Regulation · Spain · Safety and emergency management
New self-protection directive: which education providers must adapt their plans
Order INT/1068/2026 publishes Spain’s new Basic Self-Protection Planning Directive. It covers defined education establishments, requires drills at least annually and allows up to four years to adapt existing plans, without imposing the full plan on every school.
- Source published
- Effective date or period
- In force from 11 Oct 2026
- Article on this portal
Binding national basic directive in force · Defined education scope
Our interpretation
Why it matters
The instrument replaces the 2007 national framework and changes the content, implementation, registration and maintenance of self-protection plans. Application turns on risk and the Annex I thresholds; other schools retain evacuation and emergency duties under applicable education, employment-safety and security rules.
Editorial recommendation
What to do
The proprietor should first determine whether each site and activity falls within Annex I or a stricter regional threshold. Where it does, the plan, named leads, training, registration and drills must be reviewed; existing plans must be adapted by 11 October 2030 at the latest. The competent authority will set the specific filing period for activities already licensed.
Verified facts
Legal rank, publication and effect
Order INT/1068/2026 of 7 October publishes the Council of Ministers Agreement of 6 October approving the Basic Civil Protection Self-Protection Planning Directive. It appeared in issue 252 of the Official Gazette on 10 October 2026 and took effect on 11 October. It is a binding national instrument, not a draft, guidance document or voluntary call.
Royal Decree 393/2007 ceased to apply upon publication; it had remained temporarily applicable after repeal by Royal Decree 524/2023. The new directive sets national minimum rules, while autonomous communities may prescribe stricter thresholds.
Verified facts
Which education establishments are covered
- Education, training or care establishments attended by 50 or more people who cannot evacuate unaided, including people with physical, mental, cognitive or sensory disabilities and others who may be unable to evacuate or follow an instruction during an emergency.
- Any other education establishment whose activity may generate a civil-protection emergency because of a risk listed in the national catalogue.
- A competent authority may require a plan for an activity outside Annex I where there is special risk or vulnerability, and may adopt stricter territorial thresholds.
- Establishments outside those categories remain subject to evacuation or emergency protocols required by occupational safety, education legislation and other applicable safety rules.
Verified facts
Mandatory action for covered establishments
Staff working in covered activities must participate within their capabilities and carry out the functions assigned in the plan. The directive provides for supervision, inspection and penalties under applicable national and regional law.
- Prepare, implement, maintain and update a Self-Protection Plan meeting Annex II, signed by a suitably qualified technical professional and subscribed by the proprietor.
- Approve the plan, notify the competent authority and register the required data; changes must also be filed.
- Appoint the plan director and emergency-action director, inform and train staff, and provide specific training for emergency action involving highly vulnerable people.
- Run and evaluate drills as often as the plan requires and at least once each year; notify them within the period set by the competent authority.
- Keep the required information and plans available to emergency services at the entrance, retain maintenance evidence and review the plan at least every five years unless a shorter sectoral period applies.
Verified facts
Deadlines and transition
- General effect: 11 October 2026.
- Existing plans: maximum four-year adaptation period, ending on 11 October 2030.
- Annex I activities already licensed or authorised: file the plan within the period set by the competent authority; the directive does not prescribe one national deadline.
- Drills: at least annually. Full plan review: no more than five years apart unless a stricter sectoral rule applies.
Editorial analysis
The same full duty does not apply to every school
The first step is not to copy Annex II but to determine and record whether the activity falls within the national catalogue, sector-specific legislation or a regional threshold. The presence of children alone does not automatically trigger the full Self-Protection Plan under this directive.
This development concerns civil protection and emergencies. It does not amend regional bullying or cyberbullying protocols or the safeguarding coordinator’s duties; the Regulation news and national-law record are updated, but the territorial bullying tool is unchanged.
Primary source and reading standard
Spanish Official Gazette · Order INT/1068/2026 and Agreement of 6 OctoberCheck the original document and its date before acting. The portal’s proposals are labelled as editorial recommendations and do not replace applicable rules.
Disclosure: Luis Manuel Tolmos has a professional connection with Brains International Schools, described in his profile. This analysis is independent.
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