SweepBoardby TRMEvidence that your evacuation procedure works
UK fire safety law puts the duty on the Responsible Person to plan for evacuation, appoint enough competent people to carry it out, practise it and keep records. SweepBoard turns each of those into something you can show.
What the law expects
In England and Wales the main legislation is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The points below are a plain-English summary of the parts most relevant to evacuation.
| Duty | What it asks for | How SweepBoard helps |
|---|---|---|
| Article 11 Fire safety arrangements | Effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of your fire safety measures. | A defined sweep for every floor, live control during an incident and a record to monitor and review afterwards. |
| Article 15 Procedures and drills | Procedures for serious and imminent danger, including safety drills, and a sufficient number of competent persons to implement evacuation. | Shows that wardens were alerted, which areas each one swept and how long it took. Every drill is recorded. |
| Article 14 Emergency routes and exits | Routes and exits kept clear so people can evacuate quickly and safely. | Wardens log blocked routes and wedged doors as issues during the sweep, with time and location. |
| Articles 19 and 21 Information and training | Employees given information on procedures and adequate safety training. | Store Plan and role action cards on every phone. Drills in the app are practical training with a record of who took part. |
| Article 22 Co-operation | Co-operation and co-ordination with other Responsible Persons in shared premises. | Landlord arrangements and contacts held in the plan. Reports can be shared with centre management. |
| Article 9 and section 156 Recording | Since 1 October 2023 the fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements must be recorded in full, whatever the size of the business. | Time-stamped drill and evacuation records that support your recorded arrangements. |
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation with equivalent duties: the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 with the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 with the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Make every drill count as evidence
Government guidance for most workplaces is to carry out a fire drill at least once a year and record the results. Many organisations do more.
- Each drill is saved with its date, duration and controller
- Evacuation time is measured, not estimated
- Issues found are captured with the area and warden
- Compare drills over time to show improvement
- Give your fire risk assessor access to real data at the next review
One record that satisfies several audiences
Enforcing authority
Fire and rescue service inspectors look for evidence that procedures are tested and work.
Fire risk assessor
Drill outcomes feed directly into the review of your assessment and action plan.
Insurer
Demonstrable control of evacuation supports your risk presentation at renewal.
Landlord and head office
Proof that each unit or site is running its drills and closing its actions.
Refuges handled properly, and privately
Your arrangements must work for everyone, including people who cannot use the stairs unaided. SweepBoard makes the refuge check a fixed part of every sweep.
- Refuge status is confirmed on every floor, every time
- The controller sees numbers and assistance needs at once
- Times are logged for informing the fire service and for evacuation
- No names or medical information are recorded
An important note
SweepBoard is a tool that supports your emergency procedures and record keeping. It does not replace a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, a fire detection and alarm system, trained people or competent advice. Using SweepBoard does not by itself make premises compliant. The summary on this page is for general information and is not legal advice. Total Risk Management can provide fire risk assessments, warden training and advice alongside SweepBoard if you need them.
Show, do not tell, at your next inspection
Put a dated, timed, signed-off drill record on the table.