Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

What is a PEEP?

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) helps anyone who may find it difficult to leave our buildings quickly and safely during an emergency, such as a fire. A PEEP can support people with permanent, long‑term, or temporary needs.

Some examples include:

• Mobility aid users: anything from injuries like sprains to using a walking aid or wheelchair. Challenges may include using stairs, travelling long distances, or opening doors.
• Individuals with visual or hearing impairments: may not notice that the fire alarm has sounded, or may struggle to follow written or spoken instructions.
• Individuals with dexterity or strength issues: these may make it harder to open doors or react quickly when an alarm goes off.
• Individuals with cognitive or learning difficulties: for example, finding it hard to understand instructions, follow directions, or managing panic during an emergency.

How to arrange a PEEP

If you would like a PEEP, please:

• contact Student Wellbeing: disability@beds.ac.uk or
• Speak to your manager

They will discuss your requirements with you then contact the Health and Safety Team, who will assist you in developing your PEEP.

The following forms are used to assist with developing PEEPs:

• PEEP Questionnaire [DOCX]
  This is for anyone requiring assistance to evacuate our buildings in an emergency and will be used assist with development of your Personal Emergency Action Plan (PEEP).
• PEEP Record [DOCX]
  This is a record of what has been put into place to help you.

Visitors and events

If you are expecting visitors who may have disabilities or are arranging an event, please speak to Security or the Health and Safety Team beforehand, to confirm the evacuation requirements for people with disabilities at your location.

Evacuation chairs

Many of our buildings have evacuation chairs and trained evacuation chair operators, to assist those who cannot use the stairs unaided. You may have to wait in a refuge area until an evacuation chair operator is available. Refuge areas are protected so long as fire doors are shut, so you will be safe until help arrives. If available, use the intercom to call Security, or ask a colleague to let them know where you are.

If you may need to use an evacuation chair, the Health and Safety Team will confirm who are trained evacuation chair operators in the areas where you work or study as part of your PEEP. In some cases we may need to train additional people to assist you.