Fire drills are an integral part of a workplace fire safety, be it an office, factory, school, hospital, restaurant, or retail outlet. Fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire safety signs are essential; they have an indirect and equal significance in fire protection for everyone within a building. As such, it is expected for your commercial business premises to make adequate plans for a period fire drill to lessen the devastating consequences of fire and save lives.
Since the introduction of the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, greater emphasis has been placed on documented fire safety arrangements, training, and evidence of emergency preparedness. While fire drills are not explicitly named in legislation, they remain a widely recognised method of demonstrating effective fire safety management and staff instruction under UK fire safety law.
Fire drills are more often than not, considered an inconvenience because they disrupt the day’s business with most workers greeting them with noncommittal shuffling and sighs are they find the building’s exit. In as much as fire drills direct the staff from putting in valuable working time, understanding the overall impact and how to carry the exercises effectively helps shed more light on the significance of fire drills.
What Is a Fire Drill and Is It Necessary?
A fire drill is a planned emergency simulation designed to test how occupants and responsible persons would respond in the event of a fire. It typically involves activation of the fire alarm, evacuation of the premises, and implementation of the site’s emergency procedures.
Fire drills are not expressly required by name under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. However, Responsible Persons are legally required to provide appropriate fire safety training, instruction, and planning for emergencies. Fire drills remain a recognised and practical way of meeting these duties and demonstrating preparedness in occupied premises.
To simplify the exercises for everyone, and ensure it remains effective and efficient, all occupants within the building should be taken through the evacuation procedures to help them know the plan and what they are expected to do as they try to get out of the building quickly and safely. The fire drill is also meant to help the relevant fire response heads, be it the fire safety supervisor or fire warden, to know what is expected of them and how they should react regarding ensuring the safety all everyone in the building during a fire emergency.
The drills can also be used to evaluate the standards of the evacuation protocols. The exercise is an excellent opportunity to test the effectiveness of existing emergency plans allow for the identification and correction of any weaknesses and flaws in the laid procedures that may lead to undesirable results such as casualties. For instance, people in the building should be made aware that being left behind to gather their belongings during a fire emergency drill goes against the safety response recommendations. Such action in a real life fire emergency means that they are endangering their lives. Another example is that the exercise may help to know that the designated exit points are too narrow for a smooth flow of the staff or are blocked meaning the fire warden or safety supervisor should pick an alternative exit point or additional evacuation route.
Who Is Responsible for a Fire Drill and How Often Should the Exercise Be Undertaken?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order stipulates that the individual tasked with the responsibilities of fire safety in non-domestic and commercial premises should be the manager, owners, or the occupants. The said individual regarded to, by the law, as the “responsible person” and thereby is charged with the duty of ensuring there is full compliance to all fire safety regulations as stipulated in the law and enforced by designated fire and rescue authorities.
If you are the appointed “responsible person,” then you are tasked with planning for emergencies and communicate relevant information to the employees regarding fire safety training and instructions. In short, you are the one who should ensure that periodic fire drills are allocated enough time and conducted effectively. Moreover, the exercises are also to help you known what measures to put in that help correct any weakness and flaws found during the drill.
UK fire safety legislation does not specify a fixed frequency for fire drills. Instead, the Responsible Person must adopt a risk-based approach, taking account of:
- The size and complexity of the premises
- Occupant risk profile
- Staff turnover
- Changes to layout, use, or fire risk
- Previous drill outcomes
In practice, many organisations carry out fire drills annually or more frequently where risk, occupancy, or operational change justifies it. In higher-risk or complex premises, drills may be conducted more often as part of a structured fire safety management system.
How Do You Conduct a Fire Drill Effectively?
Fire drills are relatively simple exercises; but various things have to be taken into account during the drill and after; these are meant to ensure that the laid fire safety and evacuation plans are efficient as possible.
Before doing any fire drill, it is essential to ensure the following are done:
- Make sure all the staff members are aware of the fire drill exercise schedule to take place and furnish them with all the relevant details and that everyone’s participation is mandatory.
- If the building is massive or you have to handle several premises, then pick a few observers to help assess the drill exercise giving keen attention to the employees’ behaviour, their actions, and any issues that may arise.
- Ensure all visitors on the scheduled day of the fire drill are duly informed of the exercise.
- Ensure that the drill aligns with the findings of the current fire risk assessment and reflects the building’s evacuation strategy.
During the exercise, you as the person in charge of fire safety should:
- Watch for any inappropriate behaviour from the staff or the visitors, such as gathering their belonging inside of evacuating the premises.
- Check for any difficulties the various individuals, such as those with disabilities experience, that impedes their ability to quickly and safely exit the building.
- Ensure everyone is heading to the nearest designated evacuation routes and exit points in calm and orderly fashion, instead of the exists they consider familiar.
- Take note of any challenges people will experience when using the escape routes and exit points; for instance, the doors may be blocked or hard to open.
- Listen to the roll call after the evacuation to ensure everyone is present and inquire from them about any issues that may have gone unnoticed.
- Observe whether evacuation procedures reflect the documented fire strategy and whether staff roles are clearly understood.
After the drill, the “responsible person,” fire safety warden, or nominated observer should:
- Take record of all details of the drill exercise, such as, how the evacuation process was, the inappropriate actions and challenges people face, and the weakness that will need to be addressed.
- Record the findings of the fire drill in the fire safety records which are meant to be reviewed annually as part of the fire emergency safety protocols.
- Account for the implementation or any remedial actions that were found to be necessary; these can include things such as, expansion of narrow evacuation point or choosing alternative routes, upgrading the exit point, installing extra fire alarms, fire safety signs, and fire extinguishers. Consider having all these issues done by a reputable fire safety company.
- Any deficiencies identified should be recorded, reviewed, and addressed as part of ongoing fire safety management.
Fire Drills, Training, and Record Keeping
Following the introduction of Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, Responsible Persons are expected to retain written evidence of fire safety arrangements, including staff instruction and emergency planning.
While fire drills themselves are not mandated, records of drills, training exercises, observations, and remedial actions form part of demonstrable compliance. Poor or absent records may be viewed by enforcing authorities as a failure of fire safety management, even where physical measures are in place.
Conclusion
Fire drills remain a valuable tool for testing emergency preparedness, staff awareness, and evacuation arrangements. When properly planned, observed, and recorded, they support compliance with UK fire safety law and demonstrate effective fire safety management.
For Responsible Persons, the focus should not be on performing drills for their own sake, but on ensuring that emergency procedures are understood, effective, and supported by clear evidence of review and improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Fire Drill?
A fire drill is a planned practice evacuation designed to familiarise occupants with fire alarm signals, escape routes, and emergency procedures. It tests how people respond to a fire alarm and helps identify weaknesses in evacuation arrangements.
Are Fire Drills a Legal Requirement in the UK?
UK fire safety legislation does not explicitly mandate fire drills by name. However, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must plan for emergencies, provide training, and ensure occupants know what to do in the event of fire. Fire drills are a widely accepted and effective way of meeting these duties.
Who Is Responsible for Organising a Fire Drill?
The Responsible Person is legally accountable. This is typically the employer, building owner, landlord, managing agent, or anyone with control of the premises. While tasks may be delegated, legal responsibility remains with the Responsible Person.
How Often Should Fire Drills Be Carried Out?
There is no fixed legal frequency for fire drills. The Responsible Person must adopt a risk-based approach, considering factors such as building complexity, occupancy type, staff turnover, changes to layout or use, and previous drill outcomes.
In practice, many organisations carry out fire drills annually or more frequently where risk justifies it.
Do Fire Drills Need to Be Recorded?
Yes. While not explicitly named in legislation, recording fire drills is strongly recommended and forms part of effective fire safety management. Records provide evidence of compliance and should include the date, time, participants, evacuation performance, and any issues identified.
What Should Be Tested During a Fire Drill?
A fire drill should test alarm audibility, occupant response, evacuation routes, exit availability, fire wardens’ actions, roll calls, and any specific arrangements for vulnerable occupants.
Are Fire Drills Required in All Types of Premises?
Fire drills are most commonly expected in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, care homes, and other non-domestic premises. In residential buildings, drills are less common but may be appropriate for staff, managing agents, or where evacuation strategies require testing.
What Happens If Issues Are Identified During a Fire Drill?
Any issues identified must be recorded and addressed. This may include updating evacuation procedures, improving signage, clearing escape routes, additional staff training, or reviewing the fire risk assessment.
Do New Staff or Occupants Need Fire Drill Training?
Yes. New staff and relevant occupants should receive fire safety instruction as soon as practicable. This may include participating in a drill or receiving alternative training until the next planned exercise.
