Competency. Integrity. Value.
Competency. Integrity. Value.
The fund forms part of the wider response to building safety reform following the Grenfell Tower fire. It builds on earlier schemes and is intended to provide a more stable, long-term funding route for interim fire safety measures. The focus is on improving resident safety while reducing the reliance on waking watch arrangements, which can be costly and less effective than active fire alarm systems.
At its core, IMAF supports a practical shift towards common fire alarm systems that enable a consistent and reliable response in the event of a fire. These systems are intended to sit alongside ongoing remediation programmes, providing a safer environment for residents while more permanent solutions are planned and delivered.
The Interim Measures Alarm Fund is designed to fund the installation of common fire alarm systems in buildings where interim fire safety measures are required. It is intended to support the installation of common fire alarm systems where a competent person has recommended a temporary change from a stay put strategy to a simultaneous evacuation strategy.
The scheme is administered by Homes England through the Cladding Safety Scheme platform. It supports the capital cost of installing fire alarm systems, including equipment, installation, commissioning, and testing. The intention is to replace or reduce the need for waking watch arrangements with a system that provides a more structured and dependable form of protection.
In accordance with the Guidance to Support a Temporary Change to a Simultaneous Evacuation Strategy in Purpose-Built Blocks of Flats, common fire alarm systems installed to support a temporary simultaneous evacuation strategy should be designed in accordance with BS 5839-1 as a Category L5 fire alarm system.
System design should be based upon the specific risks identified within the building and the recommendations of the fire risk assessment. The objective is to provide early detection and warning to residents where a stay put strategy can no longer be supported.
The fund is not intended to replace remediation. It is an interim measure that supports safety while longer-term works are carried out. Responsibility for addressing underlying fire safety risks remains with the Responsible Person, and remediation programmes are expected to continue alongside any funded alarm installation.
Eligibility for the Interim Measures Alarm Fund is clearly defined. Applications must be made by a Responsible Person, Responsible Entity, or an authorised representative acting on their behalf. This is typically a managing agent, freeholder, or organisation responsible for the building. The building itself must meet a number of criteria. It must be located in England and be used as residential, including student accommodation. It must also currently rely on a waking watch or have recommendations for a simultaneous evacuation strategy, supported by appropriate fire safety documentation such as a fire risk assessment or a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls.
Leaseholders and residents are not able to apply directly. Instead, they must engage with the building owner or managing agent to progress an application. This reflects the legal responsibilities placed on those responsible for building safety under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In addition, the building must not have already received funding through previous waking watch replacement schemes. Each application is reviewed to confirm eligibility and to ensure that the proposed approach is appropriate for the building in question.
The Interim Measures Alarm Fund covers the reasonable capital cost of installing a common fire alarm system. This includes the supply of equipment such as detectors, panels, and associated components, as well as the labour required to install and the system. Commissioning and testing are also included, along with VAT where it cannot be recovered. The fund does not cover ongoing maintenance, repairs, or future system modifications. It also excludes waking watch costs, project management fees, and administrative expenses. This means that while the installation itself may be funded, there remains a requirement for building owners or managing agents to plan for ongoing system management and compliance.
All systems must be designed, installed, and commissioned by a competent person, such as a BAFE SP203-1 third-party accredited contractor. This is a key requirement, as funding approval is dependent on both technical compliance and cost reasonableness. Proposals are reviewed to ensure that systems meet the required standards without unnecessary specification.
The application process for IMAF follows a structured sequence. Initially, eligibility is assessed through the Cladding Safety Scheme platform. This involves confirming that the building meets the required criteria and that appropriate fire safety documentation is in place. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the applicant must obtain a quotation from an approved supplier. This quotation must reflect a system that meets the relevant standards and aligns with the Guidance to Support a Temporary Change to a Simultaneous Evacuation Strategy in Purpose-Built Blocks of Flats.
In most cases this will involve the design of a BS 5839-1 Category L5 common fire alarm system intended to support a temporary simultaneous evacuation strategy. It is then reviewed to ensure that both the technical approach and the associated costs are reasonable.
Although the process is structured, it requires coordination between multiple parties, including managing agents, contractors, and regulatory stakeholders. Clear communication and practical delivery are important at each stage to ensure that the system is accepted and can be brought into use without delay.
Whilst this page focuses on the Interim Measures Alarm Fund (IMAF), NPG Fire Safety also supports projects funded through alternative government schemes, remediation programmes, developers, freeholders, registered providers and managing agents. Our expertise is centred on the design, installation and maintenance of common fire alarm systems used to support temporary simultaneous evacuation strategies, regardless of the funding route utilised.
NPG Fire Safety Ltd supports managing agents and Responsible Persons through the design, installation, and commissioning of the system.
System design is developed in line with the client’s fire safety documentation, including Fire Risk Assessments (FRA), Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEW), fire engineering reports and the recommendations contained within relevant guidance. Designs are tailored to the building layout, evacuation strategy, fire strategy and identified risk profile.
NPG delivers the full scope of work required for IMAF projects. This includes system design, supply, installation, commissioning, and certification under BAFE SP203-1. Integration with existing building systems can also be addressed where necessary, ensuring that the alarm system works effectively within the wider building environment.
Ongoing servicing and maintenance are also provided, supporting long-term compliance and system reliability. Although maintenance is not covered by the fund, it remains an essential part of managing any fire alarm system once installed.
Throughout the process, the focus remains on delivering systems that meet the required standards whilst remaining practical to install within occupied residential buildings.
For most occupied residential buildings, NPG’s preferred solution is a fully compliant wireless fire alarm system. Wireless devices within flats and communal areas significantly reduce disruption to residents, minimise redecoration and allow faster installation compared to traditional wired systems. Limited wired infrastructure is generally required for control equipment and radio communication hardware whilst maintaining compliance with the relevant standards and guidance.
Where required, NPG can coordinate associated passive fire protection works through carefully selected third-party accredited contractors. This can help ensure that any penetrations or fire stopping requirements associated with the installation are addressed in a compliant manner as part of the project.
Our approach ensures alignment with the expectations of fire risk assessors, managing agents, and enforcing authorities.
NPG has direct experience delivering projects similar to those supported by the Interim Measures Alarm Fund. During 2025, two large-scale temporary fire alarm installations were completed under the Government’s Waking Watch Relief Fund, the predecessor to the Interim Measures Alarm Fund. These schemes required the implementation of simultaneous evacuation strategies through the installation of common fire alarm systems.
Across both projects, around 500 fire alarm devices were installed. The systems were designed in line with current guidance and delivered from initial concept through to commissioning and ongoing maintenance. Each project required close coordination with managing agents, fire risk assessors, and enforcing authorities to ensure that the proposed systems were appropriate, compliant and acceptable.
During one of these projects, NPG’s consultants identified deficiencies within the building’s smoke control arrangements that had not previously been highlighted within the available documentation.
This enabled the client to secure additional funding and address wider building safety concerns as part of the overall remediation programme, improving the building’s long-term fire safety strategy beyond the temporary alarm installation itself.
Working within occupied buildings introduced practical considerations that influenced both design and delivery. Access arrangements, resident communication, and installation sequencing all required careful planning to minimise disruption while maintaining progress. These projects provided a clear understanding of how interim fire alarm systems operate in practice, beyond the theoretical guidance.
This experience supports a delivery approach that is grounded in real project conditions. It reflects an understanding of how to apply standards in a way that meets both compliance requirements and the practical needs of those responsible for managing residential buildings.
Wireless fire alarm systems are widely used in Interim Measures Alarm Fund projects due to the practical challenges associated with installing systems in occupied residential buildings. Traditional wired systems often require intrusive installation methods, including significant cabling work within flats and communal areas. In contrast, wireless systems can be installed with far less disruption, making them more suitable where residents remain in occupation. The speed of installation is another important factor. Once funding has been approved, there is an expectation that systems will be installed promptly to reduce reliance on waking watch arrangements. Wireless systems support faster deployment, allowing buildings to transition more quickly to a structured alarm-based approach.
Flexibility is also a key consideration. Wireless systems can be adapted to suit complex building layouts and can be adjusted if requirements change during the course of a project. This is particularly relevant in buildings where fire safety strategies may evolve as further information becomes available or as remediation plans develop.
For interim use, wireless systems provide a practical balance between performance and installation efficiency. When designed and installed correctly, they meet the required standards and provide a reliable solution while longer-term works are undertaken.
Simultaneous evacuation projects often involve multiple stakeholders, including managing agents, Responsible Persons, fire risk assessors, fire engineers, residents, contractors and enforcing authorities. Effective coordination is essential to ensure that systems are delivered efficiently and accepted by all relevant parties.
The process involves multiple stages, from design through to installation, certification, and ongoing maintenance. Managing these stages through separate contractors can introduce complexity and increase the risk of misalignment between different parts of the system.
NPG is independently third-party accredited under the BAFE SP203-1 scheme for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire alarm systems. This allows the same organisation to deliver every technical stage of the project, helping to maintain consistency from initial design through to long-term maintenance and support. Having a single provider also simplifies communication for managing agents and Responsible Persons and can help reduce the risk of discrepancies between design intent and installation.
This is particularly important when systems must be reviewed or accepted by fire authorities, insurers, or fire risk assessors.
This structure supports a delivery-focused approach. It reduces the potential for gaps between design intent and installation, and it provides a clear framework for ongoing system management once the installation has been completed.
The Interim Measures Alarm Fund provides a structured route to improving fire safety in buildings awaiting remediation. However, the responsibility for delivering a compliant and effective system remains with those managing the building and the contractor they appoint.
NPG approaches this work with a focus on practical delivery. Systems are designed to meet the required standards without unnecessary specification, ensuring that proposals remain aligned with funding expectations and cost benchmarks. By combining technical knowledge with direct project experience, NPG supports duty holders through each stage of the process. The aim is to ensure that systems are delivered in a way that is clear, compliant, and suited to the conditions within each building, while supporting the broader objective of maintaining safety during the period leading up to full remediation.