Learning Hub · Licensing & Compliance
Fire Safety & Evacuation
Why fire safety compliance matters
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all animal boarding premises. DEFRA Condition 12 requires a written fire risk assessment, documented fire drills, maintained equipment, and a clear evacuation procedure that accounts for animals. A kennel fire is every owner's worst nightmare — your fire safety log proves you've done everything possible to prevent it and prepare for it.
What to record
The fire safety module covers multiple record types — each with different frequencies recommended by UK fire safety guidance:
Fire Drills
Full evacuation practice. Record date, time, participants, evacuation time, outcome and issues found. DEFRA recommends at least every 6 months — many councils require quarterly.
Alarm Tests
Weekly alarm sounding test. Record which alarm point was activated, whether all sounders operated, and any faults. Must be done weekly — inspectors check your test frequency.
Extinguisher Service
Annual professional service plus monthly visual inspections. Record the engineer, serial numbers, types (water, CO2, foam, powder), and any replacements. Tags on extinguishers must match your log.
Emergency Lighting Tests
Monthly function test (press the button, does it light up?) plus annual 3-hour discharge test by a professional. Record each test with the light location and result.
Fire Risk Assessment Review
Annual formal review of your written fire risk assessment. Record what changed: new equipment, layout changes, new hazards, updated escape routes. Keep ALL previous versions.
Staff Training
Record who was trained, on what, and when. Every staff member must know the fire procedure, assembly point, and how to use an extinguisher. New starters must be trained on day one.
Watch: A fire drill being timed and recorded
Simulating a fire drill evacuation — timing every stage...
2:42
✓ Under 3 min target — PASS
🔔
Alarm Activated
0:00
✅
👥
Staff Assembly
0:12
✅
🐕
Animal Headcount
0:45
✅
🏃
Kennels Evacuated
1:30
✅
📍
Assembly Point
2:15
✅
✅
All Accounted For
2:42
✅
✓ Fire drill recorded — next drill due in 6 months
The evacuation procedure for animals
Evacuating kennels is uniquely challenging — dogs can't follow fire exit signs. Your procedure must cover:
Lead order
Decide in advance which kennels are evacuated first. Typically: closest to fire origin, then mobility-impaired animals, then the rest. Assign one staff member per 3-4 kennels.
Lead equipment
Emergency slip leads must be stored at both ends of every kennel block. No fumbling with collars — speed matters. Log where your leads are stored and check them monthly.
Assembly point
A specific location at least 20 metres from the building where all animals and staff gather. It must have secure fencing — the last thing you need is dogs escaping during a fire.
Headcount
Compare your daily kennel manifest against the animals at the assembly point. Every animal must be accounted for. This is why up-to-date kennel occupancy records are essential.
Target time
Most fire services recommend full evacuation in under 3 minutes for small premises, under 5 for large. Record your actual time and work to improve it drill by drill.
What happens when fire safety records are complete
Click each scenario to see the result and email preview
Weekly alarm test logged
The system shows a green weekly indicator confirming alarms are functioning. Gaps of more than 7 days trigger an overdue alert. Inspectors check for unbroken weekly records.
Equipment serviced
Each extinguisher and emergency light has a service history. The "Next Due" date drives renewal reminders 30 days before expiry. Expired equipment is flagged red.
Drill completed in target time
The drill record shows a PASS with the exact evacuation time. If you failed the target, the "Issues Found" field documents what went wrong and what corrective action was taken.
Fire authority inspection
Present your complete fire log: drills, weekly tests, annual services, risk assessment reviews. A structured, searchable record set impresses both DEFRA and fire officers.
Pro tips for fire safety
Run fire drills at different times of day. A drill always at 10am Tuesday means staff only practise when they're alert and prepared. Try one at 7am during morning feeds, or 5pm during pick-up rush.
Test alarms on different call points each week. Cycle through them all so you know every single point is working — not just the one by the front door.
Emergency lighting batteries die. The monthly test catches failing batteries before you need them in a real emergency. Replace immediately if any light fails.
Keep a printed kennel manifest by the fire exit. In a real evacuation with no power, your computer system is useless. The printed list must be updated every morning when occupancy changes.
Store emergency slip leads in BRIGHT RED — they must be identifiable in smoke. Don't use regular leads that blend in with equipment.
Photo-document your escape routes. Take photos of clear corridors, unblocked fire exits, and visible fire signs. If an inspector visits and finds a blocked exit, your last photo shows it was clear 2 months ago — proving the blockage is recent, not habitual.
Fire extinguishers need different types for different risks: water for paper/wood, CO2 for electrical, foam for liquids. Make sure you have the right types AND that staff know which to use where.
If you have a commercial kitchen or food prep area, you need a fire blanket in addition to extinguishers. Log its location and check it monthly.
Learning Hub • Fire Safety & Evacuation
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