Page 46 - the SyI Quarterly 8
P. 46
Our Corporate Partners
How waking watches keep
high-rise buildings safe
by Michael Knibbs
In June 2017, a fire in Grenfell Tower, a block of flats
in West London, claimed the lives of 72 people. In the
aftermath of the tragedy, questions were asked about the
safety and security of high-rise buildings. Dame Judith
Hackitt called for a “universal shift in culture” in the
building industry after being “shocked by some of the
practices”.
The combustible cladding used on Grenfell Tower is
believed to be one of the main reasons the fire spread
so rapidly. Post Grenfell, hundreds of tower blocks were
found to use the same material and were therefore
deemed ‘unsafe’ for residents.
The removal of cladding is a costly process and takes
time. In the interim, solutions are needed to keep people
who live in these buildings safe. This is where the security
industry can help, by providing a waking watch service for
‘unsafe’ high-rise buildings.
Security companies, like ours, can also work with building
owners and leaseholders to provide the most effective
safety and security solution, as well as be physically present
on site to reassure residents who may feel concerned in
the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.
