Fire doors are critical to fire safety but are often neglected in building maintenance.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry's Phase 1 report emphasized their importance, stating, "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." Despite this, many structures lack fire doors that meet current standards.
New Fire Safety Regulations in England
As of January 23, 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 impose specific requirements for multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 meters in height.
The regulations require responsible persons to perform quarterly checks on all fire doors
The regulations require responsible persons to perform quarterly checks on all fire doors, including self-closing devices, in common areas and annual checks on flat entrance doors leading to shared spaces. Additionally, residents of such buildings must be informed about the essential role fire doors play in fire safety.
Fire Safety Requirements for Smaller Buildings
Residential buildings under 11 meters are exempt from these specific regulations. Nonetheless, they must implement general fire precautions, such as having functional fire doors.
According to the Fire Safety Act 2021, any residential building with at least two domestic premises is subject to the Fire Safety Order, meaning regular fire risk assessments, including fire door inspections, are necessary.
Significance of Fire Door Surveys
Fire doors are designed to withstand fire for certain periods—typically 30, 60, or 120 minutes
Fire doors are designed to withstand fire for certain periods—typically 30, 60, or 120 minutes.
Various factors, such as changes in building use, modifications, and wear, can compromise their effectiveness. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential to ensure fire doors provide adequate protection when needed.
Maintaining Fire Door Compliance
Frequent inspections and maintenance are crucial for ensuring fire door safety. A balanced approach is necessary to address any required repairs or changes identified during fire door surveys.
Total Fire Group offers practical, risk-based fire door surveys to maintain door functionality and ensure compliance with new regulations, thereby ensuring continued protection during a fire.
Fire doors play a huge role in fire safety and yet they are the most commonly overlooked aspect of buildings.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the Phase 1 report 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 yet, many buildings do not have fire doors that meet the required standard.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations
Subsequently, as of 23rd January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 mandate responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with stories over 11 meters in height to adhere to certain requirements relating to fire doors.
Firstly, the responsible persons must conduct quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common areas. Secondly, they must perform annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) leading to a building’s common parts to the best of their ability.
And finally, the regulations require responsible persons to provide information to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (that have common parts) on the significance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.
Premises below 11 meters
Residential buildings that are below 11 meters in height are exempt from these new regulations
Residential buildings that are below 11 meters in height are exempt from these new regulations; however, they still require responsible persons to implement general fire precautions, inclusive of fire doors.
According to the Fire Safety Act 2021, any residential building with at least two sets of domestic premises falls under the jurisdiction of the Fire Safety Order, regardless of its height.
With that in mind, these types of premises will still need regular fire risk assessments including fire door inspection and fire door surveys.
Importance of fire door surveys
Fire doors are usually designed to withstand fire for a specific duration, typically 30, 60, or 120 minutes
Fire doors are usually designed to withstand fire for a specific duration, typically 30, 60, or 120 minutes.
However, changes in the building’s usage, alterations to the door or its surroundings, and normal wear and tear can all influence a fire door’s ability to meet its fire rating.
By conducting regular inspections and maintenance on fire doors, they can continue to function as intended and provide the required protection during a fire.
Maintaining fire door compliance
It is essential to maintain and regularly inspect fire doors to ensure their safety. However, there is a real need for a balanced approach to ensure that any remedial repairs or actions required from the fire door surveys, actually provide a risk benefit.
Total Fire Group offers practical risk-based fire door surveys to ensure that the doors remain functional in line with the new regulations, and continue to offer adequate protection should a fire occur.
