Fire Door Safety: What you need to know
Since the devastating Grenfell fire in 2017, there have been calls for major reform on outdated fire safety regulations in the UK. One of the key focuses has been on fire doors, which are essential for preventing the spread of flames and smoke. Following the fire, the subsequent Grenfell Tower Inquiry posed several recommendations that have been added to a new legislation. As of January 2023, it is now a legal requirement to have annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of communal doors in multi-occupied residential buildings above 11 meters.
Not
Protected
Are your Fire Doors safe?
Did you know in 2021, three-quarters of fire doors inspected did not meet the required standard? This means that 75% of buildings were not effectively protecting the people inside them.
Fire doors are a key part of any building’s fire safety strategy. It is essential that they are regularly checked and maintained, with the necessary repairs done in a timely manner, to ensure their effectiveness. Without fire doors, there is a significantly higher risk of fire spreading quickly throughout a building, leading to loss of life and damage to property.
Not only do they slow the spread of smoke and fire, giving people the time to escape and for emergency services to arrive, but they can also save lives by providing a buffer to separate people from the fire, reducing heat and smoke inhalation.
To ensure that your fire doors are up to standard and safe, it is important to conduct fire door inspections throughout the building. As this is now a legal requirement, you must also have them installed by a certified fire door installer and checked by a qualified fire risk assessor.
New laws on Fire Doors
As mentioned, the legislation around fire doors has changed. A new regulation under Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was published on 18 May 2022 – The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
It is now a legal requirement to have annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of communal doors in multi-occupied residential buildings above 11 meters. The regulations also require responsible persons to provide their residents of all multi-occupancy residential buildings with information on the importance of fire doors to a building's fire safety.
Why has the legislation changed?
The Grenfell inquiry noted that “Fire doors play an essential role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and in preserving the effective compartmentation of buildings” and that “the fire doors in Grenfell Tower did not, through damage and/or disrepair, act in the way that they should so that they prevent smoke and gases from spreading.”
This is why the legislation has changed: to ensure that all buildings are properly equipped with effective fire doors, which have been installed correctly and regularly inspected so that they can act as a barrier between people and any fire or smoke present. It is important that your building is compliant with these changes now – ensuring that you undertake fire door surveys and have adequate protection measures in place.
What is a Fire Door Legislation Survey?
A Fire Door Survey is a thorough inspection of all fire doors in a building carried out by a qualified fire door specialist. As part of the fire door inspection scheme, this will include an assessment of the door’s construction, condition and integrity, as well as any related hardware and components. All findings are reported to you with recommendations for improvements or action that need to be taken.
Fire Safety FAQs
Below we've answered some of our most frequently asked questions about Fire Door Surveys.Is a fire door survey a legal requirement?
Yes, it is now a legal requirement for fire doors to be surveyed. This is in line with the new building safety legislation, and it is important that firms are compliant to avoid any potential penalties. To help keep you in line with these new measures, some companies may even provide you with a fire door survey checklist so that you can keep your fire protection up to scratch all year round.
How often should fire doors be surveyed?
Fire doors should now be surveyed annually. This is according to new fire safety legislation that was introduced in January 2023. This is to ensure that post-Grenfell, all major buildings have a robust fire protection measure in place.
How much does a fire door survey cost?
A fire door survey will vary depending on the provider you choose for an inspection and the extent of work needed to be carried out. We're proud to offer a range of affordable services for our clients, which include fire door surveys. Contact us today for more information!
What is required for Fire Door Surveys in the UK?
When a fire door survey is carried out, the inspection will involve looking at the cold smoke seals, vision panels, glazing and the thickness of the door. All of these factors must meet the requirements laid out in the Fire Safety Regulations 2022.
Who can carry out a fire door inspection?
Fire door inspectors should be approved and qualified to carry out the assessment of your door sets competently. They should have a proper qualification registered with the FDIS (Fire Door Inspectors Scheme), CHAS and SafeContractor or another regulatory bodies. Our team of surveyors are all accredited with the relevant certifications.
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