Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP)

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is an individualised emergency evacuation plan developed for a person with a disability, medical condition, mobility limitation, or other specific need who may require assistance during an emergency evacuation. A PEEP outlines the person’s evacuation procedures, assistance requirements, communication methods, and safe egress arrangements to help ensure they can evacuate safely and efficiently. As part of a comprehensive Emergency Evacuation Plan, a PEEP supports workplace safety and emergency preparedness and should be developed in accordance with the requirements of Australian Standard AS 3745-2010 – Planning for Emergencies in Facilities.

To achieve compliance with Australian Standard AS 3745-2010: Planning for Emergencies in Facilities, a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) should be incorporated into a facility’s overall Emergency Evacuation Plan and emergency evacuation procedures whenever an occupant may require assistance during an emergency. A PEEP helps ensure that every person’s evacuation needs are identified, documented, and appropriately managed, supporting a safer and more inclusive emergency response. Including PEEPs as part of your emergency planning also strengthens compliance by demonstrating that evacuation procedures consider the safety of all occupants. For a broader understanding of emergency planning obligations, read our Emergency Compliance: The Fundamental Guide. 

A PEEP is required for any occupant who may need assistance when responding to an emergency. As identified by the Australian Standard, First 5 Minutes can develop PEEPs for occupants accompanied by an assistant, those with a guide or companion animal, people with an ambulatory disability, those using a wheeled mobility appliance, occupants using alternative forms of information and communication, easily fatigued people, and occupants who may experience acute anxiety or extreme confusion during an emergency. Completed PEEPs are stored within the facility’s Emergency Management Manuals.

Building owners, facility managers, employers, and occupiers have a responsibility to ensure Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) are developed for occupants who may require assistance during an emergency evacuation. At First 5 Minutes, our qualified emergency planning specialists create fully compliant, individualised PEEPs that are tailored to each person’s specific needs, disability, mobility requirements, and the unique characteristics of the facility. We help organisations meet their emergency planning obligations while improving the safety and preparedness of every occupant. Contact our team today to discuss your PEEP requirements and ensure your facility is prepared for any emergency. 

A general Emergency Evacuation Plan covers procedures, roles and routes for all occupants of a facility; a PEEP is an individualised plan designed for a specific occupant who may need assistance during an evacuation. Both documents are required under AS 3745-2010 — the PEEP is included within the broader Facility Emergency Management Plan rather than replacing it.

A PEEP outlines the individual’s specific assistance needs, the egress route they will take to evacuate safely, and the type of support required from wardens, assistants or first responders. It is designed so that the occupant, their care providers and emergency responders can all respond quickly and safely when an emergency alarm is raised. You can download our PEEP template to see an example of what to include.

Yes. Australian Standard AS 3745-2010: Planning for Emergencies in Facilities recommends that a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) be developed for any occupant who may require assistance during an emergency evacuation. This includes employees, contractors, visitors, and anyone with permanent or temporary mobility, sensory, medical, or cognitive needs. By identifying individual assistance requirements in advance, organisations can help ensure a safe, timely, and coordinated evacuation for all occupants. Effective implementation of a PEEP also depends on emergency wardens receiving appropriate Emergency Preparedness Training, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to assist during an emergency. 

First 5 Minutes brings highly qualified and experienced specialists who develop bespoke Emergency Management Plans and individualised PEEPs aligned with AS 3745-2010. Services are delivered nationally across Commercial, Education, Government, Municipal, Health and Aged Care, Industrial, Leisure and Retail sectors — learn more about First 5 Minutes.

Yes. First 5 Minutes provides a downloadable PEEP Form template that shows what to include in a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. While the template offers a useful starting point, a fully compliant PEEP should be tailored to each individual occupant’s specific needs — explore our wider library of handbooks and resources for additional reference material.

PEEPs should be reviewed whenever an occupant’s circumstances change, when facility layouts are altered, or as part of regular emergency planning reviews. Scheduled Audits and Inspections often identify outdated documentation and are a good trigger for refreshing each PEEP to remain compliant with AS 3745-2010.