Advanced Invests in New Market with Appointment of Dedicated Business Development Manager for EvacGo

Fire and life safety systems manufacturer, Advanced, has announced the appointment of a dedicated business development manager responsible for the launch and growth of EvacGo, Advanced’s new BS 8629-compliant evacuation alert system.

Ken Bullock, who joined Advanced as Regional Sales Manager for South East England four years ago, brings over 35 years of fire industry experience to his new role as Business Development Manager – Evacuation Alert Systems.

Ken has been instrumental in the development of the EvacGo solution and ensuring that it will make life easy for anyone who needs to meet the BS 8629 Code of Practice recommendation applicable to buildings over 18m containing flats.

Ken Bullock, Business Development Manager – Emergency Evacuation Systems, said: “I’ve been heavily involved in developing our evacuation alert system and am passionate about the ability of this product to help improve fire safety for residents in high-rise buildings. It therefore seemed natural for me to focus on educating the market about the importance of following BS 8629 recommendations and to raise awareness of our evacuation alert solution EvacGo. In developing our system, we’ve worked with leading fire industry experts to ensure it delivers maximum performance, quality and ease of use. I now look forward to developing these relationships still further as we all strive to build a safer future.

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.

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 flat over 18 metres in Scotland and considered best practice by a number of fire and rescue services.

Gary Craig, Sales Director at Advanced, added: “Over recent months, Ken’s work on EvacGo has focused on ensuring it is easy for building owners and installers to meet the recommendations of the BS 8629 Code of Practice, whilst ensuring optimum safety for the residents of high-rise buildings and ease of use for the fire service. Ken’s expertise will help ensure the process of specifying, designing and sourcing a BS 8629 system is simple, straightforward and stress-free.

“Ken’s appointment adds a vastly experienced voice to this project and the future direction of our evacuation alert systems business. His expertise and track record in driving growth and expansion within the UK market will be immensely valuable as we experience rising demand for this new product.”

Account customers currently looked after by Ken will continue to receive excellent support as they transfer to Business Development Manager, Amanda Hope.

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 22 Bishopsgate to Abu Dhabi International Airport and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia.

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.

If you have questions about BS 8629 and EvacGo, please email EvacGo@advancedco.com or, for general enquiries, please email: sales@advancedco.com