Evacuation mats, ski sheets and rescue sheets provide horizontal and stairway evacuation for people who cannot use an evacuation chair, including bariatric residents and those evacuated directly in bedding. Widely used in Irish nursing homes and hospitals to support compliance with HIQA expectations on evacuation capability. Sizing and method matter — our team advises on matching equipment to your evacuation strategy and personal emergency evacuation plans before purchase.
Evacuation Mats and Sheets Ireland
Safety Equipment Ireland supplies evacuation mats, evacuation sheets, rescue sheets and matching accessories to hospitals, nursing homes, disability services and other settings across Ireland where people may need to be evacuated lying down rather than in a chair. We stock Tetcon, Hospital Aids, Spencer and Spectrum Healthcare products, from standard mats to bariatric models and baby evacuation cots.
We do not display prices online. Everything is supplied on a quotation basis, so the sales team can confirm the right product for your residents, routes and beds before you commit. Call 043 3349611 or email [email protected] to request a quotation.
safetyequipment.ie is owned and operated by Phoenix STS, the fire safety and health and safety consultancy and training provider. The same team trains healthcare staff in evacuation, so the advice behind each quotation is practical.
Who needs evacuation mats and sheets?
Evacuation mats and sheets are for people who cannot walk or sit upright in an evacuation chair: bedridden patients and residents who must be moved lying down, including down stairs. They are standard equipment in hospitals, nursing homes and disability services, and our healthcare evacuation equipment page covers the wider range.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers must prepare adequate emergency plans. In plain terms, if anyone cannot get out on their own, the plan must say how staff will move them and with what equipment.
The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 place a general duty on persons in control of premises to take reasonable measures to guard against fire and ensure the safety of people on the premises. In practice, every occupant needs a realistic escape arrangement, including those who cannot leave their beds.
In residential care settings, Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 requires registered providers to make adequate arrangements for evacuating all persons in the designated centre. Put simply, a provider must be able to show how every resident would be evacuated, including those who cannot walk. A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) should record the equipment and trained staff for each such resident.
How to choose an evacuation mat or sheet
Start with the person and the route. Some products are designed to stay with a specific bed, while others are stored on a wall bracket or in a cabinet near the escape route. If the route includes stairs, choose a model designed for stair descent, such as a low friction mat or a fully wrapping sheet.
Then consider the load and the handlers: bariatric models support heavier residents, and the number of staff needed to move someone varies by product. Each product page lists the manufacturer's stated capacity, and the team confirms suitability before quoting.
For a fuller walkthrough, read our evacuation mat and sheet buying guide. If you are standardising across wards or floors, include the room count and bed types in your enquiry.
Brands we stock
Tetcon - S-CAPEPOD evacuation sheets, S-CAPEPLUS mattresses, Retmex rescue sheets, plus storage cabinets and evacuation signage.
Hospital Aids - the EvacMat and Medi-Evac Mat, ResQMat, AlbacMat, Carry Sheet and the Ski evacuation range.
Spencer - rescue and carrying equipment including the Res-Q-Web, Life Guard and rope kits.
Spectrum Healthcare - the Evac E-Pad evacuation slip mat.
Popular evacuation mats and sheets
S-CAPEPOD Standard - a Tetcon evacuation sheet whose body flaps wrap and protect a bedridden person, designed for staircase evacuation.
Medi-Evac Mat - a hardwearing Hospital Aids mat for horizontal and vertical evacuation over indoor and outdoor surfaces.
EvacMat Bariatric Evacuation Mat - a Hospital Aids mat that securely cocoons plus size residents for safe movement from wards and care homes.
AlbacMat (Standard) - a flexible, space saving evacuation stretcher for moving immobile people in an emergency.
Evac E-Pad - a low cost Spectrum Healthcare slip mat with a foot pocket for stair descent and a wall mountable storage bag.
Training for evacuation teams
Mats and sheets rely on practised handlers. Phoenix STS runs an evacuation equipment training course that trains staff on the mats, sheets and related equipment in their own building, so the technique taught matches the products you buy.
Evacuation mat and sheet FAQs
What is the difference between an evacuation mat and an evacuation sheet?
The terms overlap, but in this range a sheet such as the S-CAPEPOD wraps around the person with protective flaps, while a mat such as the Medi-Evac Mat provides a padded base designed to slide over floors and stairs. The right choice depends on the person, the bed and the route.
Who must provide evacuation mats or sheets?
Any employer or person in control of a premises where someone could not evacuate unaided, under the 2005 Act and the Fire Services Acts. In residential care, Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 requires adequate evacuation arrangements for every resident. If a resident cannot walk, the plan must name the equipment that moves them.
Can evacuation mats and sheets be used on stairs?
Several models are specifically designed for stair descent, including the S-CAPEPOD sheets and the Ski evacuation range. Confirm stair use for the exact model in your enquiry, as products differ.
What options are there for bariatric residents?
This category includes dedicated bariatric models, including the EvacMat Bariatric Evacuation Mat, the Bariatric S-CAPEPOD and the Retmex bariatric model. State the requirement in your enquiry.
Do staff need training to use this equipment?
Yes. Moving a non-ambulant person safely takes practised technique, and every PEEP naming a mat or sheet should also name trained staff. Phoenix STS delivers this training nationwide and can quote it alongside the products.
How does the enquiry process work?
There are no online prices. Send the product names, quantities, delivery location and the intended setting by phone, email or the contact form, and the sales team replies with a quotation and any suitability questions.
Request a quotation
Call 043 3349611 or email [email protected] with the product names, quantities and delivery location. You can also send the same details through the contact page.