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Residential Waking Watch Replacement, Gravesend

Cornerstone Group partners with Hochiki Europe to deliver a reliable and future proof fire detection solution to replace Waking Watch schemes across three luxury apartment blocks in Gravesend, North Kent.

When a Waking Watch system at three residential blocks in Gravesend needed replacing, Cornerstone Group partnered with Hochiki Europe to deliver a reliable and future proof fire detection solution. The project involved the installation of a fully open protocol system using ESP, Latitude and Wireless Ekho technologies.

Waking Watch was originally installed as a temporary safety measure after fire risk issues were identified in many high-rise buildings across the UK following the Grenfell Tower disaster. While it provides manual monitoring of buildings for fire, it is costly, inconsistent and heavily reliant on human response. These limitations make it unsuitable as a long-term solution.

To eliminate the need for costly manual monitoring and meet updated fire safety standards, a fully compliant and flexible fire detection system was required.

Cornerstone Group installed a Hochiki system combining Latitude fire alarm control panels, ESP hard‑wired addressable fire detection devices and Ekho hybrid wireless devices. The open protocol setup allowed integration with other building safety systems and provided flexibility for future expansion. Hard‑wired detectors were fitted in common corridors, with Latitude EN54‑compliant control panels managing the system. Ekho hybrid wireless units were installed in the entrance hallway of each apartment where cabling would have been disruptive or impractical.

Latitude’s compatibility with both ESP and Ekho made it well suited for this multi-storey residential environment. It allowed seamless control of hard‑wired and wireless devices through a single panel per building, reducing the need for invasive installation work and supporting clear event reporting for the building management team.

There were some challenges the team faced during installation. Access into the individual flats proved difficult, with scheduled appointments with residents often having to be rearranged. However, by maintaining clear communication and working flexibly around residents’ availability, the team was able to complete the installation with minimal disruption and ensure every flat was properly protected.

“We chose Hochiki because their product reliability is proven and the support in sales was very responsive. If we ever needed it, technical help was always first class and helped keep the project on schedule.”

The successful replacement of the Waking Watch system has not only reduced long-term costs but also delivered consistent and high‑performance fire detection throughout all three buildings, helping to keep residents safe.

To learn more about this project visit the Hochiki Website