A cladding fire detection system that could offer a lifeline to thousands affected by the UK’s cladding crisis is undergoing a critical period of testing with testing body, the Fire Protection Association.
Intelliclad, created by Darron Brough and Mohammed Zulfiquar, believe that their sensor, which would be retrofitted to integrate into the cladding system of high-risk buildings, can provide a smarter, faster and more cost-efficient method of monitoring fire safety when compared to the controversial Waking Watch.
Each sensor is connected to a control system that, in the event of a fire, can send an alert to all residents via a smartphone app.
This gives residents and the fire service valuable information on the location and relative spread of fire across the building throughout the incident in real time.
The system is currently undergoing final testing at the Fire Protection Association’s headquarters in Moreton-in-Marsh after three years and around £500,000 of research and development investment.
Darron Brough, managing director of Intelliclad, said: “Our system offers a smarter and faster alternative to the Waking Watch – we want to give residents a greater peace of mind and greatly reduce the cost of safety which they should be entitled to.
“From our perspective, testing with the Fire Protection Association has been a huge success, and we await confirmation of these results over the coming weeks as data is analysed, which we believe will allow us to move forward and start to really help people.”
There is much controversy surrounding Waking Watch, which has recently been labelled a ‘national scandal’ by Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick, who criticised the cost for the service, averaging up to £499 per dwelling per month often passed on directly to residents, as a ‘rip-off’.
A number of stories have also appeared in recent months highlighting a lack of fire safety training for Waking Watch staff, as well as instances where they have fallen asleep or been caught watching TV, putting residents lives at risk.
For more information, you can email Intelliclad at info@intelliclad.co.uk.
