Fire Safety in Care Homes: Protecting Residents Through Planning, Training, and the Right Equipment

When you care for some of the most vulnerable members of our community, safety isn’t just a legal obligation – it’s a duty of care. For care home owners and managers, fire safety is one of the most critical parts of that responsibility. Lives depend on it.

In recent projects, such as the installation of a new Category L1 fire alarm system at Lavender Lodge Nursing Home, Midland Fire’s fire alarm installers worked in a live environment, carefully planning to keep residents safe while ensuring full compliance with the latest fire safety standards. This reflects the realities many care homes face – balancing resident wellbeing with essential safety upgrades.

Fire Risk Assessments: The Starting Point for Safety

Every care home should have an up-to-date fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person. This assessment identifies hazards, evaluates the risk to people, and outlines the preventative and protective measures needed. In a care home, it’s essential to consider mobility challenges, sensory impairments, and the time it may take for residents to evacuate safely.

Safety and Compliance Measures

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the latest government fire safety regulations (effective March 2025) make clear the legal requirements for care homes, including:

• Fire Sprinkler Systems – essential for early detection and suppression, reducing evacuation time.
• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) – tailored evacuation strategies for each resident with disabilities.
• Regular Servicing – planned fire alarm maintenance, extinguisher servicing, emergency lighting checks, and suppression system inspections must be carried out by qualified professionals.

Preventative Strategies and Staff Training

Prevention starts with people. Staff should receive fire safety training for care homes at induction and regular refreshers thereafter. Training should include:

• How to raise the alarm
• Evacuation routes and procedures
• Use of fire extinguishers and other equipment
• Assisting residents with limited mobility

Evacuation drills should be run at least twice a year, ensuring every staff member feels confident acting quickly under pressure.

Fire Safety Equipment, Policies, and Procedures

From addressable fire alarm systems to emergency lighting installation and disabled refuge points, equipment must be chosen to suit the building layout and resident needs. Policies should clearly set out:

• How and when fire drills are conducted
• Maintenance schedules for all fire safety systems
• Responsibilities of each staff role during an emergency

Advanced technologies, such as Honeywell Gent Self-Test detectors, can further support care homes by reducing disruption during routine maintenance while maintaining compliance.

Keeping Plans Up to Date

Fire safety is never “done” – it’s an ongoing process. Regulations change, buildings evolve, and resident needs shift over time. Fire safety plans should be reviewed annually or sooner if there are changes to the premises or resident profiles.

By combining robust risk assessments, regular staff training, well-maintained equipment, and up-to-date procedures, care homes can create a safer environment for both residents and staff, ensuring that in the event of an emergency, everyone knows exactly what to do.

If you manage a care home and want to review your fire safety compliance, Midland Fire offers complete solutions from design and installation through to maintenance and training – keeping you fully compliant and giving peace of mind that residents are protected.