What is a personal emergency evacuation plan? A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan is for residents who would have difficulty or not able to get out of the building that they live in the event of a fire without help. The plan will detail what you should do in the event of an emergency.
Who can have a plan? Residents who live in Sandwell Council high rise flats who are unable to get out of the building unaided in an emergency can have a PEEP assessment. This includes tenants and occupants, leaseholders, and tenants of leaseholders.
I would have difficulty self-evacuating but do not live in a sandwell council high rise flat, can I still have a PEEP? PEEPs are only currently available for residents of high-rise properties.
If you live in another type of Sandwell Council property, you can request a home visit from your housing services officer to discuss your concerns, receive fire safety guidance and have referrals made for other support services where needed. A referral can also be made for a home fire safety check to be carried out by the fire service. If you do not live in a Sandwell Council property you should contact your landlord to discuss your concerns and also contact the fire service for a home fire safety check to be carried out.
How do I request a PEEP assessment or visit to discuss my concerns and fire safety? You can call 0121 368 1166 or email housing_hub@sandwell.gov.uk to request a visit from your housing services officer.
What does a PEEP assessment involve? During the visit if the officer identifies that you are able to get out of your flat but not out of the building, a safe area will be identified for you to move to in the event of a fire. This will usually be the stairwell in the block.
The officer will also make a referral to the fire service for a home fire safety check and discuss other fire safety advice.
What will the outcome of an assessment be? There are two category levels of PEEP that can be put in place, an amber and a red. A red PEEP identifies a person who would not be able to leave their own flat in the event of an emergency. An amber PEEP identifies residents are able leave their flat but would not be able to leave the building unaided, so would make their way to an agreed relative place of safety.
Where will the information be stored and who will it be shared with? Each block has a block plan stored within the secure information box. A sticker (amber or red) will be placed against the flat that you live in so that in the event of an emergency, emergency services will be aware that you need help to get out of the building.
What if my circumstances change after I have had a PEEP? Your plan will be reviewed every 12 months and updated where needed. If your circumstances change before the review date you should notify your housing services officer to enable a review to be carried out sooner.