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Fire Drill Frequency: How Often Is Legally Required?

22nd January 2026

We have all experienced that moment in the middle of a busy workday: the fire alarm blares, everyone sighs, and the slow trek to the assembly point begins. While fire drills can sometimes feel like a disruption to productivity, they are one of the most critical elements of a building’s fire safety strategy.

For the Responsible Person, fire drills aren't just a safety recommendation; they are a legal requirement. But how often do you actually need to run them to stay on the right side of the law? Here is everything you need to know about fire drill frequency and compliance in the UK.

The Legal Minimum: At Least Once a Year

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), the law is clear: you must carry out at least one fire drill every year.

This annual requirement is the absolute minimum for standard commercial environments like offices and shops. The purpose of this drill is to test your Fire Evacuation Plan in a controlled environment. It ensures that everyone knows the primary and secondary escape routes, the location of the assembly point, and who the designated Fire Marshals are.

However, the law also states that fire drills should be carried out "at intervals that are appropriate to the risk." This means that for many businesses, once a year simply isn't enough to satisfy a fire inspector.

When Should You Run Drills More Frequently?

While "once a year" is the baseline, several factors can trigger the need for more frequent fire evacuations:

1. High-Risk Environments

Buildings with high fire loads (such as warehouses or manufacturing plants) or those with complex layouts (like shopping centres) should consider bi-annual or even quarterly drills. The more complex the escape route, the more practice staff need to navigate it instinctively.

2. High Staff Turnover or Shift Work

If your business has a high turnover of staff, such as in retail or hospitality, an annual drill is insufficient. New employees may go months without knowing the evacuation procedure. Similarly, if you run multiple shifts, you must ensure that every shift (including night staff) has participated in a drill.

3. Vulnerable Occupants

In settings like care homes, hospitals, or schools, the fire drill frequency is often much higher. Schools typically carry out a drill at the start of every new term (three times a year) to ensure new students and staff are fully aware of the procedures.

4. Post-Structural Changes

If you have recently renovated your office, changed the internal partitioning, or updated your fire alarm system, you should run a fire drill immediately. This ensures the old evacuation plan is still fit for the new layout.

What Makes a "Successful" Fire Drill?

A fire drill is not just a race to the car park. To be useful for your Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), the drill should be an active test of your procedures:

  • Test Different Scenarios: What happens if the main staircase is "blocked" by fire? A good drill tests whether staff can successfully find and use the secondary escape routes.
  • Observe Fire Marshals: This is the time to see if your Fire Marshals know exactly where their "sweep zones" are and how to report back to the fire coordinator.
  • Check the Alarm Audibility: Can the alarm be heard in every corner of the building, including restrooms and server rooms?

If It’s Not Recorded, It Didn’t Happen

One of the biggest compliance mistakes businesses make is failing to record the drill. A Fire Officer will ask to see your Fire Safety Logbook during an inspection. For every drill, you must record:

  1. The date and time of the drill.
  2. The time taken to evacuate the building entirely.
  3. Any issues identified (e.g., a fire door that was difficult to open or a staff member who didn't hear the alarm).
  4. The remedial actions taken to fix those issues.

Expert Fire Training with Fire Stoppers

Running an effective fire drill requires confidence and coordination. At Fire Stoppers, we don't just tell you how often to run a drill; we help you ensure they are effective. We provide comprehensive Fire Marshal Training and consultancy to help you design, execute, and record fire drills that meet all legal standards.

Ensure your team is ready for the unexpected. Contact Fire Stoppers today.