Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 extended by Government

This announcement builds on the £35 million Waking Watch Relief Fund, which was focused on high-rise residential buildings (above 17.7 metres tall) with a Waking Watch in place (at cost to leaseholders) due to unsafe cladding, and the £27 million Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2022, which expanded eligibility to residential buildings of any height with a waking watch in place due to any fire safety defect.  

The £41.71 million Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 extends financial support to more buildings and is aligned with guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) on buildings that change from a ‘Stay Put’ to a simultaneous evacuation-focused fire safety strategy.

Those who stand to benefit from this Westminster announcement include leaseholders who may have faced high costs or delays in the implementation of interim safety measures by providing financial support and delivering a better and more long-term fire safety system in their buildings.

Capital costs

The funding will cover the upfront capital costs of installing an alarm system. The common fire alarm system should generally be designed in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5839-1 for a Category L5 system, which is referred to in the NFCC’s revised guidance on simultaneous evacuation.

In order to be eligible for capital funding, buildings must be located in England, residential in nature and have an operational Waking Watch in place.

The reopened Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 will cover the cost of alarms where installation work commenced on or after 25 May 2023.

The Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 will be administered centrally by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to all eligible buildings.

Industry comment

Benjamin Ralph, head of building and fire safety at consultancy Hollis, said: “The new extended Waking Watch Replacement Fund will help the move from the costly Waking Watch patrols towards more reliable and automated detection and alarm systems. These systems must not be seen as an excuse to extend the time it takes to carry out cladding remediation services, though. This should not be seen as a low-cost alternative for protecting residents. Work must still be carried out in a reasonable time period.”

Ralph continued: “As the industry knows, the Gateway 2 process is already creating delays. If the installation of fire detection and alarm systems is treated as building work, current regulator timescales could result in significant waiting times before work can begin. A more flexible approach towards how certain works are classified under the regulations could make these interventions more practical and help to safeguard residents.”