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Evacuation alert systems for emergency services
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Sir Martin Moore-Bick published the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.
This recommended “that all high rise residential buildings (both those already in existence and those built in the future) be equipped with facilities for use by the fire and rescue services enabling them to send an evacuation signal to the whole or a selected part of the building by means of sounders or similar devices”.
BS 8629:2019+A1:2023
It is important that evacuation alert systems for use by the fire and rescue service are not confused with (or integrated with) fire detection and fire alarm systems. It is acknowledged that the technology exists.
The reason is to avoid confusion between the systems' operation and programming.
BS has reviewed this standard for Amendment 1 and the recommendation remains that the risks of integrating evacuation alert systems with other systems outweighs the benefits of integration. This will continue to be reviewed in future versions of the standard.
Strategy for evacuation of persons with certain disabilities is outside the scope of this standard.
The evacuation alert systems covered by this British Standard comprise evacuation alert control and indicating equipment (EACIE), which incorporates manual controls by which evacuation alert sounders within each flat can be operated by the fire and rescue service.
These systems are not to be regarded as fire detection and fire alarm systems, and the systems do not incorporate automatic fire detectors or manual call points.
Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises are given in BS 5839-1. Recommendations for such systems in domestic premises are given in BS 5839-6.
Use of evacuation alert systems by the fire and rescue service in emergencies, other than fire incidents, is not precluded but is not addressed in detail.
The Evacuation Alert System is designed exclusively for use by the Fire and Rescue Services during emergencies. It serves as a critical tool to facilitate a controlled and systematic evacuation of a building, particularly in high-rise residential structures. This targeted approach allows for floor-by-floor evacuation, enhancing safety and efficiency in emergency situations.
System has a Evacuation Alert Control Indicating Equipment (EACIE) with sounders to be installed in flats only, no sounders in common areas. There is no detection, manual call points or interfaces connected to the system. This is not a fire detection system.
In accordance with the latest fire safety regulations, an evacuation alert system is mandatory for all residential properties exceeding 18 meters in height.
Evacuation alert systems can be installed with minimal disruption to residents. Wireless options are available, eliminating the need for extensive wiring and reducing the impact on the building’s aesthetics and daily operations.
If the infrastructure for a waking watch system is installed correctly during the initial installation, it can often be adapted and repurposed as an evacuation alert system after the building’s rectification works are complete.
At VOCA Fire Protection, we...
At VOCA Fire Protection, we operate to the BS8629 standard for the design, installation, commission and maintenance of evacuation systems for residential buildings.
These systems are specifically designed to aid emergency services during events of fire to protect the lives of all residents living within the premises. Typically, these types of installations are found in high rise apartment buildings to ensure that residents can be evacuated on a floor by floor basis.
Evacuation systems can be installed as either a wired or wireless system, dependent on the needs of the building, and are able to be retrofit to buildings of any size.
BS8629 was implemented in 2019 as a code of practice for the design, installation, com...
BS8629 was implemented in 2019 as a code of practice for the design, installation, commission and maintenance of fire evacuation alert systems to be used in residential buildings containing flats to aid fire and rescue services.
The standard was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy as a method of preventing further disaster and loss of life. The recommendation was for “all high rise residential building, both existing and future builds, to be equipped with facilities for use via emergency fire and rescue services to enable them to send evacuation signals to either the whole or selected part of the building using sounders or similar devices”.
Before the standard was introduced, on the rare occasion that evacuation was required it would be the responsibility of the emergency services to alert all residents by hand to evacuate the premises. With the introduction of evacuation systems, emergency services can evacuate a full floor with greater ease and speed, protecting more residents over a shorter period of time.
Although the systems are completely standalone and can be used in building...
Although the systems are completely standalone and can be used in buildings of any size, as long as they are a residential block, every project is completely individual and has different requirements. Because of this, VOCA Fire Protection are able to install evacuation systems that match the exact requirements of the project at hand, from wired installations through to completely wireless setups.
They are also a completely standalone system and don’t require a specific alarm system to have been previously installed to operate correctly and alert all residents via an alarm if the need to evacuate arises.
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