At its Queensland Road development in Islington, we recently carried out a live test in an occupied building. Residents were informed in advance and continued using their homes while the exercise took place.

The test combined a complete power outage with a controlled fire simulation on one floor. Smoke was released into a corridor, and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded as they would in a real incident -locating the issue using the building’s systems and setting up equipment. Engineers closely monitored key features such as lifts, alarms, ventilation, water supply and communications.

Unlike standard safety checks, which inspect systems separately, this approach tests how everything performs together under pressure. That difference matters. During the exercise, a fault in a lift intercom was uncovered that had not shown up in routine inspections. It was later traced to a loose connection and fixed.

Newlon has been developing this testing approach over the past three years, carrying out full checks every two years and before taking on new buildings. These pre-handover tests have revealed numerous issues, some minor and others more serious, which can then be resolved before residents move in.

During the Queensland Road exercise, firefighters worked through the scenario step by step, using breathing equipment, hoses and rescue procedures. A staff member role-played a casualty, allowing crews to practise safely in low visibility conditions. Systems such as the building’s dry riser and smoke extraction were also tested and performed well.

The exercise is carefully planned to limit disruption and cost. By aligning it with routine maintenance, Newlon keeps expenses down, while the fire brigade benefits from realistic training in a live residential setting.

Overall, the trials give both Newlon and emergency services greater confidence by testing real-life conditions, while also showing the organisation’s strong commitment to prioritising residents’ safety and continuously strengthening fire safety across its homes.