High-rise residential buildings present unique fire safety challenges. Multiple storeys, limited escape routes, and the potential for fast-spreading smoke and fire make robust systems a matter of life and death.
Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable. Yet in recent years developers and landlords have been navigating a rapidly evolving set of laws and recommendations. From Waking Watch to BS 8629, the rules can differ according to everything from height to build date.
Future-proofing fire safety, then, has never been more complex.
Fire detection and alarm systems have not always been a legal requirement in high-rise residential buildings.
That all changed after the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy, which claimed the lives of more than 70 people. Flammable cladding contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, and the failure of the well-established “stay put” policy.
Under BS 8629:2019, all new-build high-rise developments must have an Evacuation Alert System (EAS). An EAS allows fire and rescue services to perform a controlled evacuation, when necessary.
For existing high-risk buildings, the challenge has been protecting residents until remedial works, such as the removal of high-risk cladding, can be carried out. For many, this has involved 24/7 waking watch schemes, which can be expensive and prone to human error. The UK Government’s Waking Watch Replacement Fund helps landlords alleviate these pressures by installing fire alarm systems.
BS 8629 primarily relates to new-builds. Yet Waking Watch Replacement Fund guidance recommends installing alarm systems capable of being upgraded to BS 8629 specifications.
In essence, this means retrofit projects need a fire detection system to replace waking watch until remediation has taken place, and plans for an EAS once the work has been complete.
Managing the transition can be laborious and expensive. Traditional hard-wired systems can take months and considerable disruption to install and to remove. Wireless solutions, on the other hand, are quick and easy to both to put in, and to take out.
Controlled evacuation systems also have their challenges. They can be inflexible, and loud alarm sounds, for example, can be overwhelming for people with sensory processing disorder or neurological conditions.
Advanced solutions, however, are modular, allowing developers to upgrade as needed, and compatible with wireless technologies, driving down installation disruption and costs. And customisable alarms can be set to voice alerts, according to your occupiers’ needs.
Read how our wireless technology enabled quick and easy installation at London’s 21 Wapping Lane and across 37 high-rise towers in Solihull
Kentec’s industry-leading fire safety systems protect your buildings and your residents
Kentec’s EVAC-POINT is a dedicated, BS 8629-compliant system that provides:
