Jan 31, 2024
Everything You Need to Know About Waking Watch & The Building Safety Act, The Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005
Fire safety is a critical concern for building owners, managers, and residents. The Grenfell Tower fire highlighted how inadequate the materials and fire safety measures are on high-rise residential blocks, establishing our urgent need for change.
However, in 2025 there are still blocks of flats that still require change to its fire safety measures and building work. This can be proved in the regulator of social housing report on 20th March 2025 which reported that while 99.9% of tall social housing buildings had fire risk assessments, 11.1% still have critical fire safety defects in their external walls. This highlights our ongoing need to improve fire safety measures and protect its occupants.
What is a Waking Watch?
A waking watch is a fire safety interim measure including trained personnel who continuously patrol the floors and exterior perimeter of a building to maintain the safety of its occupants from a fire. The primary aim of a waking watch is to give a sufficient warning in the event of a fire to support the evacuation strategy.
At Fire & Evacuation Services, we offer expert waking watch services. With our extensive fire and rescue backgrounds, we bring our expertise to every site, giving our customers peace of mind and reassurance through our ability to safeguard buildings and lead safe evacuations. Get in touch today.
When is a Waking Watch Service Needed?
A waking watch service is needed when a residential building poses a potential fire hazard risk. Whether that’s because of inadequate fire alarms and safety systems, or because dangerous cladding and construction materials are present, a waking watch provides a temporary solution whilst the appropriate fire safety measures are being worked on. Examples of when a waking watch may be needed include:
Inadequate Fire Alarms or Safety Systems - Existing fire alarms don’t meet the required standards for a safe evacuation. Until an effective fire alarm system is installed, a waking watch would provide real-time monitoring to warn residents in case of a fire.
Dangerous or Flammable Cladding or Construction Materials Are Present - Buildings may be at risk of a fire if they consist of unsafe cladding systems or flammable cladding such as aluminum composite materials. Especially if fire risk assessments demonstrate that these materials could cause rapid fire spread.
Changes from Stay Put to Simultaneous Evacuation Strategy - If the usual ‘stay put’ strategy is no longer safe due to fire risks, the fire brigade may mandate a simultaneous evacuation safety strategy. A waking watch is then implemented to raise alarms and assist in alerting all residents quickly as an interim safety measure.
Fire Risk Assessment Recommendation - A qualified fire safety assessor may recommend a waking watch as a temporary measure if the building is at high risk. It could happen because fire alarms or cladding may be getting removed.
Benefits of a Waking Watch Service
Peace of Mind for Occupants - Occupants will receive peace of mind knowing that the fire safety of their building is being actively monitored 24/7, reducing the anxiety for residents, visitors and staff.
Reassuring Response - Waking watch offers a direct and reassuring solution to emerging fire safety concerns in residential buildings. It provides a visible, proactive presence that promotes resident safety whilst long-term fire safety measures are put in place.
24/7 On-Site Patrols & Safe Evacuation - Waking watches provide interim fire safety arrangements with 24/7 on-site patrols around all areas of the buildings and exterior perimeters. The 24/7 patrol is able to detect early signs of fire, act quickly, and ensure a safe evacuation for all occupants, whether that's during the day or at night.
The Building Safety Act (2022)
What is the Building Safety Act (2022), & What is its Purpose?
The Building Safety Act (2022) is a piece of UK legislation aimed at improving building safety regulations in the way buildings are constructed, managed, and maintained. The act was created as a direct response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017, which demonstrated the failings in building regulations, oversight, and resident protection. The purpose of the Building Safety Act is to:
Improve Building Safety Standards - The act ensures that high-risk buildings are designed, built, and maintained to higher safety standards.
Establish Clear Accountability - It holds building owners and developers accountable for building safety.
Protects Leaseholders and Residents - The act gives residents and leaseholders more rights and protections to raise concerns. Especially from being unfairly charged for the cost of historical safety issues like unsafe cladding.
What Buildings are Affected by the Building Safety Act?
The buildings affected by the Building Safety Act (2002) primarily consist of high-rise buildings that are:
Risk: High risk in terms of safety.
Height of High-Rise Residential Buildings:18 meters or 7+ stories.
Dwellings in Buildings: Contain at least 2 residential dwelling units or are in care homes or hospitals.
Who is the Accountable Person in the Building Safety Act?
The accountable person for the Building Safety Act (2002) is the owner of the building. New and existing higher-risk residential buildings now require the appointment of an accountable person. This person needs to demonstrate that they have effective measures in place to manage building safety risks. If the accountable person doesn’t comply with the legal obligations, they could face criminal charges.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order (2005) is an important piece of fire safety legislation in England and Wales. It came into effect on the 1st October 2006. The fire safety order places legal responsibility for fire safety on the people best placed to manage risk such as the building owners, landlords, employers, or occupiers.
What are The Key Points of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
The ‘responsible person’ under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the individual who has control over a building or premises and is legally accountable for ensuring fire safety. These responsible people can include:
Landlords & Building Owners - When looking at residential buildings, the landlord or building owners may be the responsible person for communal areas.
Building Managers - Building managers or management companies may be the responsible persons, especially in larger residential blocks of flats or commercial buildings.
Employers - In a workplace, the employer is usually the responsible person.
Anyone in Control of a Premises - This could include anyone with control over a specific premise, such as the owner of a care home, school, hotel, or shopping center.
Why Choose Fire & Evacuation Services for Your Waking Watch Needs?
At Fire & Evacuation Services, we are dedicated to providing exceptional waking watch and evacuation services. We are elevating the standards of what an organisation can expect from a waking watch. From offering 24/7 services, 365 days a year to our unparalleled years of experience, you can receive peace of mind knowing your building’s fire safety is in expert hands by our waking watch team.
Services Available 24/7, 365 Days a Year ✓ Whether it's day or night, our waking watch services at Fire & Evacuation Services are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Rapid Response ✓ We take pride in our rapid response, implementing waking watch services on-site within 4 hours of your call.
Expertise You Can Trust ✓ Our team of experienced firefighters and fire wardens offers unmatched expertise in evacuation management and fire safety, with experience ranging from extra care housing to urban developments.