In event management and facilities operations, the decision to secure evacuation chair hire or evac chair hire is not simply about ticking a box for mobility-impaired users during an emergency. It’s about thorough compliance, risk management and ensuring all visitors and staff can be safely evacuated. Whether you’re overseeing a permanent structure like a London venue or a temporary pop-up event within a larger facility, recognising the centrality of an evacuation chair (or “evac chair”) and a robust emergency plan is essential.
Why evacuation chair hire matters
While equipment ownership is a valid option, many venues and event operators find that hiring an evacuation chair offers flexibility — especially for short-term activations or temporary builds. According to one specialist provider, event-based hire is available and ideal for one-off functions, exhibitions or situations where permanent installation isn’t justified. (Globex Evacuation) Hiring allows you to scale up for capacity, locate chairs in optimal stairwells and then return them once the event ends. Crucially, the equipment must be complemented by training, maintenance and a documented plan.
Although UK law does not explicitly mandate evacuation chairs in every location, you must still ensure “means of escape for everyone permitted into a building” under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. (evacchair.co.uk) In practice, an evacuation chair often fulfils this obligation for mobility-impaired users when lifts cannot be used in an emergency. Additionally, hiring enables event organisers in temporary facilities (for example within a major London exhibition hall or pop-up festival venue) to meet their duty of care without long-term investment.
Compliance & the role of a GEEP
A central concept often overlooked is the GEEP — a Generic Emergency Evacuation Plan. A GEEP describes evacuation procedures, available equipment, refuge locations, routes and communication devices. (Imperial College London) For instance, Imperial College London explains that their GEEPs cover the layout, evacuation procedures and equipment visibility in each building. (Imperial College London)
Why this matters for venues and events:
- The GEEP must be tailored to the building or pop-up environment and must reference the specific equipment in place (including any hired evac chairs).
- It must allow all users — including those with reduced mobility — to understand evacuation routes and provisions. (Loughborough University)
- Without a proper GEEP, you cannot demonstrate that your evacuation strategy is “suitable and sufficient” for all users. Indeed, fire-risk guidance for small and medium places of assembly states you should include “assisted means of escape/personal or generic emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs/GEEPs)”. (GOV.UK)
In short: even if you hire an evacuation chair, if your emergency plan doesn’t reference how and where it will be used, trained staff aren’t designated and your route mapping is weak — then your compliance is incomplete.
Application in facilities and pop-up events
Permanent facilities
For a London office building, exhibition centre or venue, evacuation chair hire can provide a short-term compliance solution during refurbishment or when lifts are offline. The GEEP for that facility should identify the stairwells, refuge points, trained staff and equipment locations (including any hired chairs). For example the Old Billingsgate event venue in London has designated evacuation chairs in particular fire-escape stairs. (updates.ess-consultants.info)
Pop-up and temporary events within a facility
Consider a pop-up festival stage inside a larger London arena, or a temporary art-installation zone inside a museum. Event operators must treat the space as an independent evacuation zone: they should arrange evac chair hire (if stairs are involved and lifts not accessible), designate trained operators, include the chairs on the GEEP, map out routes for mobility-impaired guests and coordinate with the hosting facility’s safety team. Accessibility audits such as those by Historic England reinforce that staff should be trained and one of the checklist points is “Are staff trained in how to use the evacuation chairs?” (Historic England)
Key elements when arranging evac chair hire and compliance
- Identify the need: Does the venue/stair path require evacuation chairs for mobility-impaired users? According to guidance chairs should be considered where stairways are used for emergency evacuation of disabled people. (GOV.UK)
- Hire from a specialist: Ensure the vendor provides suitable equipment, delivery, training and service (for example hire listings show flexible rental options). (Evacu8)
- Training and operators: Having the chair is not enough — staff must be trained and refresher training scheduled. (Globex Evacuation)
- Include in your GEEP: Map out where the chairs are located, who is responsible, how mobility-impaired users will access them, and how routes will be monitored.
- Maintenance and inspection: Equipment must be inspected and maintained regularly even when hired. (Globex Evacuation)
- Pop-up specific arrangements: For events, ensure that signage, briefings, temporary stairs or pathways, and coordination with the venue’s fire strategy all reference the chair hire and evacuation plan.
Conclusion
For any facility manager or event organiser, moving beyond simply owning or hiring an evacuation chair to an integrated emergency evacuation strategy is critical. Securing evacuation chair hire or evac chair hire represents a flexible and compliant solution, provided it is backed by a clear GEEP, trained staff and documented procedures. Whether you are managing a long-term London venue or staging a temporary event within an existing facility, this holistic approach demonstrates your commitment to inclusive safety, legal compliance and practical evacuation provision for all users.