Care homes house some of the UK's most vulnerable people. We examine the enhanced fire safety requirements and the challenges of progressive horizontal evacuation.. Why Care Homes Are Different Care home residents represent the highest fire risk demographic: Limited mobility — many cannot self evacuate Cognitive impairment — dementia residents may not respond to alarms Medical dependencies — oxygen therapy, powered beds, medical equipment Night time vulnerability — reduced staffing when residents are sleeping Medication effects — sedation reducing awareness and response Regulatory Framework Fire Safety Order (RRO) The standard fire safety legislation applies, but with enhanced expectations for sleeping risk and vulnerable persons. CQC Requirements The Care Quality Commission inspects fire safety as part of the 'Safe' domain: Adequate fire risk assessment Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for all residents Staff training records Fire drill records and outcomes Equipment maintenance records Progressive Horizontal Evacuation (PHE) The standard evacuation strategy for care homes is PHE: How It Works 1. Fire detected in one compartment 2. Residents moved horizontally to an adjacent fire compartment on the same floor 3. Further evacuation (vertical) only if fire spreads beyond the compartment of origin Design Requirements Minimum 30 minute fire rated compartment walls and floors Compartments sized to accommodate residents from adjacent compartment Wide corridors (minimum 1800mm for bed evacuation) Level thresholds at compartment boundaries Smoke control to maintain tenable conditions in receiving compartment Staffing for PHE Critical staffing considerations: Night time staff ratios must allow evacuation of the largest compartment Typical assumption: 2 3 staff can evacuate 10 12 residents in 2.5 minutes Staff training in evacuation equipment (ski sheets, evacuation chairs) Regular drills simulating night time conditions Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans Every resident must have a PEEP that records: Mobility level and assistance required Cognitive status and likely response to alarms Medical equipment dependencies Room location relative to escape routes Number of staff required for evacuation Equipment needed (wheelchair, ski sheet, carry chair) Common Fire Safety Deficiencies Structural Compartment breaches from service installations Fire door deficiencies (closers, seals, gaps) Ceiling void barriers missing Management PEEPs not updated when resident conditions change Insufficient night time staffing for evacuation Poor housekeeping (storage in corridors, blocked exits) Laundry and kitchen fire risks not adequately managed Equipment Oxygen cylinder storage not compliant Electrical equipment not PAT tested Personal electrical devices not risk assessed Technology Solutions Acoustic monitoring in bedrooms (privacy respecting early detection) Locator systems for dementia residents Automated fire door hold open devices linked to detection Nurse call integration with fire alarm For care home fire safety assessments, contact Magnus Opifex.