Waking Watch Services
Compliant Service | Trained Professionals | Proven Expertise | Available Immediately, 24/7
- Fully Compliant With The Latest SEG Guidance, NFCC Advice & FSE Regulations
- Trained & SIA-Licensed Professionals, Available 24/7, 365 Days A Year
- Rapid Officer Deployment and Confirmed Mobilisation Within Hours
Request A Quote
Compliant Service | Trained Professionals | Proven Expertise | Available Immediately, 24/7
- Fully Compliant With The Latest SEG Guidance, NFCC Advice & FSE Regulations
- Trained & SIA-Licensed Professionals, Available 24/7, 365 Days A Year
- Rapid Officer Deployment and Confirmed Mobilisation Within Hours
Facilities Management Trusted By
What Do ProFM Group’s Waking Watch Services Do?
A Waking Watch service provides trained professionals to perform routine patrols, monitor for the early-warning signals of fire, and raise the alarm in the event of an issue. It’s a legal requirement for any property that’s had issues raised by a formal Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), and must be implemented immediately through a trusted, accredited provider – a role ProFM Group are fully qualified to deliver.
Our Waking Watch services are fully compliant with the 4th edition of the Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance (SEG) and the latest advice from the National Fire Chiefs’ Council, and are designed around the core principles of keeping people safe and keeping you and your property compliant. All of our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are always designed to match the guidelines set out by the FSE and NFCC.
What Makes A Waking Watch Necessary?
There are several circumstances where professional Waking Watch services are a requirement under the 4th edition of the NFCC’s Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance (SEG). This includes:
- A property that has dangerous or unsafe cladding (the root cause of the Grenfell fire)
- A property that doesn’t have an adequate common fire alarm system
- A property that’s experienced damage that means a fire alarm won’t function properly
These will have been determined through an independent Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), conducted either by a local Fire Brigade or an individual or company accredited by the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE). This is part of an FRAEW or PAS9980 assessment, and offers the next steps, which are where a Waking Watch is recommended as a short-term solution to those issues.
How Long Should A Waking Watch Service Be In Place?
A Waking Watch service is designed to be an immediate but short-term replacement for an automated fire alarm system. The National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) advise that this only be in place for up to 6 months, or a maximum of 12 months if a solution to the property’s ongoing issues takes longer to design.
The current legislation places Waking Watch as a measure in the “Transition Period”, which effectively means that it functions as a way to protect your property, residents and neighbours in the event of a fire. At ProFM Group, we adhere closely to that guidance, and the majority of our Waking Watch deployments are short-term by design, but every one is delivered to the same standard: trained, licensed professionals, full 24/7 cover, and a clear plan for what comes next.
What Funding Is Available For Waking Watch Services?
The main funding stream for Waking Watch projects is the Interim Measures Alarm Fund (IMAF), which is designed to offer monetary support to help get the right measures installed to move away from the reliance on manned solutions.
Properties and Responsible Persons can apply for a share of the estimated £41.7 million that the government have allocated to rectify legacy issues with cladding, fire alarms, and other fire risks. ProFM Group’s Waking Watch services are designed with those funding streams in mind, and we’re able to provide concrete advice on what you can do to successfully apply. See our guide to the Waking Watch Replacement Fund below.
What Happens After My Waking Watch Service Ends?
The key concern for so many is that they won’t know what happens after their Waking Watch service comes to an end. Residents can often feel isolated, and building owners and proprietors are left to foot the bill without concrete next steps. Not with ProFM Group.
Waking Watch services are designed to be short-term solutions, but you won’t be forgotten about after our trained professionals have left your site. We’re able to offer the correct advice on what your next steps are, how you can choose the right fire alarm system to suit the future of your property, and what you’ll need to do to stay compliant with the Building Safety Act long after our officers have left.
What Our Waking Watch Security Services Include
When you choose our waking watch security services at ProFM, our solutions mean that you benefit from:
Fully Compliant Fire Wardens
Fire wardens that operate strictly under NFCC and SEG guidance.
Regular Patrols
Frequent patrols of your premises to quickly identify any risks or signs of fire.
Clear Alarms
Wardens will quickly raise the alarm to residents if a fire occurs.
Safe, Guided Emergency Evacuations
Fire wardens provide effective and safe evacuation guidance to individuals in the event of a fire.
Bespoke, Site-Specific Plans
Waking watch services are adapted to suit the unique demands of your property.
24/7 Service
Round-the-clock waking watch security services for continued protection.
Waking Watch Security Services | ProFM Group
One of the most critical services we provide, Waking Watch solutions are a legal necessity for properties with dangerous cladding or those without a fire alarm system in place. We deliver all of our Waking Watch packages in line with the guidance from the NFCC and FSE, providing urgent cover, bespoke planning, and licensed operatives for total 24/7 coverage.
Our Clients’ Success Stories
Find out what our clients have thought of using our exceptional security services by reading the following testimonials.
Speak With Our Security Team Today
When your fire safety systems are down, our waking watch security services at ProFM Group keep your premises dependably protected with highly trained fire wardens.
- The UK’s #1 Security Company
- Expert Fire Wardens
- 24/7 Service
Why Choose ProFM Group?
By choosing ProFM for waking watch security services, you benefit from:
Tailor-Made Solutions
Our waking watch solutions are tailored to your specific premises, guaranteeing that you’ll receive a personalised, first-rate service each and every time.
Experienced Professionals
You can trust our highly trained and experienced fire safety professionals to provide reliable services and act efficiently and safely in the event of a fire.
Full Compliance with Safety Guidelines
Our services operate in line with all current regulatory standards, ensuring they meet the required safety and legal criteria.
Operation Under NFCC Guidance
We work closely with National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) recommendations to implement solutions that follow the latest industry expectations and fire safety protocols.
Up-to-Date with Waking Watch Funding Schemes
We keep on top of each new wave of government Waking Watch funding, ensuring our services are adapted to current financial support schemes.
Budget-Friendly Services
By understanding funding opportunities and budget constraints, we implement safe, dependable, and cost-effective waking watch solutions.
Discover Our Full Range of Services
In addition to our waking watch security services, we also offer a range of facilities management services, which you can learn more about in detail below.
Intruder Alarms
Our intruder alarm systems provide fast detection and AI-assisted alerts for complete property protection.
View Intruder Alarm Services
Keyholding
Our key-holding services offer robust protection and day-or-night secure site access.
View Keyholding Services
CCTV Monitoring
Our CCTV monitoring services provide 24/7 surveillance to detect and deter security threats in real time.
View CCTV Monitoring ServicesProFM Group’s Waking Watch Knowledge Hub
Explore our guides and saveable resources designed to streamline the Waking Watch process and help you decide the best way to respond to your Fire Risk Assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you can find some of our most frequently asked questions and answers about our waking watch security services:
Still got a Question?No, because we do not have the right qualifications to do this. A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), usually completed in the form of a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall (FRAEW) or PAS9980, must be completed by either the Fire Service or a company/individual that’s been accredited by and registered with the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE). You can find the full IFE register here.
No. You must have had a formal fire risk assessment completed before you invest in Waking Watch services. Without this risk assessment coming first, we can’t properly advise on what you need to invest in as part of your fire safety systems, and whether a Waking Watch service is right for you in the initial instance.
While it’s a short-term measure, designed to offer a stopgap service before you can get an automated fire detection system, it’s important for resident protection and ongoing compliance. It is a legal requirement for any high-rise residential building to have an appropriate fire alarm system in place, and a Waking Watch acts as the interim measure before an alarm system can be installed.
Choosing not to follow this guidance can lead to severe consequences outside of the obvious risks to resident lives, including fines, debarment from owning property in the future, and even jail time for egregious breaches.
No. A Waking Watch service is designed to support properties that are at significant risk or don’t have the right automated measures in place (i.e., a fire alarm), and if you don’t fall into those categories, you do not need fire watch services.
Yes. Resident engagement is a crucial part of the NFCC’s guidance around Waking Watch services, and should form a core part of the rollout of any solution you put into place. As part of our Waking Watch services at ProFM Group, we ensure that all residents are well-aware of who we are and why we’re there, as well as support with any notices you might need to issue around your temporary simultaneous evacuation strategy.
You might have seen estimates from 2020 which place the cost per building at around £15,000 every month – these are now outdated, with actual Waking Watch costs estimated to be much higher based on multiple different factors. In accordance UK fire safety regulations (like those from the NFCC), a Waking Watch needs to be tailored to suit the property, meaning that pricing can fluctuate massively when comparing a 7-storey building with 60 residents and a 17-storey block that houses hundreds of people.
ProFM Group understand that, and when you enquire, we’d be more than happy to provide a free, no obligation quotation that takes everything into account and offers the cover you and your residents deserve.
We can deploy our full catalogue of Waking Watch services within 2 to 4 hours of your initial enquiry with our team. We know how crucial a rapid, professional and tailored response is, and we’re committed to delivering a service that both matches the NFCC’s guidance and puts your residents’ safety above all else.
That’s a package we’ve successfully delivered for multiple clients in need of that comprehensive interim solution. Take our work with the Berwick Court Development in central London as a great example – rapid deployment, a bespoke approach, and support into the future once our Watch has ended.
Still got a Question? (Contact Us Page)
The Statistics That Prove The Importance Of Waking Watch
-
Between 5,900 and 9,000 residential buildings above 11 metres have unsafe cladding
-
2,678 residential buildings have not yet completed remediation works
-
1,996 buildings have not yet begun remediation works
Need A Waking Watch Service Now?
Request A Quote