Since the devastating Grenfell fire in 2017, there have been calls for major reform on outdated fire safety regulations in the UK.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 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.
Are your Fire Doors safe?
In 2021, three-quarters of inspected fire doors failed to meet required standards, meaning 75% of buildings were not adequately protecting occupants. Fire doors are essential to any building’s fire safety strategy, and regular inspections, maintenance, and timely repairs are critical to their effectiveness. Without them, the risk of fire spreading rapidly increases, potentially leading to loss of life and severe property damage.
Fire doors slow the spread of smoke and fire, providing crucial time for evacuation and emergency response. They also serve as a barrier, reducing heat and smoke inhalation, which can save lives by creating safer escape routes and minimising exposure to dangerous conditions.
To ensure your fire doors meet safety standards, regular inspections are vital. Fire doors must be installed by certified professionals and checked by qualified fire risk assessors, as required by law, to ensure they remain effective in protecting lives and property.
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The Importance of Fire Door Inspections
Passive fire protection relies on containing a fire within a specific compartment or room, providing occupants time to evacuate safely and allowing the fire service to intervene effectively. Fire doors, designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, are among the most critical fire safety measures in any building.
Due to their frequent use, fire doors are prone to wear, damage, and misuse, which can significantly compromise their effectiveness. Regular inspections and timely remediation are essential to maintain their integrity, avoid costly replacements, and, most importantly, ensure your building remains compliant with fire safety regulations.
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What should you do?
Here at Global Facilities, our qualified surveyors can carry out a detailed inspection to check if your fire doors are safe, compliant and effective in protecting against fire.
We're offering the UK's best savings on surveys and remedial work when booked through us. For buildings with 25+ doors, further offers and savings are to be had. All you need to do is give us a call and let us know the details of your building to get booked in.
Our technicians will carry out a comprehensive survey, and rectify any risks before providing certified documentation that complies with new legislation. Additionally, if you have any other questions about fire protection or fire door assembly, our experts will be more than happy to help.
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.
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.
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. As a facilities management company, we're proud to offer a range of affordable services for our clients, which include fire door surveys. Contact us today for more information!
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.
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.