The short answer
For buildings covered by Queensland's building fire-safety requirements, the general evacuation-practice interval is no greater than one year. A practice exercise is not the whole staff instruction programme. The method and participation must suit the building and its occupants, and specialised operations may have additional requirements.
Sources: Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 — sections 43–46 · QFD — Fire Safety Management Tool (items 49–56)
Does 'annually' mean any time in the next calendar year?
No. An interval of no more than one year is measured from the previous practice. Record the completion date and plan the next exercise before that interval is exceeded.
Section 44 deals with covered buildings other than budget accommodation; section 43 separately addresses budget accommodation. This guide is not a requirement for ordinary private households to run a commercial-style drill.
Sources: Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 — sections 43–46
Is a drill the same as fire-safety training?
No. QFD treats evacuation practice, general evacuation instruction, first-response instruction and evacuation-coordination instruction as separate items. Their timing and intended participants differ. An attendance sheet from a yearly drill is not evidence that every other instruction duty has been met.
Check the building's plan and the roles people actually hold. New starters, changed responsibilities and altered layouts should be considered when arranging instruction, rather than waiting for the next practice date.
Must every person physically leave the building every time?
Do not apply that as a universal rule. The regulation requires an appropriate number of people and a suitable method, taking account of occupants' number, mobility and other characteristics. The exercise must reflect the building's arrangements.
Plan assistance for people who need it and coordinate with those managing the building. Do not improvise live smoke, obstruct escape routes or move vulnerable occupants unsafely to make an exercise feel realistic. System testing and monitored-alarm arrangements need separate professional coordination.
Sources: Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 — sections 43–46
What records should be kept?
Record the date, start and finish times, and any resulting action items. QFD provides separate templates for evacuation instruction and evacuation practice. Keep the distinction clear so the records describe what actually happened.
After the exercise, assign each improvement to someone and track it to completion. A recorded problem with an exit sign or emergency light needs attention; simply recording the drill does not repair equipment.
Sources: Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 — sections 43–46 · QFD — evacuation instruction and practice templates
Does an evacuation practice replace equipment servicing?
No. Use the relevant maintenance programme for fire equipment and emergency lighting. The guides linked below explain those separate checks. For the exercise and instruction programme itself, consult the person responsible for the building's fire plan or an appropriately qualified adviser.
Sources & further reading
Information checked on 5 September 2026. General Queensland guidance does not replace an assessment of your property, its approvals or equipment.