This revision follows extensive consultation by NFCC, in partnership with a wealth of fire sector stakeholders, and saw over 500 comments on the guidance and accompanying Equality Impact Assessment from across the industry, including leaseholder groups. The document replaces the third edition, which was published in October 2020.
The consultation and subsequent revision are the product of a review commissioned by the government following the withdrawal of the Consolidated Advice Note and the publication of PAS 9980.
latest edition of the SEG
The latest edition of the SEG has made a number of updates to actively discourage the ongoing and prolonged use of a waking watch and to discourage building owners from having onsite staffing where it may not be needed. The amendments also address stakeholder feedback since the publication of the third edition.
The key aims of the SEG are:
- ensuring those with responsibility for buildings fully understand the decision-making process before deciding that a change in evacuation strategy is required
- a clearer emphasis on resident engagement
- an end to risk-averse ‘one size fits all’ application of on-site staffing (waking watches or evacuation management) when this is disproportionate to the risk.
Author's quote
Mark Hardingham, NFCC Chair, said: “The new edition is much clearer about evacuation management, and the difference between general fire safety actions, compared to full-time jobs or continuous activities like patrolling. Data collected from English Fire and Rescue Services shows that buildings known to have a waking watch (of all heights) fell by nearly 63% between June 2021 and March 2022, from 773 to 288. I’m really pleased to see this tracking down and hope this trend will continue.”
Amendments also address stakeholder feedback since the publication of the third edition
Dennis Davis, Executive Officer of the Fire Sector Federation said: “The decision-making process to be followed before any change is made to a building’s evacuation strategy should be proportionate, reflecting the risk presented based upon a holistic consideration, inclusive of the Fire Risk Assessment."
"We hope this new guidance will help Responsible Persons (RPs) and Fire Risk Assessors to act proportionately, by ensuring they are following the most up-to-date guidance, and in so doing take the right steps before they change their evacuation strategy.”
NFCC’s Protection Scrutiny Committee
Gavin Tomlinson, Chair of the NFCC’s Protection Scrutiny Committee said: “We have repeatedly called on building owners to consider a wide range of risk mitigations, including the installation of common fire alarms to reduce or remove the dependence on waking watches and onsite staffing, and this is the clear expectation for buildings where remediation cannot be undertaken in the short term."
“I’m pleased that Edition four reinforces the need to support the safety of all residents where the competent risk assessor’s advice confirms a change in the evacuation strategy is required; whilst ensuring the measures in place are proportionate and backed up by plan for remediation as quickly as possible.”