Evacuation drills in Germany: requirements, frequency, procedure and report
Alarm, out, assembly point, headcount: an evacuation drill shows whether your emergency organisation holds up in a real incident. What German workplace law and ASR A2.3 require, how often to practise and how to plan and evaluate a drill.
Last updated on 7 min readAMS Go editorial team
Key points at a glance
- Where an escape and rescue plan is required, drills based on that plan must take place at appropriate intervals (Section 4 (4) ArbStättV); the Technical Rule for Workplaces ASR A2.3 requires evacuation drills at regular intervals.
- According to ASR A2.3 no. 11, repeating evacuation drills every two to five years has proven effective; building, hazardous substances or emission control law may require more.
- Every drill should at least show whether the alarm can be raised at any time and reaches everyone, whether everyone understands it and acts on it, whether escape routes can be used quickly and safely and whether the areas are empty at the end.
- DGUV Information 205-033 recommends observers on each floor or fire compartment, at exits and at the assembly point, timing the drill and a report with a debrief and corrective actions.
What is an evacuation drill?
An evacuation drill (Räumungsübung) is a planned practice alarm in which everyone present leaves a building or area via the escape routes and gathers at the assembly point. It shows whether the alarm, escape routes, helpers and headcount work in a real emergency. Where an escape and rescue plan is required, the drill is mandatory in Germany – according to ASR A2.3, intervals of two to five years have proven effective.
Is an evacuation drill mandatory?
Yes, if an escape and rescue plan (Flucht- und Rettungsplan) is required for the workplace. In that case Section 4 (4) of the Workplaces Ordinance (ArbStättV) requires drills based on that plan at appropriate intervals. ASR A2.3 specifies this in no. 11 (2): evacuation drills must be carried out at regular intervals. Further legal bases:
- Section 10 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG): take measures for first aid, firefighting and evacuation – including for other persons present – and appoint employees for these tasks
- Section 22 DGUV Regulation 1: plan, implement and monitor emergency measures for fires, explosions and other dangerous disruptions
- Section 6 (3) and (4) ArbStättV and ASR A2.3 no. 11 (1): instruction on escape routes and what to do in a fire before starting work and at least annually
- ASR V3a.2 Annex A2.3: take the needs of employees with disabilities into account in evacuation drills
How often must an evacuation drill take place?
There is no fixed statutory interval. You set the frequency in the risk assessment (Gefährdungsbeurteilung) – these requirements and benchmarks help:
Section 4 (4) ArbStättV
RequirementDrills “at appropriate intervals” based on the escape and rescue plan
ASR A2.3 no. 11 (2)
RequirementEvacuation drills at regular intervals; repeating them every 2 to 5 years has proven effective
DGUV Information 205-033
RequirementScope and interval based on the risk assessment; in practice a two-year cycle has proven effective
Section 10 (4) Major Accidents Ordinance (12. BImSchV)
RequirementUpper-tier establishments: review and test internal emergency plans at least every three years
Building law, building permit
RequirementMay set their own requirements for special buildings or individual premises
More frequent drills are worthwhile with high staff turnover, many agency workers or visitors, shift work, after alterations or changed escape routes and when the last drill revealed significant shortcomings. Regardless of this, all employees are instructed on the escape routes at least annually, and employees with evacuation tasks also receive site-specific instruction on those tasks (ASR A2.3 no. 11 (1) and (3)).
Fire safety in AMS GoOrganise fire safety briefings and inspections in one place and follow up actions – for example from the evaluation of an evacuation drill – with owners and deadlines in the action plan.Planning an evacuation drill in 5 steps
- 1
Define objective and scenario
Which areas will be evacuated and what should be tested? A realistic scenario – such as a fire in the store with a blocked stairwell – reveals more than a routine alarm. The minimum checks of ASR A2.3 always apply: alarm can be raised at any time, reaches everyone, is understood and acted on, escape routes usable quickly and safely, areas empty at the end.
- 2
Assign roles
Appoint a drill coordinator, observers, evacuation helpers and a person responsible for the headcount at the assembly point.
- 3
Announce or not?
An unannounced drill is more meaningful. DGUV Information 205-033 recommends not disclosing the time but instructing employees on emergency measures shortly beforehand. After moving premises, an announced drill can be a sensible start.
- 4
Inform those involved
If the fire alarm system is connected to the fire brigade, agree the drill in advance with the fire brigade or control centre and the system's maintenance provider so that no call-out is triggered. Also inform the building operator, gatehouse or security service and neighbouring companies in the building.
- 5
Arrange exceptions and assistance
Define in advance any areas that must remain staffed – for example during running laboratory experiments – and mark the people concerned. Plan escorts and evacuation aids for employees who need help.
Roles: who does what?
Drill coordinator
Task during the drillPlans, triggers the alarm, records the times, simulates the fire brigade's incident command and announces the end of the drill at the assembly point
Observers
Task during the drillOne per floor or fire compartment, at exits and at the assembly point; follow events without intervening and note their observations on a form
Evacuation helpers
Task during the drillCheck rooms, toilets and side rooms, escort visitors out and support people who need help
Fire wardens
Task during the drillFight incipient fires in a real emergency; in many companies they also take on evacuation tasks
Assembly point
Task during the drillA designated person checks the headcount – including visitors and contractors – and reports missing persons to the drill coordinator
According to DGUV Information 205-001, evacuation helpers usually need no special training; their tasks are assigned to them during an instruction session. Where a fire safety officer (Brandschutzbeauftragter) has been appointed, planning and carrying out evacuation drills is one of their typical tasks (DGUV Information 205-003).
Procedure on the day of the drill
- Trigger the alarm and note the time – using the same alarm method as in a real emergency
- Everyone stops work immediately, makes machines safe as specified and leaves the building via the marked escape routes – close windows and doors, do not lock them, no lifts
- Evacuation helpers check their areas and report them as cleared
- At the assembly point, the headcount is checked – with the visitor and contractor list – and reported to the drill coordinator
- Nobody re-enters the building before the all-clear; after the building has been checked, the drill coordinator announces the end of the drill
Record at least three times: alarm triggered, last person out and headcount reported. There is no statutory maximum evacuation time – what is meaningful is the comparison with earlier drills and where things got stuck.
Evaluation, corrective actions and report
Directly after the drill, hold a debrief with the drill coordinator, observers and helpers: what went well, what did not, what stood out? People who ignored the alarm are spoken to and noted in the report. Typical findings include an alarm that could not be heard in noisy areas or toilets, blocked emergency exits, congestion in the stairwell or a missing visitor list. The report should include:
- date, area, scenario and whether the drill was announced
- drill coordinator, observers and bodies informed
- times measured and number of people at the assembly point
- observations on the alarm, escape routes, helpers and assembly point
- defects with corrective action, owner and deadline
Inform employees about the results promptly, for example via a notice or at the next instruction session, and feed the findings into the risk assessment. If the drill shows that the alarm does not reach everyone, a technical alarm system may be needed (ASR A2.2 no. 5.1). No retention period is prescribed for the report; keep it at least until the next drill, preferably for several years.
Checklist: evacuation drill
- Need and interval defined in the risk assessment
- Scenario, objectives and drill coordinator set
- Observers appointed for floors, exits and assembly point
- Fire brigade or control centre, fire alarm maintenance provider and building operator informed
- People needing assistance and areas that remain staffed taken into account
- Employees instructed on escape routes, alarm signal and assembly point
- Times measured, headcount including visitors and contractors checked
- Debrief held, report with corrective actions drawn up
- Results communicated, date of next drill planned
Free templates for this guide
As PDF and Excel, free – to use in your own company.
Frequently asked questions
How often must an evacuation drill be carried out in Germany?
The Workplaces Ordinance requires drills “at appropriate intervals” where an escape and rescue plan is required (Section 4 (4) ArbStättV). According to ASR A2.3, repeating drills every two to five years has proven effective; DGUV Information 205-033 names a two-year cycle. Building law, the Major Accidents Ordinance or conditions imposed by the authorities may require more.
Does an evacuation drill have to be announced?
No. There is no duty to announce it, and unannounced drills show better how everyone behaves in a real emergency. DGUV Information 205-033 recommends not disclosing the time but instructing employees on emergency measures shortly beforehand. You should, however, inform the fire brigade or control centre in advance if the fire alarm system is connected to them.
Does a real alarm count as an evacuation drill?
According to DGUV Information 205-033, any evacuation actually carried out can also be treated and documented as a drill. This requires evaluating it like a drill: times, headcount, observations and corrective actions belong in the report.
Do all employees have to take part in the evacuation drill?
Yes. The same rules of conduct apply during the drill as in a real emergency, and under Section 15 ArbSchG employees must look after their own safety in line with the employer's instruction and directions. Managers set an example. Exceptions only apply to people designated in advance, for example in areas that must remain staffed for safety reasons. Visitors and contractors also leave the building.
Terms from the glossary
This guide gives a general overview of German occupational safety law and does not replace legal advice. The regulations in force and the rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions are authoritative.
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