What Is the Difference Between a PCFRA and a PEEP?
31 Jul 2026 | By David Hernon
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment and a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan are often confused, but they are designed to achieve different outcomes. This guide explains the key differences, when each is appropriate, and how they work together to support fire safety within residential buildings.
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA) and a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) serve different purposes. However, they are often used together to support residents who require additional fire safety measures. Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments have become increasingly important following new legal duties introduced in England on 6 April 2026 for certain residential buildings.
This article explains the difference between a PCFRA and a PEEP, when each is appropriate, and how they work together to support effective fire safety management.
Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment vs PEEP
Although they are often discussed together, a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment and a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan are not interchangeable. One assesses an individual’s fire risk, while the other sets out how they will be supported during an evacuation where appropriate.
| Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA) | Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) |
| Assesses an individual’s level of fire risk | Sets out how an individual will be supported during an emergency evacuation |
| Focuses on preventing fires and reducing individual risk | Focuses on evacuation arrangements |
| Considers health, mobility, behaviours, and support needs | Considers how a person will evacuate safely or receive assistance |
| Identifies practical control measures | Documents agreed evacuation procedures |
| Supports wider fire safety management | Supports emergency planning |
| May inform a PEEP or Residential Evacuation Plan | May be developed using information identified within a PCFRA |
Rather than replacing one another, the two documents provide different information that supports the overall fire safety strategy for both the building and its residents.
What Is the Purpose of a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment?
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment focuses on the individual rather than the building.
It considers whether a resident’s health, mobility, behaviours, living arrangements, or support needs increase the likelihood of a fire occurring or affect their ability to recognise, respond to, or recover from a fire.
Depending on the resident, the assessment may consider:
- Reduced mobility
- Dementia or cognitive impairment
- Mental health conditions
- Smoking behaviours
- Cooking practices
- Oxygen therapy or specialist medical equipment
- Hoarding behaviours
- Existing care and support arrangements
The purpose is to identify practical and proportionate measures that reduce individual fire risk while supporting the resident’s independence wherever possible.
Not sure how a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment differs from a standard Fire Risk Assessment? Read our guide to Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment vs Standard Fire Risk Assessment: What’s the Difference?
What Does a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Do?
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) focuses on what should happen if a fire occurs.
Instead of assessing why someone may be at greater risk, a PEEP documents the arrangements needed to help an individual evacuate safely where they are unable to do so independently.
Depending on the building and the resident, a PEEP may include:
- The resident’s ability to evacuate independently
- Any assistance required during an evacuation
- The people responsible for providing that assistance
- Equipment that may be required
- Alternative escape arrangements
- Communication arrangements during an emergency
Unlike a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment, a PEEP does not assess why an individual is at greater fire risk or recommend measures to reduce that risk. Its purpose is to document the arrangements for evacuation should an emergency occur.
How Do PCFRAs and PEEPs Work Together?
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment and a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan answer different questions but often support the same resident.
A PCFRA identifies the factors that increase an individual’s fire risk and recommends measures to reduce those risks wherever possible.
Where the assessment identifies that a resident may have difficulty evacuating safely, the findings may also inform a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan or, where applicable, residential evacuation planning under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025.
Housing providers, supported housing providers, and care organisations can use both documents to reduce individual fire risks while ensuring appropriate evacuation arrangements are in place where additional support may be required.
Which Document Should Be Completed First?
Responsible Persons should complete a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA) before preparing a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). The PCFRA identifies the resident’s level of fire risk and determines whether additional support or control measures are needed.
If the assessment identifies that a resident may have difficulty evacuating safely, Responsible Persons can use its findings to prepare a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan or, where applicable, support Residential Evacuation Planning under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025.
This approach ensures evacuation arrangements are based on the resident’s individual circumstances rather than assumptions.
Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Osterna delivers professionally accredited Fire Risk Assessments for housing associations, managing agents, and large private landlords across the UK.
What Are the Legal Requirements?
Neither a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment nor a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan is mandated by a single piece of legislation in every circumstance. However, several legal duties require Responsible Persons and organisations to assess, manage, and, where appropriate, plan for individual fire risks.
England and Wales
Relevant legislation includes:
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Fire Safety Act 2021
- Building Safety Act 2022
- Housing Act 2004
- Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025
From 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 introduced additional duties for certain residential buildings in England. These include identifying residents who may require assistance with evacuation, preparing Residential Evacuation Plans where required, and making relevant information available to inform Fire and Rescue Services’ operational response where necessary.
The Housing Act 2004 is also particularly relevant to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and some supported housing settings, where landlords and managers have duties to maintain safe living conditions, including appropriate fire safety measures.
Alongside these duties, Responsible Persons should adopt a proportionate approach to managing individual fire risks. Depending on the building and its residents, this may include completing Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments, preparing Residential Evacuation Plans, or implementing other appropriate measures to support residents who may require additional assistance.
Scotland
Fire safety duties in Scotland are governed by:
- Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
Although the legislative framework differs, organisations must still assess fire risks, maintain appropriate fire safety measures, and consider individual circumstances where they may affect resident safety.
Common Misconceptions About PCFRAs and PEEPs
Responsible Persons who do not understand the purpose of a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment or a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan can overlook important fire safety measures or apply the wrong process.
Some of the most common misconceptions include:
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment replaces a PEEP.
No. A PCFRA assesses an individual’s level of fire risk and recommends measures to reduce that risk. A PEEP focuses specifically on how an individual will be supported during an emergency evacuation where appropriate.
Every resident requires both a PCFRA and a PEEP.
No. Neither assessment is required for every resident. The need for either should be determined by the individual’s circumstances, the building’s fire safety arrangements, and the applicable legislation.
A PEEP is only relevant in care homes.
No. While PEEPs are widely used within healthcare and care settings, evacuation planning may also be appropriate in supported housing and certain residential buildings where occupants may require assistance.
A PCFRA only considers evacuation.
No. A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment considers much more than evacuation. It assesses the factors that may increase the likelihood of a fire occurring, the potential consequences for the individual, and the practical measures that can reduce those risks.
Supporting Individual Fire Safety and Evacuation Planning
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment and a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan serve different purposes, but both play an important role in protecting residents whose circumstances place them at greater risk during a fire. Responsible Persons must understand when each is appropriate so they can manage individual fire risks proportionately while supporting wider fire safety compliance.
If you are responsible for fire safety compliance across supported housing or residential portfolios and need an experienced provider, Osterna can help.
We work with housing associations, supported housing providers, local authorities, and care organisations across the UK, delivering Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments, Fire Risk Assessments, fire door inspections, asset testing, and wider building compliance services.
Get in touch with the Osterna team today
Frequently Asked Questions
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment identifies how an individual’s health, mobility, behaviours, or support needs affect their level of fire risk and recommends measures to reduce those risks.
A residential PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) sets out the arrangements needed to help an individual resident evacuate safely in the event of a fire where additional assistance is required.
The need for a residential personal emergency evacuation plan depends on the type of building, its evacuation strategy, and the needs of the individual resident. Housing providers and Responsible Persons should consider whether vulnerable residents may require additional support to evacuate safely and whether a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, Residential Evacuation Plan, or other appropriate evacuation arrangements are required.
No. A Fire Risk Assessment evaluates fire safety across the building as a whole, while a PEEP focuses on the evacuation arrangements for a specific individual. The two documents serve different purposes and should not be used interchangeably.
From April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 introduced additional duties for many residential buildings in England. The Responsible Person must identify residents who may require assistance to evacuate and prepare appropriate Residential Evacuation Plans, including an Evacuation Statement where applicable.
Although the regulations do not specifically require a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment, a PCFRA can help identify residents who may benefit from additional fire safety measures or evacuation planning.
Yes. Although a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment is not an evacuation plan, it can help organisations identify residents who may require additional support during an emergency and inform decisions about Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, Residential Evacuation Plans, and wider evacuation strategies where appropriate.
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