Waking Watch & fire safety
Waking Watch patrols that keep residents safe while remediation happens
Trained fire wardens who stay awake, alert and on site 24/7, so your building keeps immediate evacuation readiness and meets its interim fire-safety obligations.
What a Waking Watch is
A Waking Watch is a continuous, physical patrol of every floor and the external perimeter of a building, carried out by trained wardens whose job is to detect a fire at the earliest stage, raise the alarm and help residents evacuate. It is an interim measure used where a building's fire strategy has changed — typically from stay put to simultaneous evacuation — because of combustible cladding, compartmentation defects or alarm failures.
How we deliver it
- Patrol frequency, routes and warden numbers set against the building's fire risk assessment and the NFCC simultaneous-evacuation guidance
- Wardens trained in fire awareness, evacuation procedures and the use of the building's alarm and communication equipment
- Documented evacuation drills with timings
- Daily patrol and incident reports to the responsible person
- Clear escalation to the fire and rescue service
- A hand-over plan as common-area alarms are installed, so patrols reduce as risk reduces
Waking Watch services
Waking Watch supplier and fire marshal company
Choosing a Waking Watch supplier: what to look for, how we mobilise trained fire marshals nationwide, and how we reduce patrols as remediation progresses.
Find out moreFire marshals
Trained fire marshals for Waking Watch, hot works, events and buildings with alarm or compartmentation faults.
Find out more
From enquiry to the first patrol
Building details
Address, floors, units, current strategy and alarm status.
Availability and plan
We confirm warden numbers, patrol pattern and mobilisation date.
Mobilisation
Wardens briefed on the building, residents informed, drills scheduled.
Reporting and review
Daily reports and a reduction plan tied to remediation milestones.
Waking Watch FAQs
Is a Waking Watch a long-term solution?
No. NFCC guidance discourages prolonged use of a Waking Watch and expects building owners to install a common-area fire alarm system as soon as practicable. We plan every contract with a reduction and exit route.
Who pays for a Waking Watch?
Responsibility sits with the building's responsible person (usually the freeholder or managing agent). The Building Safety Act 2022 and government funds have changed how costs may be passed on; we recommend taking advice on your building's position.
Can you cover buildings outside Yorkshire?
Yes. Waking Watch cover is available nationwide, including Manchester and London. Tell us the location and we will confirm mobilisation.
What qualifications do your wardens have?
Wardens hold SIA licences where guarding duties apply and complete fire marshal and evacuation training specific to the building.
Need Waking Watch cover for a building?
Send us the building details and we'll confirm availability and a mobilisation date.