When a residential building has serious fire-safety concerns, additional interim measures may be needed while permanent work is planned or completed.
Spycon Security Ltd provides Waking Watch and fire safety patrol services across London, supporting residential blocks, apartment buildings, high-rise developments, HMOs, student
accommodation and mixed-use properties. Our marshals receive instructions specific to the building’s:
• Fire Risk Assessment.
• Evacuation strategy.
• Escape routes.
• Fire doors.
• Alarm arrangements.
• Known defects.
• Site risks.
• Emergency procedures.
Their role is to identify signs of fire or smoke, raise the alarm through the agreed procedure, support evacuation within their assigned duties and report incidents or defects to responsible
management. The service is tailored to the actual building and assessed risk.
Waking Watch is an interim fire-safety measure involving trained personnel who patrol a building to help identify fire, raise the alarm and support the agreed evacuation arrangements. It is not automatically required because a building is high-rise or has cladding.
The Responsible Person or building management should determine appropriate interim measures with competent firesafety advice. The arrangement needs to reflect the actual risk, layout, residents and evacuation strategy. A Dedicated Fire-Safety Role Waking Watch duties focus on:
• Early recognition of fire and smoke.
• Fire-safety patrols.
• Raising the alarm.
• Emergency escalation.
• Evacuation support.
• Reporting defects.
• Following building-specific instructions.
These duties differ from general security activities such as access control, intruder prevention and CCTV monitoring. A Waking Watch marshal does not replace the Fire Risk Assessor, fire engineer, Responsible Person or fire and rescue service. The operational role is to recognise, respond, report and escalate within the agreed procedures.
Relevant defects may include:
• Defective fire stopping.
• Service penetration breaches.
• Compromised risers.
• Damaged fire-resisting construction.
• Defective flat entrance doors.
• Problems affecting common parts.
Interim arrangements may be needed where the existing warning system is unavailable, defective or unsuitable for the agreed
temporary evacuation arrangements.
A competent assessment may recommend interim measures where external-wall risks have been identified. The presence of cladding alone does not establish that Waking Watch is necessary.
Where the existing strategy can no longer safely be relied upon, responsible management and competent advisers may establish temporary arrangements. An appropriate method of warning residents and managing evacuation then needs to be in place.
The building’s decision to adopt simultaneous evacuation needs appropriate assessment and planning.
Relevant considerations include:
• Why the strategy is changing.
• The actual risks.
• Resident information.
• Suitable warning arrangements.
• Staffing and operational duties.
• Residents who need assistance.
• Proportionate interim measures.
• Progress towards a permanent solution.
NFCC simultaneous evacuation guidance emphasises avoiding
unnecessary, prolonged or disproportionate reliance on Waking Watch. The objective is to provide suitable interim support while the underlying problem is addressed.
Spycon Security Ltd holds IFSM affiliate membership. Our wider fire-safety team includes MIFSM and AIFireE professional memberships. Company affiliation and individual membership grades are separate credentials. Operational personnel are trained and briefed for their actual duties. The supervisor checks deployment and reporting. Any separately commissioned Fire Risk Assessment or fire strategy is signed by its competent author.
We can support:
• High-rise residential blocks.
• Apartment buildings.
• Purpose-built blocks of flats.
• Converted residential buildings.
• HMOs.
• Student accommodation.
• Social housing.
• Private residential developments.
• Mixed-use developments.
• Buildings undergoing remediation.
• Refurbishment projects.
• Buildings with temporary fire-safety measures.
• Premises experiencing alarm or compartmentation problems.
The service is developed around the building’s assessment, layout, identified defects and evacuation arrangements.
A Waking Watch provider should follow the agreed building strategy. The provider does not independently decide to change a building from stay put to simultaneous evacuation. Where simultaneous evacuation is the agreed arrangement, duties may include:
• Raising the alarm.
• Starting the agreed evacuation procedure.
• Directing residents towards designated exits.
• Calling 999.
• Reporting incidents.
• Supporting the agreed assistance arrangements.
• Providing relevant information to attending emergency services.
The Responsible Person and competent advisers determine the appropriate strategy and supporting measures.
Many Walking Watch providers focus only on presence. Common issues we see include:
We link Walking Watch directly to risk, documentation, and exit planning, helping clients avoid unnecessary long-term reliance.
Marshals remain alert for:
• Smoke.
• Visible fire.
• Burning smells.
• Unusual heat.
• Electrical burning.
• Alarm activation.
• Other signs of an emerging incident.
Patrols can identify:
• Obstructions.
• Rubbish.
• Bicycles.
• Combustible storage.
• Blocked final exits.
• Stairway problems.
• Unauthorised storage.
Marshals may identify:
• Wedged-open doors.
• Damage.
• Failed self-closing devices.
• Misuse.
• Other visible concerns.
These observations are reported. Detailed technical fire-door inspection requires the appropriate separate competence and
scope
Where included, routes may cover:
• Electrical intake rooms.
• Plant rooms.
• Boiler rooms.
• Service risers.
• Bin stores.
• Other identified risk areas.
Additional coordination may be required during:
• Refurbishment.
• Cladding works.
• Hot works.
• Fire-stopping work.
• Electrical work.
• Fire alarm installation.
• Compartmentation repairs.
The patrol instructions should reflect temporary changes affecting the building.
The agreed reporting arrangements may include:
Reporting requirements are agreed before mobilisation.
Urgent concerns follow a named contact and escalation route so management understands what has been identified and what action is required.
The operating plan defines:
Changes to the building, remediation work or evacuation
arrangements must be communicated to the operational team. Where continuous cover is required, the staffing plan must account for the actual duties and continuity of service.
The service needs to account for the building’s agreed
arrangements for people who may need help. Relevant planning can include:
The Responsible Person and competent advisers establish the appropriate arrangements within the applicable duties.
Personal information is handled appropriately. Marshals work
within their training and agreed responsibilities.
Temporary risks can arise during work involving:
The Responsible Person and competent advisers establish the
appropriate arrangements within the applicable duties.
Personal information is handled appropriately. Marshals work
within their training and agreed responsibilities.
PAS 9980 concerns the appraisal of external-wall fire risk in relevant existing multi-storey, multi-occupied residential buildings. A Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls and a Waking Watch service have different purposes. The appraisal evaluates the external-wall risk. Waking Watch is an operational interim measure that may be considered as part of the resulting wider arrangements. Neither automatically replaces the other.
The regulations introduce additional duties for Responsible
Persons in relevant multi-occupied residential buildings.
These include:
• Fire-door checking requirements for relevant buildings over
11 metres.
• Additional information and equipment-related duties for
relevant high-rise residential buildings.
• Resident fire-safety information.
• Information about the importance of fire doors.
These duties do not create an automatic Waking Watch
requirement for every building over a particular height.
The need for interim measures depends on the actual risk and
evacuation arrangements.
Waking Watch should be reviewed against:
• The identified risk.
• Remediation progress.
• Alarm provision.
• Evacuation arrangements.
• Changes to the building.
• Advice from competent professionals.
Potential long-term improvements may include:
• Compartmentation repairs.
• Fire-door repairs or replacement.
• Fire alarm improvements.
• Suitable temporary alarm arrangements.
• External-wall remediation.
• Building management improvements.
• Revised evacuation arrangements.
The decision to reduce or remove cover should be documented after the responsible parties confirm that the revised
arrangement is suitable and ready.
For some buildings, a suitable common alarm may support a
move away from continuous personnel patrols.
The proposal needs appropriate assessment, design, installation
and commissioning.
A common automatic fire alarm and a BS 8629 evacuation alert
system serve different functions.
A BS 8629 evacuation alert system is intended for fire-service
operation. It does not automatically replace automatic detection
or Waking Watch.
Any change must suit the building’s strategy and be agreed by the responsible parties with competent advice.
We request available:
• Fire Risk Assessment.
• Fire strategy.
• Evacuation strategy.
• Building plans.
• Fire alarm information.
• Known fire-safety defects.
• Relevant authority correspondence.
• Remediation information.
• Existing site procedures.
The review considers:
• Building size.
• Number of floors.
• Entrances.
• Staircases.
• Communal areas.
• Identified risk areas.
• Patrol routes.
• Shift requirements.
• Communication methods.
• Handover requirements.
• Supervision.
• Resident assistance arrangements.
Instructions can cover:
• Patrol routes.
• Alarm procedures.
• Emergency contacts.
• Evacuation and assembly arrangements.
• Fire service access.
• Resident communication.
• Assistance arrangements.
• Escalation procedures.
The start date is agreed after reviewing the scope, staffing, access and availability. Emergency deployment availability is confirmed for the particular building and date.
The service is reviewed against operational findings, risk changes and progress towards permanent measures.
We support managing agents and Resident Management
Companies with:
• Defined patrol responsibilities.
• Site-specific instructions.
• Management reporting.
• Supervisor oversight.
• Incident escalation.
• Resident communication support.
• Evidence of patrol activity.
• Coordination with the fire-safety strategy.
• Agreed review points.
The aim is to maintain suitable interim arrangements while
supporting progress towards a sustainable long-term solution.
Suitable projects can include:
• High-rise blocks.
• Medium-rise buildings.
• Social housing developments.
• Buildings undergoing remediation.
• Temporary evacuation arrangements.
• Alarm or compartmentation deficiencies.
We can work alongside existing building management teams and agreed emergency procedures.
Student accommodation can involve:
• High resident turnover.
• Communal living.
• Large occupant numbers.
• Residents unfamiliar with the building.
• Out-of-hours activity.
• Multiple escape routes.
• Seasonal occupancy changes.
Where interim patrols are required, the service is coordinated
with the accommodation provider’s procedures and resident
information.
Some smaller multi-occupied properties may need additional interim fire-safety arrangements where significant deficiencies
exist. Staffing and duties should reflect the building’s actual risk and competent advice. A high-rise operating model should not be applied automatically to a smaller HMO or converted building. Who We Work With
• Freeholders and building owners.
• Managing agents.
• Resident Management Companies.
• Housing associations.
• Local housing providers.
• Developers.
• Remediation teams.
• Facilities management companies.
• Property managers.
• Commercial property operators.
We provide services across Greater London and the City of London, subject to the building requirements and agreed availability.
Westminster, City of London, Camden, Islington, Southwark, Lambeth and Kensington & Chelsea.
Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs, Newham, Hackney, Greenwich, Barking & Dagenham, Waltham Forest and Redbridge.
Barnet, Haringey, Enfield, Brent and Harrow
Wandsworth, Croydon, Bromley, Lewisham, Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames.
Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon and surrounding areas. Coverage includes EC, WC, E, N, NW, SE, SW and W postcode areas, together with suitable outer London districts. Send the full postcode to confirm availability for your property.
Your quotation confirms:
• Staffing.
• Hours.
• Supervision.
• Equipment.
• Mobilisation.
• VAT.
• Any minimum commitment.
• Notice arrangements.
• Reporting.
• Review points.
The price depends on the actual duties and staffing required.
Insurance appropriate to the appointment is identified. Cover
arranged through NAPIT remains subject to the relevant policies, insured activities and limits. Separately supplied technical assessments or electrical work have their own scope and competent sign-off.
It is not a blanket requirement for every residential or high-rise
building. The need for interim measures depends on the risk and
competent advice.
No. External-wall risk needs appropriate assessment within the
wider building context.
No. It is an operational interim measure.
The team follows the agreed strategy. Any change is determined
by responsible management with competent fire-safety advice.
The appointed duties focus on fire detection, alarm raising,
patrols, evacuation support and reporting. Personnel need
training and instructions appropriate to those duties.
Yes, where required and agreed through a suitable staffing and
relief plan.
Where included in the agreed service, attendance, patrol and
incident records can be provided through digital reporting
arrangements.
Yes, subject to the building’s assessment, operational
requirements and agreed site procedures.
A suitable alarm arrangement may support a change, but it
requires appropriate technical assessment and confirmation that
it meets the building’s needs.
Yes, where responsible management, with competent advice,
confirms that the revised arrangements are adequate and the
interim measure is no longer needed.
We confirm the earliest achievable start after reviewing the
building, duties, access, staffing and availability.
We provide services across Greater London. Send the exact
address and building information to confirm the appropriate
arrangement.
Please provide:
• Property postcode.
• Building height and number of floors.
• Number of residential units.
• Current evacuation strategy.
• Reason Waking Watch is being considered.
• Current alarm arrangements.
• Known fire-safety defects.
• Fire Risk Assessment.
• Relevant authority correspondence.
• Remediation information.
• Required start date.
We can then discuss an appropriate Waking Watch, fire marshal or interim fire-safety patrol service for your building.
In an actual fire or immediate danger, call 999 and follow the emergency procedures.
Waking Watch London | 24/7 Fire Safety Patrols | Fire Marshal
Services | Evacuation Support | Interim Fire Safety Measures
