By David Gilmore, Director, EvacServices
In healthcare, emergencies are not hypothetical they are a certainty. Fire alarms, power failures and internal incidents each bring unique challenges to patient safety. Unlike commercial environments, hospitals and aged care facilities must consider people who may be immobile, disoriented or dependent on life-sustaining equipment. This complexity is exactly why strong emergency management frameworks and compliant evacuation plans exist to protect the most vulnerable when moments matter most.
Across Australia, fire and evacuation compliance for healthcare facilities is governed by national standards such as AS 3745:2010 and AS 4083:2010, as well as state-based requirements like the Queensland Building Fire Safety Regulations and NSW Health Fire Safety Directives. These frameworks define how facilities must plan, document, train and respond during emergencies to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.
The Institute of Healthcare Engineering Australia (IHEA) continues to lead the way in promoting excellence in hospital safety and infrastructure. Through its national network, IHEA encourages collaboration between engineers, facility managers and compliance specialists a partnership that has become essential in achieving resilient and compliant healthcare environments.
One of the most critical tools in emergency preparedness is the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). A PEEP provides a tailored plan for individuals who may need assistance during an evacuation such as patients with mobility or sensory limitations, or residents who depend on medical equipment. When properly developed and maintained, PEEPs ensure no one is left behind and that staff understand exactly how to support every person in their care. However, EvacServices’ compliance reviews across hospitals and aged-care facilities often reveal gaps.
Many organisations struggle with outdated emergency evacuation diagrams, incomplete PEEP records, or limited awareness among Emergency Control Organisations (ECOs) about their roles. These issues are rarely due to neglect but to the operational complexity of large health networks.
In 2023, EvacServices partnered with a major metropolitan health network overseeing more than 40 facilities. The initial audit identified fragmented documentation and inconsistent training records. Through a structured Compliance Gap Analysis and Fire Safety Review, the organisation established a central Emergency Planning Committee, updated all emergency evacuation plans and evacuation diagrams, and implemented the EvacConnect Portal for digital record-keeping. This cloud-based platform gave Facility Managers real-time access to warden training logs, ECO registers, and PEEP documentation.
Blended warden training delivered through classroom sessions, virtual learning and immersive simulations built confidence across every site. Within six months, the network achieved full compliance under national and state frameworks and passed an external audit with zero non-conformances. More importantly, staff confidence in emergency response improved dramatically, proving that true preparedness is built through culture as much as compliance. Successful healthcare organisations treat emergency management as a daily responsibility rather than an annual obligation.
Regular EPC meetings, digital training records, and scenario-based evacuation drills keep procedures current and teams ready. After every drill or incident, continuous improvement ensures systems evolve alongside facility operations. IHEA members and Fire Safety Advisors play an essential role in this ecosystem ensuring that engineering, clinical care and emergency planning align seamlessly.
By combining infrastructure knowledge with human-centred design, healthcare facilities achieve resilience, compliance and safety in equal measure. With hospitals and aged-care providers facing constant pressure to balance care, cost and compliance, proactive emergency planning has never been more critical. When strong emergency evacuation systems, updated evacuation diagrams and confident people come together, safety becomes second nature.
EvacServices continues to work alongside IHEA members, healthcare networks and Facility Managers across Australia and New Zealand to deliver compliant evacuation plans, fire safety training, and emergency management systems that turn compliance into confidence. Comply. Learn. Engage. Protect.
