Stay-put or evacuate? This single decision determines whether you survive a high-rise fire. After Grenfell, the answer is more complicated — and more important — than ever.. The Strategy That Failed at Grenfell At 01:26 on 14 June 2017, the London Fire Brigade gave advice to Grenfell Tower residents: stay put . The stay put strategy is based on a simple principle: in a well compartmented building, fire will be contained within the flat of origin. Other residents are safer staying in their flats than entering smoke filled corridors and staircases. For decades, this worked. Thousands of fires in UK high rises were successfully managed with stay put. But Grenfell was different. The cladding system allowed fire to spread externally, bypassing compartmentation entirely. By the time the stay put advice was revoked at 02:47 — 81 minutes after the fire started — it was too late for 72 people. Understanding Both Strategies Stay Put How it works: Only the residents of the flat where fire originates evacuate. All other residents remain in their flats behind fire rated doors. The fire service tackles the fire. Requirements: Minimum 60 minute fire rated compartmentation (walls, floors, doors) Fire rated flat entrance doors (FD30S minimum) Protected common corridors and staircases Automatic smoke detection in common areas Fire service access and firefighting facilities Advantages: Avoids staircase overcrowding Reduces smoke exposure for non affected residents Enables fire service to fight fire without contra flow Suitable for buildings with single staircase Critical dependency: Compartmentation must be intact. If fire breaches compartment boundaries — through external walls, service penetrations, or defective fire doors — stay put fails catastrophically. Simultaneous Evacuation How it works: When fire is detected, ALL residents evacuate immediately via the nearest staircase. Requirements: Voice alarm system throughout the building Multiple staircases (capacity for full building evacuation) Enhanced smoke control in escape routes Wider staircases (1,200mm minimum) Refuge areas for mobility impaired residents Fire warden organisation Advantages: Everyone gets out — no reliance on compartmentation containing fire Simpler for residents to understand (fire alarm = leave) Appropriate where compartmentation is uncertain Challenges: Requires multiple staircases (most UK high rises have one) Staircase capacity must handle full building population Smoke in staircases affects everyone, not just those near the fire Contra flow with firefighters entering building Mobility impaired residents may not be able to use stairs The Post Grenfell Position What the Regulations Now Require The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require: Evacuation plans covering both stay put and simultaneous evacuation A documented trigger for switching from stay put to simultaneous evacuation Regular review and communication of the strategy to residents Information provided to the fire service about the building's strategy The BSR Position For new higher risk buildings, the BSR expects: Dual strategy capability — buildings designed to support both stay put and simultaneous evacuation Automatic trigger mechanisms — fire alarm systems that can switch from alert to evacuation mode Enhanced compartmentation — beyond ADB minimum for critical boundaries Second staircase — for buildings over 18m, enabling simultaneous evacuation capacity What You Should Do Right Now If You Live in a High Rise 1. Know your building's evacuation strategy — ask your building manager 2. Have a personal plan — know your escape route, have a go bag ready 3. Know the trigger — what would cause a switch from stay put to full evacuation? 4. Register your needs — if you need assistance evacuating, make sure your building manager knows 5. Test your fire doors — do they close fully and latch? Report any issues immediately Magnus Opifex designs evacuation strategies for every building type. For expert evacuation planning, contact us.