Waking Watch Security Services | 24/7 UK Fire Safety Patrols
By Securycor LTD- Waking Watch
- Aug 09, 2026
- 3 minutes read
- 13 Views
A waking watch is a 24/7 fire safety surveillance system for a short duration in which trained individuals are on constant guard inside the building and the outside perimeter to look for fire hazards. They are used in the event of a building's fire detection system is compromised or significant safety issues are uncovered, such as dangerous cladding under the UK's Building Safety Act 2022.
The 2017 fire at Grenfell Tower resulted in sweeping changes to the regulatory systems in the UK. It is the absolute legal priority of a property manager, managing agent and building owner to ensure complete life-safety compliance. Installing a disciplined waking watch is a critical temporary solution to ensure that residents are protected and legal obligations are met when permanent fire alarm systems are out of order or while fire alarm remediation is under way.
The following are the core operational duties of a Waking Watch:
A professional waking watch does not depend on the passive watching. Operatives implement systematic and ongoing procedures to abate fire hazards and to provide prompt response:
01.Continuous Monitoring:
Patrolling communal corridors, stairwells or structural exits continuously to identify early smoke/fire hazards.
02.Evacuation Support:
Quick activation of alarms and leading residents to safe evacuation routes as per National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) guidance.
03.Hazard Management:
Fire Door checking that fire doors are closed, combustible obstructions removed, direct communication lines with Emergency services.
The regulatory context and the operational benchmarking.
The regulatory context and the operational benchmarking. The regulatory context and the operational benchmarking.
Operations of waking watch is tightly regulated by the law, such as the Building Safety Act 2022 and NFCC Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance. The property manager needs to make sure that staff deployed are trained, checked and have effective communication systems.
The cost of operation in the UK is usually between £12 and £30 per hour per person depending on the level of risk and complexity of your site, but SECURYCOR will provide you with a bespoke quotation without any hidden charges, as opposed to generic flat rates, to ensure that your exact compliance needs are met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.When does the law call for a waking watch?
A waking watch is used as an interim safety measure where the building's main fire detection system has failed and/or where fire safety faults have been discovered in the building, which warrant the use of a waking watch.
Q.What kind of training do the SECURYCOR waking watch personnel have?
Personnel are SIA-licensed, have received training on simultaneous evacuation, fire marshal responsibilities, audit-ready log keeping and emergency services coordination.
Make sure your building is compliant today!
Call SECURYCOR today to discuss your interim fire safety requirements and get a safe solution to meet your compliance needs for your property.
Securycor LTD
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