In England, Responsible Persons for multi-occupied residential buildings must provide residents with fire-safety instructions and display them clearly in the communal areas. The information should explain what residents should do if there is a fire and should reflect the building's evacuation strategy.
The notice must match the building
A stay-put block and a simultaneous-evacuation building require different instructions. Before changing signage, the Responsible Person should be clear about the current strategy and make sure the displayed information is consistent with the FRA and any fire-alarm arrangements.
What residents need to know
The information should explain what to do if fire breaks out in the resident's own flat, what to do if fire occurs elsewhere in the building, how to leave if evacuation is necessary and how to call the fire and rescue service. It should be understandable to the residents who receive it.
Display and direct communication are both required
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations require instructions to be displayed prominently in communal areas and provided directly to residents. Providing a notice in the lobby does not, by itself, replace the need to give the information to residents.
Review and reissue the information
The information should be kept current. Government guidance requires it to be re-provided to residents annually and when it is updated. A significant change to the building or evacuation arrangements is an obvious reason to review it promptly.
Check for conflicting notices
Older buildings sometimes accumulate notices from different periods or contractors. Instructions such as keeping a final exit locked, evacuating on an alarm that no longer exists, or staying put where the strategy has changed can create confusion. Obsolete or contradictory notices should be removed or corrected.