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End Costly Waking Watch Measures with Rapid, Reliable Wireless Fire Protection
Cygnus provide a fast and efficient way to meet Simulataneous Evacuation Guidance (SEG) with minimal disruption – installed in days, not months.
Protect residents. Reduce costs. Meet guidance. Improve peace of mind.
Learn how Cygnus SmartNet works
Here
Request a Consultation
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Download the SEG, 4th Edition
Here
What is a Waking Watch?
A Waking Watch is a fire safety measure in which trained staff conduct continuous internal and external patrols of a building, 24 hours a day. Their role is to detect early signs of fire, alert occupants, and ensure everyone can evacuate safely.
Waking Watch is typically introduced when:
- Dangerous cladding is present
- Fire safety issues require a change from a stay-put strategy
- A temporary simultaneous evacuation approach is needed
While essential as an interim safeguard, Waking Watch is not intended to be a long-term solution and can place significant financial and emotional pressure on residents, leaseholders, and building owners.
Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance (SEG): Why Change is Needed
The Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance (SEG) 4th Edition provides clear direction: ongoing or prolonged use of a Waking Watch is strongly discouraged.
SEG requires Responsible Persons to:
- Develop a transition plan within one month of identifying the fire risk
- Install a first-aid fire alarm or alternative system as soon as practicable
- Ensure the transitional system is operational within six months, except in exceptional circumstances
The guidance is unequivocal: Move away from Waking Watch as quickly and safely as possible.
Early installation of a temporary fire alarm system, or fast-tracking remediation, is the recommended route to reducing risk, restoring resident confidence, and cutting unnecessary costs.
“Responsible Persons should make a plan within a month that outlines the steps that will be taken to move away from a waking watch and towards remediation or an alternative permanent sustainable solution. Where a ‘first aid fire alarm’ system is to be implemented, every effort should be made to install a common fire alarm as soon as practicable. Until this is possible, the premises’ fire risk assessment should outline the expectations for ensuring that either a first aid fire alarm or waking watch are fit for detecting a fire and giving a warning to residents in the affected areas of the building”
Waking Watch: The Rising Burden
According to data collected from June to September 2020 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) , the median monthly Waking Watch cost is:
- £11,361 per building
- £137 per dwelling
With remediation often taking many years, these costs accumulate rapidly for leaseholders and residents.
Government support continues, with an additional £21.11 million added to the
Waking Watch Replacement Fund
(extended to March 2026), helping more buildings transition to alarm-based solutions.
Forthcoming
Remediation Bill
will also require landlords to complete cladding remediation by:
- 2029 for buildings 18m+
- 2031 for buildings 11–18m
The financial and legal landscape is clear:
long-term reliance on Waking Watch is neither sustainable nor expected.
The Human Impact: The Benefit of Change
For many buildings, remediation is progressing slowly, sometimes over two, three, even five years. During this time, residents face:
- Ongoing service charges
- Stress and uncertainty
- Disrupted lifestyles
- Reduced confidence in building safety
Property managers must balance legal obligations, resident wellbeing, operational complexity, and escalating costs.
A faster, practical, reliable alternative is essential.
The Solution: Cygnus SmartNet
SmartNet uses the renowned, patented Cygnus wireless mesh technology to deliver a robust, fully wireless, rapidly deployable fire detection system that helps buildings stand down Waking Watch quickly and compliantly.
Why SmartNet?
- Installed in Days, Not Months - Traditional wired fire alarm systems can take months to install. SmartNet’s wireless mesh architecture means minimal disruption and rapid deployment. 20× faster than wired installations.
- No Cabling Required - Cabling in occupied buildings is costly, messy, invasive and slow. SmartNet eliminates this entirely, ideal for live residential environments.
- Powerful Wireless Mesh Network - Cygnus wireless mesh technology enhances reliability and reduces the need for complex radio surveys, speeding up installation even further.
- Minimal Disruption for Residents - Residents keep full access to their homes, with no construction, drilling, or lengthy downtime.
- Supports SEG Transitional Requirements - SmartNet provides the early-warning capability required to move away from Waking Watch while remediation is planned or underway.
SmartNet makes fire safety upgrades efficient, effective and future-proof, helping responsible persons meet SEG expectations without prolonged temporary measures.
Learn more about SmartNet
here
.
Read our
Case Study
and our Waking Watch
Blog
to learn how Cygnus SmartNet is already helping with Waking Watches replacement.
Why Cygnus Is the Only True Wireless Mesh Technology
Most wireless fire safety systems claim to use “mesh networking”, but few offer a genuine, dynamic, safety-critical mesh. Cygnus stands apart, using patented technology specifically designed for complex, multi-storey buildings.
- True Self-Forming Mesh: Intelligent from the Start
- Self-Healing Mesh: Built for Real-World Conditions
- Multiple Pathways — Not a Daisy Chain
- Purpose-Built for High-Rise & Construction Environments
- Patented, Trusted, Safety-Critical Technology
This makes Cygnus technology the most robust wireless mesh platform available, ideal for Waking Watch replacement and SEG-compliant transitional protection.
benefits
The key benefits of SmartNet
Unrivalled reliability
EN 54 and BS5839 compliant
No complex radio challenges
Coverage for very large and multi-building sites
Easily scalable and adaptable
Easy to configure
No cabling means reduced time and cost
Wireless everywhere
View the SmartNet range
A fully EN 54 certified, wireless mesh fire detection and alarm system using the industry leading Cygnus Protocol, suitable for all permanent environments.
Learn more about the benefits of SmartNetReady to Stand Down Your Waking Watch?
Cygnus can help you transition quickly, compliantly, and with minimal disruption.
Contact us below to request a meeting, demonstration or additional information.
SMARTNET
View the products in the SmartNet-Pro range
Case studies
Designed for installation in a wide range of environments
A Scalable, Wireless Fire Solution for A5 Hub
Case study
Home Meadow Ensures Wireless Fire Safety Care
Case study
Wireless Fire Safety is a Lifesaver at Prince Charles Hospital
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Johnsons Workwear Weaves Wireless Technology Throughout its Buildings
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A Wireless Solution for a Vehicle Glass Wholesale Business
Case study
Eliminating Costly Waking Watches with Cygnus’s Cutting-Edge Solution
Case study
Wireless Fire Detection and Alarm Solution for Complex Industrial Environment
Case study
Wireless Fire Alarm System Installed at Temporary Theatre in Dartford
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Wireless Fire System Pays For Itself In Rented Accommodation
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Cygnus and Marlowe Fire & Security Work Together at Treetops Hospice
Case study
Wireless Fire System Installed in Historic 18th Century Mansion
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Cygnus SmartNet Puts Safety First For Apartment Owners
Case study
SmartNet Enhances Safety of Grade II* Listed Country Home
Case study
SmartNet Proves To Be The Perfect Solution For Student Accommodation Buildings
Case study
Cygnus Provides Top-Class Fire Safety Solution To Primary School
Case study
Wireless Fire Alarm Installed in Pembrokshire Listed Building
Case study
