Event details
Protecting High-Rise Residential Buildings from Fire: Understanding Interim Measures, Alarm Funding and Future Building Design
The fire safety landscape for high-rise residential buildings continues to evolve following Grenfell and subsequent building safety reforms. This webinar explores the principles behind stay put and simultaneous evacuation strategies, the role of waking watch arrangements, and the increasing use of common fire alarm systems as part of a safer, more sustainable approach to resident protection.
A key focus of this updated 2026 edition is the introduction of the Interim Measures Alarm Fund (IMAF), a significant new government initiative launched on 1 April 2026. Delivered by Homes England and backed by £62.7 million of funding, IMAF has been established to support the installation of common fire alarm systems in eligible residential buildings, helping to reduce reliance on costly waking watch arrangements while remediation works are undertaken. Delegates will gain an understanding of who can apply, what the fund covers, and how it supports safer simultaneous evacuation strategies.
The webinar will also examine another major development in building safety policy: the introduction of second staircases for all new residential buildings over 18 metres, due to come into effect from 30 September 2026. Attendees will learn why this design change has been introduced, how it enhances resilience and evacuation capability, and importantly, how these requirements differ from the interim measures being used in existing residential buildings today.
In addition, the session will cover:
- The principles and history of the Stay Put strategy.
- Lessons learned from landmark fire incidents that have shaped modern fire safety policy.
- The findings of the Hackitt Review and their influence on regulatory change.
- The purpose, benefits and limitations of Waking Watch arrangements.
- Current NFCC guidance on simultaneous evacuation.
- The role of common fire alarm systems in supporting safer evacuation strategies.
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Future considerations for building owners, responsible persons and fire safety professionals.
This webinar is ideal for housing providers, building owners, facilities managers, fire engineers, consultants, responsible persons and anyone involved in the management, design or protection of high-rise residential buildings.
Learning Outcomes By attending this webinar, delegates will:
- Understand the drivers behind recent changes to high-rise residential fire safety.
- Explain the purpose and operation of the new Interim Measures Alarm Fund (IMAF).
- Identify the implications of the new second staircase requirements for tall residential buildings.
- Compare waking watch arrangements with common fire alarm solutions.
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Understand when simultaneous evacuation strategies may be required and how they are implemented.
This webinar provides the latest guidance and insight into two of the most significant developments affecting high-rise residential fire safety in 2026: the introduction of the Interim Measures Alarm Fund and the move towards second staircases in new tall residential buildings.
All attendees will receive a CPD certificate.
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If you have any issues registering contact us on marketing@westernbusiness.media or call on
01342 314 300
Presenters
Brian Sims
Editor
Western Business Media
Brian has served as the Editor of Security Matters since March 2020 having previously occupied the same role for two other titles (namely Security Management Today and Risk UK) at, respectively, UBM and Pro-Activ Publications. Joining the world of security journalism back in 2000 after a decade of writing for an engineering title (ie Building Services Journal, the official journal of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers), Brian – who’s an Honours graduate of the University of Liverpool – has since won several industry awards, among them the British Security Industry Association’s Chairman’s Award for ‘Promoting The Security Industry’ and the Skills for Security Special Award for an ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Security Business Sector’. Further, he has twice been a nominated finalist for the prestigious George van Schalkwyk Award bestowed by The Security Institute, an organisation of which he is an Honorary Fellow.
Mike Hobbs
Specification & Strategic Growth Lead
Apollo