Advanced’s EvacGo solution protects residents at Manchester’s Princess Court

Princess Court is a high-rise building that offers specialist housing for residents aged 55 and over across 50 flats. Constructed back in 1993 and managed by the Your Housing Group, the development provides low-level support to help residents live independently and safely.

With Advanced’s MxPro 5 fire panel already installed at the site, this latest project – itself executed by JFN Integrated Solutions Ltd – aims to further enhance the safety and security of residents across all six residential floors of the building.

The EvacGo evacuation alert system was selected for its reliability. When used alongside the robust protection afforded by the MxPro 5, comprehensive coverage and optimal safety measures are ensured throughout Princess Court.

Installation process

JFN Integrated Solutions Ltd, the maintenance service provider for Your Housing Group across its site portfolio, undertook the installation. Skilled engineers experienced in working with various manufacturers' systems found the BS 8629-compliant EvacGo system exceptionally easy to understand and install. Their positive feedback underscores the system’s user-friendly design and intuitive operation.

Chris Keeney, director of JFN Integrated Solutions Ltd, said: “The project was one that ran smoothly from start to finish. It was even more satisfactory that it enabled us to achieve BAFE SP207 accreditation in the wake of an audit of the system installation and the accompanying management files.”

Keeney continued: “Specifying the EvacGo evacuation alert system was a natural choice. Having extensively used Advanced equipment in our projects, we’ve developed a profound trust in the company’s product quality, reliability and ease of use. The seamless integration of EvacGo with our existing Advanced systems further reinforces our confidence in Advanced’s capabilities.”

Two-year project

Ruth Woodyatt, fire safety manager at Your Housing Group, explained: “The installation of EvacGo coincided with a two-year long project to replace the external cladding system, upgrade passive and active fire safety measures throughout the building and, following completion of the work, the move to a ‘Stay Put’ evacuation strategy. The system has given our residents peace of mind that an evacuation can be initiated and controlled should this ever be required in the future. Their safety continues to be our top priority.”

Designed to make it easy to meet the BS 8629 Code of Practice’s recommendations, EvacGo “sets new standards” in evacuation alert technology, ensuring the safety and peace of mind of residents in various environments.

Installation of evacuation alert systems is mandatory in all new-build residential apartment blocks over 18 metres tall in England and Scotland. For all other new-build and retrofit projects, complying with BS 8629 is still seen as Best Practice. As a result, an increasing number of building owners are taking steps to provide an extra layer of protection for residents of developments that are not obligated to meet the requirements (Princess Court being one of them).

Shaun Scott, emergency evacuation systems application engineer at Advanced, observed: “We are truly encouraged to witness housing companies going above and beyond legal requirements to prioritise safety. At Advanced, we believe that every individual deserves to feel safe in their surroundings. Proactive initiatives like the installation of EvacGo demonstrate a shared commitment to the well-being of communities. These actions not only showcase a commitment to residents’, safety but also inspire others to invest in cutting-edge technologies that can make a significant difference in emergency situations.”

Bespoke solutions

All Advanced evacuation alert systems are custom manufactured to reflect each individual building’s evacuation zones and developed to provide a bespoke solution that allows the Fire and Rescue Service to control evacuation floor-by-floor according to the severity and location of the fire.

The guidance states that the evacuation alert control system should be installed where a ‘Stay Put’ policy is in force such that it can be used to facilitate a timely and ordered evacuation for all residents.

An evacuation alert system is vital for assisting the Fire and Rescue Service to inform residents of a change in evacuation strategy during an incident and can be used alongside existing methods of evacuation to improve safety for residents. It must be standalone, with its only function being to assist firefighters in the evacuation of a given building.

*Further information is available online at www.advancedco.com