNS
I.S. EN ISO 7010 concerns standardised safety signs and graphical symbols. It supports consistent use of safety signs and colours, including red symbols associated with firefighting equipment and green symbols associated with safe conditions and escape routes. This section concerns safety signs and symbols, distinct from the evacuation-plan presentation addressed by ISO 23601.
How These Sources Work Together
Legislation, workplace regulations, official guidance and technical standards can have different roles in the preparation and use of fire evacuation plans. Legal duties and regulatory requirements sit alongside official guidance, while technical standards govern the design and presentation of plans and safety symbols. Clear evacuation information plays a practical role in communicating escape arrangements. These sources should be considered in their proper context for the premises and circumstances involved.
