Evacuation Alert Systems
BAFE-certified engineers with over three decades of combined experience. London and Kent. Updated September 2026
Key facts
- BS 8629 Compliant
- BAFE SP207 Registered
- Updated August 2026
Professional evacuation alert systems in London and Kent
Evacuation alert systems give the fire and rescue service a dedicated way to manage a phased evacuation in high-rise residential buildings. Designed to BS 8629 and operated independently of the building’s fire alarm, they allow fire crews to alert specific floors or zones as an incident develops. Smartec Integrated Systems designs, installs, commissions and maintains BAFE SP207 registered evacuation alert systems for new-build and existing residential buildings.
At a glance
- Allows the fire and rescue service to issue a phased, floor-by-floor evacuation alert, separate from your standard fire alarm
- Governed by BS 8629, the Code of Practice for evacuation alert systems
- Mandatory in residential buildings above 18 metres under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
- Smartec Integrated Systems is BAFE SP207 registered for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
- Monthly self-test plus a full annual inspection, every result recorded via the Smartec Client Portal
- Guaranteed under-4-hour emergency dispatch, 24/7/365, for contract clients
What is an evacuation alert system?
An evacuation alert system, or EAS, lets the fire and rescue service issue a targeted evacuation signal floor by floor or zone by zone, rather than relying on one building-wide alarm. It is operated solely by fire crews during an incident, working independently of your standard fire alarm. The control panel is known as Evacuation Alert Control and Indicating Equipment, or EACIE.
Is it a legal requirement?
How does it differ from a fire alarm?
How Smartec delivers this
What does installation involve?
Site survey to assess the building layout, escape routes and refuge point locations
System design, setting the number and position of outstations and the EACIE panel location
Installation of the panel, outstations and fire-resistant cabling
Commissioning, with a full system test and sign-off documentation
Handover, with certification and the system added to the Smartec Client Portal
Who needs this?
Mandatory under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Mandatory under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Housing associations & councils
Managing high-rise residential stock across multiple sites
Developers
New-build high-rise residential schemes, designed in from the outset
Accountable Persons
Under the Building Safety Act 2022 higher-risk building regime
PROJECT
Wembley NE03
Smartec delivered the evacuation alert system as part of the wider life safety installation at Wembley NE03, working alongside the Honeywell Gent fire detection system already in place at the development.
FAQs
- What does BAFE SP207 mean?
- The third-party accreditation scheme for evacuation alert systems, covering design, installation, commissioning and maintenance to BS 8629. Smartec Integrated Systems holds this accreditation.
- Who operates the system during a fire?
- Only the fire and rescue service. Residents and building staff do not operate it, though they should know it forms part of the building's fire strategy.
- How often is it tested and maintained?
- A monthly self-test, plus a full annual inspection by a competent engineer, with every result recorded.
- How quickly can Smartec respond if there's a fault?
- Contract clients receive guaranteed under-4-hour emergency dispatch, 24/7/365.
- Can an evacuation alert system be retrofitted into an existing building?
- Yes. Smartec designs and installs evacuation alert systems in both new-build and retrofit settings, working around occupied buildings to minimise disruption.
- What is EACIE?
- Evacuation Alert Control and Indicating Equipment, the formal name for the control panel at the centre of an evacuation alert system.
- Does this apply to all buildings above 18 metres, or just residential ones?
- The current legal requirement covers residential buildings specifically. Other building types are not currently mandated, though some organisations choose to install one as part of a wider fire safety strategy.
- How much does an evacuation alert system cost?
- Cost depends on the building's size, number of floors and outstations required. Contact us for a site survey and a tailored quote.