Following the tragedy of Grenfell, many things had to change in the construction and management of high-rise residential buildings.

The BS 8629:2019 is the new standard that sets out requirements for Evacuation Alert Systems (EAS), to be used by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) in the event of emergencies in apartment blocks.

The new BS 8629:2019 standard covers ‘the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Evacuation Alert System (EAS) for use by the Fire and Rescue Service in buildings containing flats.’

An Evacuation Alert System (EAS) is an alarm system operated by a control panel inside an apartment block for use by the FRS when they attend an emergency. BS 8629 requires an alarm sounder to be situated in each flat in a block - with the control panel capable of triggering evacuation alerts for specific areas or floors within a building. It does not need to incorporate a two-way communication mechanism or a Voice Alarm System, but each flat must be fitted with an alarm sounder and a visual alarm device (VAD).

No. It is separate from a fire alarm system. It is not triggered by heat or smoke sensors. Instead, it should only be operated by the FRS via a control panel also known as an EACIE (evacuation alert control and indicating equipment).