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Advanced invests in new market with appointment of dedicated business development manager for EvacGo

05 January 2021

FIRE AND life safety systems manufacturer Advanced has announced the appointment of a dedicated business development manager responsible for the launch and growth of EvacGo, the company’s new BS 8629-compliant evacuation alert system.

Ken Bullock, who joined Advanced as regional sales manager for South East England four years ago, brings over 35 years of fire industry experience to his new role as business development manager for evacuation alert systems.

Bullock has been instrumental in the development of the EvacGo solution and ensuring that it will make life easy for anyone who needs to meet the BS 8629 Code of Practice recommendation applicable to buildings over 18 metres in height containing flats.

On his new appointment, Bullock commented: “I’ve been heavily involved in developing our evacuation alert system and am passionate about the ability of this product to help improve fire safety for residents in high-rise buildings. It therefore seemed natural for me to focus on educating the market about the importance of following BS 8629 recommendations and to raise awareness of our evacuation alert solution EvacGo.”

He continued: “In realising our system, we’ve worked with leading fire industry experts to ensure that it delivers maximum performance, quality and ease of use. I now look forward to developing these relationships still further as we all strive to build a safer future for the built environment.”

Added assurance

The EvacGo panel is built using Advanced’s MxPro 5 fire panel components, thereby providing the added assurance for installers and building owners that their sites will be protected with robust and proven technology that has been rigorously tested to EN 54 Parts 2 and 4 as recommended in BS 8629.

To ensure every aspect of the BS 8629 Code of Practice is followed, the panel’s housed in a tamper-proof STS 205 Class BR2 security-rated enclosure made by Gerda with a patented BS EN 1303-compliant lock and key mechanism for exclusive access by the Fire and Rescue Service.

In force since November 2019, BS 8629 recommends the installation of a dedicated evacuation alert system intended for the sole use of the Fire and Rescue Services and separate from the building’s fire alarm system. It’s relevant to blocks of flats with a storey located at a height of more than 18 metres above ground level. Although not yet a legal requirement in England, evacuation alert control and indicating equipment installation is already mandatory in new buildings containing flats over 18 metres in Scotland and is considered Best Practice by a number of Fire and Rescue Services.

Specifying, designing, sourcing

Gary Craig, sales director at Advanced, told Fire Safety Matters: “Over recent months, Ken’s work on EvacGo has focused on ensuring that it’s easy for building owners and installers to meet the recommendations of the BS 8629 Code of Practice, while also ensuring optimum safety for the residents of high-rise buildings and ease of use for the Fire and Rescue Servies. Ken’s expertise will help to ensure the process of specifying, designing and sourcing a BS 8629-compliant system is simple, straightforward and stress-free.”

He continued: “Ken’s appointment adds a vastly experienced voice to the future direction of our evacuation alert systems business. His expertise and track record in driving growth and expansion within the UK market will be immensely valuable as we experience rising demand for this new product.”

Account customers who have been looked after by Ken across the years will continue to receive excellent support as they transfer to work with business development manager Amanda Hope.

 
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