Guide to Emergency Fire Action Plan in The UK

More than 27,000 domestic fires in the UK require emergency services to attend every year. Fires can destroy property and the building itself and put lives at risk. That's why you must ensure everyone understands the importance of fire safety and what to do if a fire breaks out.   

Have you ever wondered how your organisation would respond in the event of a fire? This comprehensive guide to emergency fire action plans will provide vital information for individuals, businesses, and organisations in the UK. It covers all aspects of fire safety, including its definition, importance, planning, and drill procedures.    

What Is an Emergency Fire Action Plan? 

Usually, emergency fire action plans are designed to respond quickly and effectively when a fire occurs to reduce casualties and property losses.

An emergency fire action plan is a set of pre-established strategies and procedures designed to respond quickly and effectively when a fire occurs to minimise casualties and property damage. The plan usually includes fire prevention, alarm and alarm reception, emergency response, fire extinguishing and evacuation, medical rescue, and subsequent handling. It is a crucial document developed by various organisations, units, communities, etc., to respond to sudden fire accidents.

In short, a scientific and reasonable emergency fire action plan can significantly improve the ability to respond to fires and guarantee the safety of people's lives and property.

Why Is an Emergency Fire Action Plan Important? 

Typically, emergency fire action plans are not only to protect people's lives but also to reduce property damage and social impact.

Protect Life Safety

An emergency fire action plan can guide people to evacuate dangerous areas quickly in an emergency. For special groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, children and people with disabilities, an evacuation plan can ensure that they receive appropriate care and protection and can escape the fire safely.

Reduce Property Damage

Emergency fire action plans can also reduce property damage caused by fires through timely and effective response measures. Clear firefighting and emergency procedures can help prevent fires from spreading.

Improve Emergency Response Efficiency

Emergency fire action plans usually include regular drills and training to familiarise people with escape routes and emergency measures. In this way, when a fire occurs, people can respond quickly and correctly, improving the efficiency of the overall emergency response.

Who Needs an Emergency Fire Action Plan?

Emergency fire action plans are essential to ensure that people can be evacuated quickly and orderly and that property can be protected during a fire. So, who needs an emergency fire action plan in the UK? Here are some people and places that need to develop an emergency fire action plan:

1. Commercial Places

Whether in a small office or a large commercial building, a detailed emergency fire action plan is needed to ensure the safety of employees and visitors.

2. Public Places

Public places usually have a large flow of people; once a fire occurs, it is hazardous. Therefore, public areas need to have a detailed emergency fire action plan.

Museums, libraries, and art galleries are densely populated and contain many precious cultural relics and artworks.

Cinemas, theatres, and concert halls are places where activities are usually conducted in a closed environment and where there is a large flow of people.

Sports venues: Large sporting events and activities usually have large crowds.

3. Residential Buildings

Apartment and high-rise residential buildings are usually densely populated and have complex evacuation routes. Residents with limited mobility also need special evacuation measures.

In short, any place with many people or a fire risk needs an emergency fire action plan. It is a legal requirement and responsible for people's safety.

What Should Be Included in an Emergency Fire Action Plan?

In the UK, emergency fire action plans must be detailed and comprehensive to ensure that fires can be responded to quickly and effectively to reduce casualties and property losses. Emergency fire action plans usually include the following key components:

Alarm Procedures

Please clearly define the steps and procedures for reporting fires, including specific steps for activating alarms and notifying security departments and how to call the local fire department.

Determine how to use alarm signals such as audible alarms, alarm lights, and public address systems and consider backup measures for power outages in case of fire. In addition, it ensures the regular operation of detection and alarm systems and develops and implements testing and maintenance procedures to ensure that alarms can be issued in a timely manner in the event of a fire.

Emergency Information

Please publish relevant emergency telephone numbers, local fire department numbers and contact information for other emergency personnel. In addition, prepare and display emergency maps, marking key facilities such as evacuation routes, emergency exits, and the storage location of fire extinguishers.

Emergency Command System

Clarify commanders' responsibilities and powers (such as organising evacuations) to ensure that decisions can be made quickly in emergencies.

Emergency Equipment and Facilities

List the leading emergency equipment and facilities, such as fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, sprinkler systems, emergency generators, etc., and ensure they are in good condition and regularly inspected and maintained.

Training and Drills

Organise fire training and emergency drills regularly to improve relevant personnel's fire prevention awareness and emergency response capabilities and ensure they are familiar with emergency plans and escape routes.

Post-fire Recovery Plan

Develop a post-fire recovery plan, including the repair of damaged facilities, psychological counselling for personnel, etc., to ensure that normal operations can be restored as soon as possible.

Laws and Regulations

Ensure that the emergency fire action plan complies with the requirements of the UK Fire Act and relevant regulations, such as the Fire and Rescue Services Act.

How To Make an Emergency Fire Action Plan?

Developing a detailed and feasible fire action plan can help people evacuate quickly in an emergency, minimising the damage caused by fire. A complete fire action plan should include the following key steps:

• Assess risks
• Draw an escape route map
• Establish an emergency organisation
• Prepare emergency equipment
• Practice and improve

Step 1: Assess Risks

Before developing a fire action plan, you should conduct a risk assessment of your residence or workplace. It includes identifying potential fire hazards, such as ageing electrical appliances and the accumulation of flammable materials.

You may not have thought that there may be some new fire hazards around you, including:

Provide systematic firefighting knowledge training for all relevant personnel. The training content should consist of:

• Basic knowledge of fire
• Use of fire extinguishing equipment
• Familiarity with evacuation routes
• Emergency handling procedures

In addition, please ensure that all members know how to use the phone or other communication equipment to call the police and clarify the procedures and content of the call.

Step 2: Draw an Escape Route Map

Developing a clear evacuation route is one of the most critical parts of an emergency fire action plan. The UK Fire Safety Act stipulates that all escape routes must be clearly marked, unobstructed, and regularly inspected to ensure they are available at any time.

Draw existing evacuation routes on the building blueprint to ensure that these routes remain the fastest routes to safety. Please consider using signs and other indicators to make the path clearer. In addition, the escape route should avoid high-risk areas, such as kitchens and places where electrical appliances are concentrated.

Choose an obvious gathering point outside the building so that family members or employees can quickly gather and confirm that everyone is safe after a fire occurs. This gathering point should be away from the building to avoid being affected by the fire. Make sure all members know the location of this gathering point.

Step 3: Establish an Emergency Organisation

Establishing a fire safety hierarchy is essential for an orderly evacuation.

General Commander: Responsible for overall coordination and decision-making.

Deputy Commander: Assists and is responsible for the implementation of specific tasks.

Communication Plan Leader: Oversees the dissemination of information between members.

Working Group: As needed, set up multiple working groups, such as a fire extinguishing group, evacuation group, warning group, rescue group and logistics support group.

Step 4: Prepare Emergency Equipment

Equip the building with necessary emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, backup power supplies, and emergency lighting. Ensure that this equipment is in good condition and regularly inspected and maintained.

There are usually six types of fires: fires caused by solids, liquids, gases, metals, cooking oils and fats, and electrical fires. Therefore, six different types of fire extinguishers are designed for different types of fires.

(Data Source: alertmedia)

In addition, the backup power supply provides the necessary power support for firefighting operations when the main power supply fails, ensuring the regular operation of firefighting equipment (such as water pumps, sprinkler systems, alarms, etc.).

Step 5: Practice and Improve

Through evaluations, deficiencies in the plan can be discovered and adjusted in time. At the same time, after each drill, lessons learned should be summarised promptly, and the fire action plan should be revised and improved according to the problems found.

Testing & Rehearsal of Emergency Fire Action Plan

Regular testing of emergency fire action plans can ensure their effectiveness and feasibility and reduce losses and injuries.

Step 1: Clarify the Goals and Scope

Set clear test goals, such as verifying the effectiveness of the emergency response process, the feasibility of the technical solution, and the readiness of the personnel.

Step 2: Set Detailed Test Steps

The test steps of the emergency fire action plan should be detailed and specific, including a detailed description of the emergency response process and the allocation and planning of test tasks. Corresponding checkpoints should be configured during the test to ensure that each link can achieve the expected results.

The test steps of the emergency fire action plan should include the following:

• Determine the specific test and drill time
• Set different fire scenarios
• Clarify the responsibilities of each department and personnel
• Describe the steps and time nodes of the drill in detail (including alarm, evacuation, fire extinguishing, rescue, etc.)
• Formulate safety measures

Step 3: Evaluation and Improvement

After the test and drill, the entire process and effect must be evaluated. The evaluation content includes:

• The response time of the alarm system
• The rationality of the evacuation route
• The use effect of the fire extinguishing equipment
• The emergency response ability of the personnel
• The effectiveness of safety measures

According to the evaluation results, the emergency fire action plan is improved and perfected to ensure it can play the most significant role when an actual fire occurs.

However, the emergency fire action plan is not static and must be continuously improved and perfected according to the situation. Therefore, please conduct regular tests and drills and promptly identify problems and deficiencies to improve all personnel's emergency response ability and safety awareness.

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Emergencies

A portable power station is crucial for individuals seeking to be equipped for unforeseen catastrophes. These devices are essential for any disaster preparedness plan, providing dependable backup power during outages, versatility, portability, and environmentally beneficial characteristics.

In a fire, communication systems, medical apparatus, and emergency lighting require power to operate efficiently, which a portable power station can supply without central control.

In contrast to conventional gas generators, portable power stations emit no harmful emissions, rendering them safer for use in confined areas or during evacuations where air quality is critical.

Numerous portable power stations possess significant battery capacity, supplying electricity for extended durations without requiring recharging, which is crucial during prolonged emergencies.  

Jackery Portable Power Station is suitable for fire or any other emergencies since it is portable (you can take it anywhere), powerful (ranging from 99Wh to 12 kWh), and safe to use (BMS and battery protection system).

Jackery Explorer 240 v2

The Explorer 240 v2 Portable Power Station incorporates a robust 256Wh capacity inside a compact configuration. Equipped with 1 AC outlet, 1 USB-A port, and 1 USB-C port, it can simultaneously charge up to 5 devices, facilitating various appliances' rapid and efficient powering.

Completely charge the Explorer 240 v2 Portable Power Station from 0% to 100% in one hour using the Emergency Charging Mode, which is activated through the app. Perpetually prepared for emergencies with your portable power source, guaranteeing you remain powered when moving.

The Jackery Explorer 240 v2, which weighs about 7.94 lbs and is equipped with a tiny foldable handle, is more lightweight and portable than conventional models, allowing for effortless storage in your backpack. It is transitioning to an LFP from an NCM battery and features an exceptional 3,000 life cycle. It offers a lifespan of up to 10 years, making it a dependable asset for outdoor camping and excursions.

• The smaller 300W power station has a foldable handle and buckle.
• Now featuring USB-C input and output enabled, 100W PD two-way fast charging.
• Upgraded to LFP Battery from NCM Battery: 3,000 life cycles, 10 years of household emergency backup.

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus features a LiFePO4 battery, rendering it smaller and lighter than competing devices, with a weight of about 3.75kg, facilitating effortless mobility at any time and place.

The Explorer 300 Plus is a portable power station featuring a 300W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (600W Surge Peak) and a capacity 288Wh. It can charge up to four gadgets concurrently, facilitated by one AC, USB-A, and USB-C output, enabling swift and effortless charging of various appliances. Additionally, it is lightweight and sufficiently compact to fit in a rucksack, facilitating convenient transport.

Jackery's ChargeShield fast charge technology pioneers the industry with a stepped variable-speed charging algorithm, which improves safety and extends battery pack lifespan by 50%. At a temperature of 45℃, the power station can achieve full charge in around two hours.

• Compact Jackery Portable Power Station, 288Wh capacity, 300W surge power.
• Innovative ChargeShield Technology.
• Safety First: Fully Upgraded BMS (Battery Management System) Protections.
• Smart App Control at Fingertips.

Emergency Fire Action Plans FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions about the emergency fire action plans in the UK:

1. What should you do in case of a fire?

First, you should know and understand the signs of a fire in advance, such as smoke alarms, burning smells, and flames. Second, immediately follow the fire evacuation plan and flee the fire scene without hesitation when you notice the signs of a fire. Finally, the fire should be reported to the relevant authorities.

2. What should a fire emergency plan include?

An emergency fire action plan needs to be detailed and comprehensive. Therefore, an emergency fire action plan usually includes the following key components:

• Alarm procedures
• Emergency information
• Emergency command system
• Emergency equipment and facilities
• Training and drills
• Post-fire recovery plan

In addition, the emergency fire action plan should be regularly updated based on new risks, changes in building layout and feedback from exercises.

3. What is the action plan for a fire emergency?

A fire emergency action plan is a pre-planned strategy and procedure for dealing with potential fire accidents. Usually, an action plan for a fire emergency should include three key steps: prevention, response, and recovery. In other words, an action plan for a fire emergency usually includes:

• Fire prevention measures.
• Alarm and evacuation procedures.
• Fire extinguishing measures.
• Emergency contact information.
• Regular drills and training.

4. What are the five steps of the emergency action plan?

An emergency action plan is a series of steps to take when faced with an emergency. Here are the five steps of the emergency action plan:

• Assess risk
• Alert and notify
• Response and handling
• Coordinate and support
• Evaluate and improve

Final Thoughts

The core objective of an emergency fire action plan is to ensure that all relevant personnel can act quickly to avoid confusion and delays in the event of a fire. In addition, as a business owner, property manager, building occupant, or any other person who has control over a non-residential location, it is a legal obligation to ensure that an emergency fire action plan is in place.