Government announces additional £21.1m for alarm system installation in England

The Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 has been extended until March 2026, with the government allocating an additional £21.1m to support the installation of common fire alarm systems.

According to a report by Inside Housing, the original £20.6m fund, launched in May 2023, has now more than doubled in value to over £41m.

The funding is aimed at replacing temporary waking watch arrangements in residential buildings in England.

All residential buildings in England with a waking watch in place are eligible, regardless of who is paying for the current watch.

The scheme will not cover any work that began before 25 May 2023.

Alarm systems to comply with BS 5839-1 Category L5 standard

The government’s guidance recommends that installed alarm systems should generally be designed in accordance with BS 5839-1 as a Category L5 system.

The fund follows National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) guidance for buildings switching from a ‘Stay Put’ to a ‘Simultaneous Evacuation’ fire strategy.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated that waking watches are “impracticable for a long-term solution and should only be a short-term measure”.

Sector voices welcome fund extension with caution on remediation delays

Benjamin Ralph, head of building and fire safety at consultancy Hollis, commented on the announcement: “The new extended fund will help the move from the costly waking watch towards more reliable and automated detection and alarm systems.

“But these systems must not be seen as an excuse to extend the time it takes to carry out cladding remediation services. This should not be seen as a low-cost alternative to protect residents; work must still be carried out in a reasonable time frame.”

Concerns remain over cost burden and use of temporary fire safety patrols

The cost of maintaining a waking watch has placed a financial strain on many residents.

Inside Housing reported that some individuals faced bills of more than £800 a month for the service.

Research highlighted that thousands of waking watches remained in place for extended periods due to limited funding and guidance on permanent safety upgrades.

The NFCC previously described waking watches as “the least reliable” and “most resource intensive” option for fire detection and response.

Government funding for Waking Watch Replacement Fund extended to 2026: Summary

The Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 has been extended by the UK government until March 2026.

An additional £21.1m has been allocated, bringing the total funding to more than £41m.

The fund supports the installation of common alarm systems in residential buildings in England with waking watch measures in place.

The recommended standard for these systems is BS 5839-1 Category L5.

Only projects that began on or after 25 May 2023 are eligible for funding.

The funding applies regardless of who pays for the existing waking watch.

The NFCC advises against long-term use of waking watches, which have been described as unreliable and expensive.

Research by Inside Housing shows waking watches remained in place for years due to funding and policy gaps.

Residents have faced high personal costs for these services, sometimes exceeding £800 per month.

The fund is administered centrally by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.