Guide — Inclusive Fire Safety
Fire Safety for Disabled Persons
Disabled people are disproportionately affected by fire: they account for around half of all fire fatalities in the UK. A standard smoke alarm and generic escape plan may not be sufficient. This guide covers specialist alarms, PEEPs, and evacuation aids.
Key actions
Contact your local fire service for a free Safe and Well visit. Ask for a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan if you live or work in a multi-storey building. Ensure your smoke alarm is appropriate for your sensory needs — standard alarms do not wake most deaf sleepers.
Specialist alarm types by disability
| Alarm type | Suitable for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Vibrating pad alarm | Deaf / hard of hearing | Pad placed under pillow or mattress vibrates when connected smoke alarm activates |
| Flashing strobe alarm | Deaf / hard of hearing | High-candela strobe integrated with interlinked alarm system |
| Low-frequency (520 Hz) sounder | Some hearing loss | Low pitch is audible to those who have lost high-frequency hearing. BS 8300 recommends for bedrooms |
| Spoken-word alarm | Visual impairment / cognitive disability | States "Fire! Fire!" rather than a tone — aids recognition and reduces freezing response |
| Telecare / assistive technology link | Mobility impairment, living alone | Connects fire alarm to a monitoring centre that calls emergency services automatically |
| CO + smoke combined unit | All disabilities | Single device reduces complexity and ensures both hazards are covered in the same room |
How to create a PEEP: five steps
Document the nature and extent of the disability, mobility limitations, and communication needs
Review the building, escape routes, and any changes in condition that affect evacuation
Horizontal evacuation, refuge use, assisted carry, or stairway evacuation chair
At least two named persons per shift; provide documented training and regular practice
Review when the person's condition changes, the building changes, or at least annually
Why standard alarms can fail disabled people
A standard 85 dB smoke alarm is designed to wake an average adult sleeper. It does not reliably wake deaf or hard-of-hearing adults, people who are medicated, or those with cognitive impairments who may not recognise what the sound means. Research by the Fire Kills campaign found that most deaf adults would not wake to a standard alarm at night. A 520 Hz low-frequency alarm or a vibrating pad is dramatically more effective.
Evacuation aids
Where a lift cannot be used for evacuation (all passenger lifts should be assumed unavailable in fire), alternatives include:
- Stairway evacuation chairs: Glide down stairs on tracked rollers. Require one trained operator. Essential in any building over two storeys with regular wheelchair users.
- Refuge areas: Protected lobbies with 30-minute fire-resisting construction and a two-way communication link. Mandatory in new non-domestic buildings; check whether your building has them.
- Evacuation mattresses / sledges: Used to move non-ambulatory persons down stairs when a chair transfer is not feasible. Require trained staff.
- Firefighter lift: In taller buildings, designated firefighter lifts may be used by the fire service to evacuate mobility-impaired occupants — but this is a fire service decision, not a building management tool.
Supported housing and care homes
Supported housing and care homes are non-domestic premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person must ensure a fire risk assessment covers the specific needs of all residents. This includes individual PEEPs, staff training in evacuation aids, and procedures for night-time staffing levels. See our fire warden duties guide for workplace roles and responsibilities.
For flat or block residents, the high-rise fire safety article covers how evacuation policies are evolving under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ