Future-Proofing Emergency Call and Lift Communication Systems in a Later Living Development

The Challenge

An 86-apartment later living development was operating with an analogue Emergency Call System reaching the end of its usable life. Parts were no longer available, ongoing maintenance was unreliable, and some individual units and communal call points, including lift emergency communication, were no longer functioning reliably.

Problems with the system had been reported for some time, including apartment entrance doors not releasing, frequent intercom failures, and in-apartment units activating unexpectedly, sometimes during the night. 

With the UK’s analogue network scheduled for withdrawal in January 2027, the risk of complete communication failure was increasing. As residents rely on emergency call points for safety and reassurance, continued operation on ageing infrastructure presented significant operational and regulatory exposure.

Our Solution

The client appointed Innovus to provide surveying and project management oversight across apartments and communal areas, including the lift emergency call points.

Across the project, Innovus provided technical surveying, specification development and project management oversight to support the transition to a compliant digital Emergency Communication System. This included:

• Conducting on-site assessments to identify end-of-life systems.
• Developing specifications for a new digital emergency communication solution.
• Integrating lifts into the scope of replacement works.
• Managing the Section 20 consultation process where required.
• Tendering to specialist contractors to drive competitive pricing.
• Overseeing contractor appointment and delivery under CDM requirements.
• Monitoring installation to completion in live resident environments.

The project was delivered in two phases, with priority works completed ahead of the full ECS replacement.

This approach allowed the project to proceed directly to tender following specification approval, reducing the overall programme by approximately five to six weeks compared with a typical timeline. 

The Result

The development now benefits from a fully digital Emergency Communication System that covers:

• Individual apartment emergency call units.
• Communal call points.
• Lift emergency communication.

This future-ready system ensures:

• Continued emergency connectivity ahead of the analogue switch off.
• Avoidance of temporary bridging workarounds such as SIM-based solutions.
• Greater resilience and reliability for residents.
• Structured delivery that mitigates risks linked to contractor lead times.
•  Completion approximately five to six weeks faster than a typical project timeline.

“Replacing the system wasn’t just about upgrading equipment. It was about restoring confidence. Residents rely on being able to call for help, whether from their apartment or the lift, and ensuring that reliability ahead of the analogue withdrawal removed a very real operational risk.” - Andi Reaney

Why This Matters

Had this upgrade been delayed closer to the analogue withdrawal deadline, the development would have faced:

• Longer contractor lead times (currently ~3 months).
• Increased costs and resource pressure.
• Compressed leaseholder consultation windows.
• Higher risk of system failure, including lift emergency communication, with residents left exposed.

Taking early, structured action has safeguarded both operational continuity and resident reassurance.