UK fire protection solutions manufacturer, Advanced, has announced the appointment of a dedicated EvacGo Application Engineer for its new BS 8629-compliant evacuation alert system.

Advanced’s Technical Support Engineer, Shaun Scott, will be assuming the role of EvacGo Application Engineer from December, bringing with him 20 years of fire industry experience, 16 of which have been spent providing award-winning technical support and delivering training to customers worldwide.

As part of the cross-functional team dedicated to EvacGo, Shaun will work alongside a Business Development Manager and Marketing Manager to deliver subject matter expertise in the BS 8629 Code of Practice.

Shaun Scott, EvacGo Application Engineer, said: “Building on Advanced’s reputation in the fire industry, I want to ensure customers better understand this new area and help simplify the process of meeting the BS 8629 Code of Practice recommendations. This is a new and complex area and it can be challenging for busy fire industry professionals to be sure they are choosing the right solutions to best protect people and property. In this role, I will be able to dedicate time to training and improving people’s knowledge as well as making sure that customers get exactly the right solution for their site – whether it be new build, retrofit or to support buildings undergoing replacement of dangerous cladding.”

The EvacGo panel is built using Advanced’s industry-leading MxPro 5 fire panel components, providing the added assurance for installers and building owners that their sites will be protected with robust and proven technology that’s been rigorously tested to EN 54 parts 2 and 4 as recommended in BS 8629.

To ensure every aspect of the BS 8629 Code of Practice was followed, the panel is housed in a tamper-proof STS 205 class BR2 security-rated enclosure made by leading manufacturer Gerda with a patented BS EN 1303-compliant lock and key mechanism for exclusive access by the fire and rescue service.

Paul Duffy, Technical Services Manager at Advanced, said: “Shaun’s technical competence and industry expertise are a great asset in this new role supporting the EvacGo product and promoting greater understanding of how best to meet the Code of Practice recommendations. Improving the fire safety of high-rise residential buildings is something we are passionate about at Advanced, so we are delighted to be able to play our part in building a safer future.”

BS 8629:2019 is the new Code of Practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in England. In place since November 2019, this code of practice recommends the installation of a dedicated evacuation alert system intended for the sole use of the fire and rescue services and separate from the building’s fire alarm system. It is relevant to blocks of flats with a storey located at a height of more than 18 metres above ground level. Although not yet a legal requirement in England, evacuation alert control and indicating equipment (EACIE) installation is already mandatory in new buildings containing flats over 18 metres in Scotland and considered best practice by a number of fire and rescue services.

Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, protects a wide range of prestigious and high-profile sites across the globe – from London’s Shard and the Lloyds Building to Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge.

Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. Advanced’s reputation for performance, quality and ease of use see its products specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging, false alarm management and reduction systems as well as emergency lighting.