Three luxury apartment blocks in Gravesend, North Kent, have enhanced their fire safety systems, moving away from the Waking Watch method. The Cornerstone Group, in collaboration with Hochiki Europe, implemented a new fire detection system that is both reliable and adaptable for future needs.
This change comes as older Waking Watch systems, known for their high costs and dependency on human oversight, are phased out in favor of more efficient solutions following updates in fire safety regulations.
Updated Fire Safety Standards
The need to replace Waking Watch systems arises from their initial design as interim safety measures in high-rise buildings after the Grenfell Tower incident.
These systems, while providing manual fire monitoring, are not ideal long-term due to their reliance on human operators and inconsistent performance. Consequently, there has been a shift toward deploying fully compliant fire detection systems that can adapt to evolving safety standards.
EN54-Compliant Control Panels
The Latitude panels, compliant with EN54 norms, efficiently manage both wired and wireless systems
To achieve this, the Cornerstone Group installed a comprehensive system from Hochiki, featuring Latitude fire alarm panels, hard-wired ESP addressable detectors, and Ekho hybrid wireless devices. The open protocol nature of this setup allows seamless integration with other safety systems and supports potential future expansions.
In the apartment blocks, hard-wired detectors were placed in common areas, while wireless devices were utilized in entryways where installing cables would have caused inconvenience.
The Latitude panels, compliant with EN54 standards, efficiently manage both wired and wireless systems. This integration ensures cohesive control and precise event reporting, minimizing invasive installation procedures. The compatibility of Latitude with both ESP and Ekho ensures a streamlined operation of safety devices across all floors.
Overcoming Installation Challenges
Installation presented some challenges, particularly with gaining access to individual flats due to scheduling issues. However, by keeping communication open and adjusting to residents’ availability, the installation team minimized disruptions and ensured all units were equipped with suitable fire protection systems.
A spokesperson from the installation team remarked, “We chose Hochiki because their product reliability is proven and the support in sales was very responsive. If we ever needed it, technical help was always first class and helped keep the project on schedule.”
Ultimately, the transition from the Waking Watch approach to Hochiki’s advanced fire detection technology has effectively lowered ongoing costs while ensuring consistent, high-quality fire monitoring. The successful upgrade aims to establish a safer living environment for residents in all three buildings.
Cornerstone Group partners with Hochiki Europe to deliver a reliable and future-proof fire detection solution to replace Waking Watch schemes across three luxury apartment blocks in Gravesend, North Kent.
When a Waking Watch system at three residential blocks in Gravesend needed replacing, Cornerstone Group partnered with Hochiki Europe to deliver a reliable and future-proof fire detection solution. The project involved the installation of a fully open protocol system using ESP, Latitude and Wireless Ekho technologies.
Updated fire safety standards
Waking Watch was originally installed as a temporary safety measure after fire risk issues were identified in many high-rise buildings across the UK following the Grenfell Tower disaster. While it provides manual monitoring of buildings for fire, it is costly, inconsistent and heavily reliant on human response. These limitations make it unsuitable as a long-term solution.
To eliminate the need for costly manual monitoring and meet updated fire safety standards, a fully compliant and flexible fire detection system was required.
EN54‑compliant control panels
The open protocol setup allowed integration with other building safety systems
Cornerstone Group installed a Hochiki system combining Latitude fire alarm control panels, ESP hard‑wired addressable fire detection devices and Ekho hybrid wireless devices. The open protocol setup allowed integration with other building safety systems and provided flexibility for future expansion.
Hard‑wired detectors were fitted in common corridors, with Latitude EN54‑compliant control panels managing the system. Ekho hybrid wireless units were installed in the entrance hallway of each apartment, where cabling would have been disruptive or impractical.
Latitude’s compatibility with both ESP and Ekho made it well-suited for this multi-storey residential environment. It allowed seamless control of hard‑wired and wireless devices through a single panel per building, reducing the need for invasive installation work and supporting clear event reporting for the building management team.
Replacement of the Waking Watch system
There were some challenges the team faced during installation. Access into the individual flats proved difficult, with scheduled appointments with residents often having to be rearranged. However, by maintaining clear communication and working flexibly around residents’ availability, the team was able to complete the installation with minimal disruption and ensure every flat was properly protected.
“We chose Hochiki because their product reliability is proven and the support in sales was very responsive. If we ever needed it, technical help was always first class and helped keep the project on schedule.”
The successful replacement of the Waking Watch system has not only reduced long-term costs but also delivered consistent and high‑performance fire detection throughout all three buildings, helping to keep residents safe.
