The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1) highlighted numerous failings, one of which was the lack of wayfinding signage in stairwell landings which meant firefighters were unable to easily identify floor numbers when carrying out their duties. As such, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.27) that the owner and manager of every
With its low cost, timesaving and sustainability-based attributes, modular construction has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Rick Perkins, global technical manager passive fire protection at Sherwin-Williams, examines the advantages of this approach and how intumescent coatings play a key role in ensuring high levels of fire safety in
This development located in the popular Dublin docklands features 216 one and two bedroom apartments over six floors. Designed in a u-shape block with central courtyard and internal atrium where the FIRETITE was installed. FIRETITE was installed along the main masonry wall between the basement and ground floor. The cavity
Leading manufacturer of life safety products Hochiki Europe, have today demonstrated their commitment to training for life for fire engineers and apprentices with a sizeable donation of life safety equipment to Banham Academy’s new training facility in Derby. Banham Academy are the leading specialist training provider in England delivering the
Fire doors are a vital component of any fire safety strategy – but does current UK regulation go far enough? Ruth Deardon, Product Line Manager at JELD-WEN looks at what can be done to ensure fire doors perform as needed. The critical importance of fire doors has been recognised throughout
We are pleased to announce that Paul Morrell OBE will be delivering an Executive Summary of the Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime at the FPA’s InfoZone Theatre at FIREX (Stand F11850) on Wednesday 17 May from 14:15 – 15:15. The Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing
BM TRADA/Warringtonfire will be returning to FIREX with a stand explaining the process of fire testing and classifying construction products, and the importance of third-party certification. Delegates attending the show at the London ExCeL between 16 – 18 May 2023, can visit the BM TRADA/Warringtonfire stand (FI.1430) to interact with
Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) has created an online CPD – Seven Steps to FireSafety – focusing on the context of fire in relation to the built environment and the priorities for fire safety. Aimed at anyone interested in the design, construction and operation of buildings the CPD outlines the seven
Partel, a leading manufacturer of air and wind tight membranes, has combined a decade of industry experience and technical knowledge to develop two new fire-rated breather membranes EXOPERM DURO A1 and EXOPERM MONO DURO A2, that surpass current fire safety regulation levels for high-rise and high-risk buildings. These high-performance membranes
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1) identified numerous failings including compromised escape routes and fire doors that did not, through damage and/or disrepair, act in the way that they should to prevent smoke and gases from spreading. As such, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendations 33.29 (a) and (b)) that the owner
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1) highlighted numerous failings, one of which was the lack of wayfinding signage in stairwell landings which meant firefighters were unable to easily identify floor numbers when carrying out their duties. As such, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.27) that the owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings carry out an urgent inspection of wayfinding signage to ensure it is visible in low light or smoky conditions and that flat and floor numbers are clearly identified in the stairwells of relevant buildings. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into effect in England from 23 January 2023, making it a legal requirement for all high-rise residential buildings in England to install wayfinding signage in their buildings, including clear markings identifying floor and individual flat numbers to assist the Fire and Rescue Service in navigating their way around, even when visibility is low. The regulations require Responsible Persons in multi-occupied residential buildings which are classed as high-rise buildings, (defined in The Fire Safety (England) Regulations as a building at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys), and also those above 11 metres in height in an identical use of multi-occupation residencies where communal areas and escape routes exist, to provide additional safety measures with the provision of wayfinding signage directly reflecting the building plans, which are required to be made available in a secure information box on site. Existing duties under the Fire Safety Order will make sure that this signage is maintained throughout the life of the building. As part of the best endeavours of the Responsible Person, it would be pertinent that this signage is inspected regularly to ensure it is still in place, legible, and correct in the information it provides. Signage should conform to the specifications and locations set out in paragraphs 15.14 to 15.16 of Approved Document B Volume 1 edition, which incorporates the 2020 amendments, namely firefighting shafts and protected stairways, as well as the individual dwellings. Fire safety signs As it is estimated that a large number of buildings will not have this signage in place, a signage survey should be carried out with immediate effect and any findings should be remedied, with all missing signage put in place. The FPA supplies fire safety signage which can be delivered directly to site for fitting. Find out more about the FPA’s fire safety signage here. FPA Members will receive a 20% discount on all fire safety signage. Not an FPA member? Find out more here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With its low cost, timesaving and sustainability-based attributes, modular construction has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Rick Perkins, global technical manager passive fire protection at Sherwin-Williams, examines the advantages of this approach and how intumescent coatings play a key role in ensuring high levels of fire safety in modular buildings. Modular construction is the process of creating buildings using off-site prefabricated building components. These components are manufactured in a controlled environment and then transported to the construction site for final assembly. Although this method of construction has been around for decades, in recent years it has gained popularity due to its many advantages. The Need for speed One of the most significant advantages of modular construction is its speed. Building a traditional structure on-site can take months, if not years, to finish. Modular construction, on the other hand, can be completed in a fraction of that time – as modules are manufactured in a factory the construction process can be carried out much more quickly and efficiently. Central to its popularity is the realisation that modular construction does not necessarily result in buildings of a temporary nature. The materials used and methods of constructing them mean that they are built to extremely high standards. The majority of today’s modular buildings have steel frames and a design life of 50 years. However, it is highly likely that they will last longer than that – longer, in fact, than some so-called permanent buildings constructed in traditional ways. Another advantage of modular construction is its cost effectiveness. Since modules are manufactured in a controlled environment, there is less waste and fewer materials are needed. These cost savings can be between 10-35 per cent less than traditional methods, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Safety first Being produced in a factory also means there are fewer hazards than on a traditional construction site – modular buildings are built to strict safety standards to ensure that they are structurally sound and safe for occupants. This is especially evident in their ability to protect against the potentially devastating effects of fire. A large part of this is due to the intumescent coatings that are applied to the structural steel frames that are used in their construction. These are designed to expand when exposed to high temperatures, forming a thick, insulating layer that helps to protect the underlying steel from the heat of a fire. This delays, or prevents, structural failure and collapse, giving occupants longer to evacuate and firefighters more time to respond. Every second counts Since assembled modules are transported and erected as a unit, intumescent coatings make a great choice for fire protection as they are the lightest and most compact form of fire protection available. There are several types of intumescent coatings available, each with their own unique properties and application methods. It is important to engage with a coatings manufacturer as early in the design stage as possible in order to ensure that the most appropriate solution is applied. Depending on the building’s design and structure, intumescent paint has the ability to protect steelwork for 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes in a fire, as required by the designer and building regulations. It is applied by airless spray to a thickness according to the level of protection required, and if the steelwork is visible in the final design it will not detract from the appearance. Application form When applying an intumescent coating, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and coating specification carefully to ensure that it is used correctly and provides the desired level of fire protection. This may involve applying multiple layers of the coating, preparing and priming the surface before application and allowing the coating to dry and cure properly. Using an appropriate intumescent product will mean that it is durable both once in service in the finished building, as well as during construction/erection phase, when it may be exposed to weathering. Some of the latest generations of intumescent coatings are not only very fast drying, they also have excellent mechanical resilience, making them a fantastic option when steelwork may need to be further worked on quickly after coating application. Look ahead The future of modular construction looks bright, with increased adoption likely to transform the way we build and design buildings long-term. However, like any other type of building, fire protection should be a primary concern, so intumescent coatings from leading manufacturers should be used to provide an effective, versatile and reliable solution. By providing a layer of insulation that protects the steel framework from heat, intumescent coatings can help to prevent structural damage and save lives in the event of a fire. For further information please visit https://bit.ly/3iovJNg Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This development located in the popular Dublin docklands features 216 one and two bedroom apartments over six floors. Designed in a u-shape block with central courtyard and internal atrium where the FIRETITE was installed. FIRETITE was installed along the main masonry wall between the basement and ground floor. The cavity varied in thickness between 50 to 70mm, making it ideal for the installation of our innovative FIRETITE cavity wall insulation. FIRETITE is the world’s first three-component mineral based insulation developed by BASF. It is fire classification of A2-s1, d0, a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK, contains no harmful pollutants, has no internal propellants and has achieved the best EMICODE emissions classification of EC1 plus. FIRETITE was installed at this development by our registered contractor, Adrian McGirr and his team from Fior Insulation & Fire Protection. Fior are experienced passive fire protection specialists and are involved with FIRETITE because they recognised the benefits and potential for this unique product. “It’s exciting to be involved with FIRETITE as a new innovative solution for fire rated cavity wall insulation. This product can help rectify many of the cavity wall fire challenges we have faced over the last few years”, said Adrian McGirr, Fior Insulation. Project: A residential scheme featuring 216 apartments with private balconies or terraces situated in the heart of the Dublin docks.Developer: Marlet Property GroupMain Contractor: BAM IrelandArchitect: Henry J. LyonsFIRETITE Installer: Fior Insulation & Fire protection LtdScope of Project: Install FIRETITE in specific brick cavity along the atrium wall at ground floor and basementProducts used: FIRETITE Class A2, S1, d0 mineral based cavity wall insulation
Leading manufacturer of life safety products Hochiki Europe, have today demonstrated their commitment to training for life for fire engineers and apprentices with a sizeable donation of life safety equipment to Banham Academy’s new training facility in Derby. Banham Academy are the leading specialist training provider in England delivering the Level 3 Fire Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) apprenticeship to apprentices across the country. Graduates leave the Academy with vital skills and accreditations, enabling them to embark on fruitful careers within the fire and security industries. Apprentices are released from their employer to train at Banham Academy’s educational training centre for 15 weeks, over a three-year period, undertaking a combination of coursework and practical training. Successful completion of the course sees an apprentice awarded with qualifications and invaluable credentials for their careers ahead. Furthermore, as Banham is the first IET-approved centre, employers gain a competitive edge as graduates are officially recognised and accredited by the IET as engineering technicians. Hochiki Europe have donated a range of life safety devices to Banham Academy’s newly opened Derby training centre including addressable panels, smoke and heat detectors, sounder bases and beacons, relay units, call points and remote indicators. Kevin Faulkner, Operations Director, Banham Academy, explained “We are grateful to Hochiki Europe for their donation of life saving equipment to our second training site in Derby. Banham Academy are reliant on donations from manufacturers within our industry to allow our apprentices to continue their training on industry-leading products that are trusted and are of the highest quality. Competency of installing, commissioning, and maintaining leading security and fire systems is an important part of the learning that we provide at the Academy. This vital hands-on learning allows our graduates to leave being proficient in handling lifesaving products and systems with the utmost of knowledge and care.” The Derby facility is Banham’s second Academy, allowing them to deliver their apprenticeships to even more young people across the UK from both their London and Derby sites. Not only is the training centre bigger, but crucially the location will make it more accessible for students based in the North. Nathan Hudson, Sales and Marketing Director at Hochiki Europe said “We were delighted to help Banham Academy because we know how important it is to encourage and support career development as well as helping the next generation of life safety engineers across the country. Compliance is crucial in our world, we design and manufacture products which are trusted to not only save lives and property, but also reduce false alarms, but this is only possible when the installation is compliant. Our aim with this donation is to enable Banham Academy to deliver hands on, compliant training using the latest life safety technology”. To date Banham Academy Derby has 125 students currently enrolled, but by the end of the year they are expecting that number to rise to 200. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fire doors are a vital component of any fire safety strategy – but does current UK regulation go far enough? Ruth Deardon, Product Line Manager at JELD-WEN looks at what can be done to ensure fire doors perform as needed. The critical importance of fire doors has been recognised throughout the recent scrutiny and revision of building regulations following the Grenfell tragedy, where a system found “not fit for purpose” by the Hackitt Review has been overhauled and strengthened to improve the fire safety of our buildings. This has led to the creation of the Fire Safety Act 2021, the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which seek to address many of the recommendations made in Dame Hackitt’s report. These sit alongside, and in some cases modify, existing legislation impacting fire doors such as the Building Regulations Approved Document B and the Fire Safety Order. This new legislation sets requirements on how fire doors are maintained by a designated “Responsible Person”. All high-rise buildings, where applicable, will be managed by a Building Safety Manager, who oversees the fire door specification, door fitting and maintaining these in service. Without doubt, this is a welcome move towards increased responsibility on fire safety, but does it go far enough? JELD-WEN believes that without formal training or qualification for installing fire doors, we are missing one vital component in managing this risk. Fire doors are a specialist construction item and due to reliance on past accepted practices we rely on a fitter’s competence and duty on how well they fit doors on site. Even a perfectly manufactured fire door will ultimately fail if it is not installed or maintained correctly. This is a question not only of training, but also visibility across stages of a building’s life. Achieving a “Golden Thread” for construction projects, where all named stakeholders have access to a trail of readily available fire safety informationwill make a huge difference to how well fire doors are installed, maintained and, when necessary, replaced. Right now, this isn’t part of our building regulations. The definition of “Responsible Persons” still must be defined in context of the Fire Safety Act. Duties around fire door checks, any remedial work needed and other practices within the life span of a fire door again require attention. What can be done? Ultimately, fire doors are one of the most critical safety features of any building but will only perform as they should if properly specified, installed, inspected and maintained. Here at JELD-WEN we believe that there are a number of key areas of focus to address if we are to ensure every fire door can perform as intended. Firstly, we think it is worth looking at areas where stricter legal requirements could be implemented. The most important criteria is making it mandatory to use only third-party certified fire doors which will ensure best-in-class practice and the door’s consistent performance. This should be coupled with ensuring all fire door installations and maintenance work is carried out by qualified and accredited fire door installers. Making it a legal requirement to mark every fire door with its source manufacturer and performance will help to improve the traceability of doors within the UK housing stock. This task could be managed as part of a mandatory “Golden Thread” standard as it outlines how fire door information should be stored, updated and shared. This data should include manufacturer name and third-party certification, installation details, maintenance records, and blueprints all stored in an easily accessible digital format. Finally, more government support is needed in tackling the fire door safety skills gap, including creating more apprenticeship opportunities and an education campaign designed to raise awareness of the opportunities available within the sector. Looking to the future Ultimately, while the UK’s overall fire strategy is certainly shifting in the right direction, there is still some way to go, particularly when it comes to fire doors. A fire door, after all, is much more than just a door. It is one of the most critical components of limiting the spread of fire in a multi-storey building. As an industry, we must continue to work closely on each part of the fire door process to limit avoidable risk and help to keep people safe in their homes. After all, every fire door properly installed and maintained is another chance to save lives. For more information on the JELD-WEN range of commercial fire doors visit: https://www.jeld-wen.co.uk/behind-every-doorset/
We are pleased to announce that Paul Morrell OBE will be delivering an Executive Summary of the Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime at the FPA’s InfoZone Theatre at FIREX (Stand F11850) on Wednesday 17 May from 14:15 – 15:15. The Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime was announced by government in April 2021 and was led by Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC. In this talk for FIREX, hear from one of the co-authors for the first time since the much-anticipated report has been released. The purpose of the Review was to identify any potential weaknesses in the system and to make recommendations for improvement. It undertook a critical assessment of the system for testing and certifying construction products and how the system could be strengthened to provide confidence that construction products are safe and perform as labelled and marked.“This report marks a major step forward in mapping the complexity and opacity of the current construction product regime and also identifies ways in which significant improvements can and should be made” – Dame Judith Hackitt. REGISTER HERE….. About Paul Morrell OBE Paul is a chartered quantity surveyor and was formerly senior partner of Davis Langdon (now part of Aecom), where he had worked since graduating from university until retiring in 2007. He was awarded an OBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honour list for services to architecture and the built environment. He was subsequently appointed as the Government’s Fire Chief Construction Adviser, with a brief to champion a more coordinated approach to affordable, sustainable construction. Paul now practises as an independent consultant, principally concerned with governance and setting up major projects; and wider cross-industry issues. View the full InfoZone programme here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BM TRADA/Warringtonfire will be returning to FIREX with a stand explaining the process of fire testing and classifying construction products, and the importance of third-party certification. Delegates attending the show at the London ExCeL between 16 – 18 May 2023, can visit the BM TRADA/Warringtonfire stand (FI.1430) to interact with display models of key construction products including fire doors, glazing systems, pipes and cables, all of which have been subjected to fire resistance testing. The team’s technical experts will also be on hand to discuss the principles of third-party certification for manufacturers, installers, and maintainers of passive fire protection products and the important role played by its Certifire and BM TRADA Q-Mark certification schemes. Each day, BM TRADA/ Warringtonfire, which are UKAS-accredited third-party certification bodies, will carry out live demonstrations of correct fire door installation, and how to install fire stopping measures – running at 12pm and 2pm respectively. Visitors attending on Wednesday 17th May can hear about the methods used to derive European classifications for construction products, when technical manager, Peter presents in the FIREX theatre at 2.15pm. The European classification standards (EN 13501 series) define harmonised procedures for classifying the resistance and reaction to fire performance of construction products. Peter’s presentation will cover test methods, the extension of scope using direct (DIAP) and extended application (EXAP) rules, classification process, product families and using classifications for UKCA marking and third-party certification. Peter Barker, technical manager at Warringtonfire, said: “Third-party certification is once again the overriding theme of FIREX, given its fundamental importance to the design, construction and operation of safe and secure buildings. We are looking forward to engaging with delegates on a broad range of topics and hope to provide direct and informed guidance on navigating the fire safety challenges facing today’s built environment.” For more information, please visit: www.warringtonfire.com / www.bmtrada.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) has created an online CPD – Seven Steps to FireSafety – focusing on the context of fire in relation to the built environment and the priorities for fire safety. Aimed at anyone interested in the design, construction and operation of buildings the CPD outlines the seven steps to fire safety that will protect people and buildings, and how each step is an integral part of the building design. Certified by CPD UK and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), the CPD – Seven Steps to Fire Safety – will enable viewers to reach an understanding of material science, product testing, product classifications and how this relates to regulations and standards. It will provide insight into the seven steps to fire safety and how each step is critical to the fire performance of a building. “The way we build and the importance of fire safety cannot be understated,” commented Simon Storer, Chief Executive of the IMA. “Whilst fire safety is a fundamental expectation of the modern built environment, it is important that fire safety is not compromised in order to deliver other performance standards. This CPD presentation will help construction professionals gain a better understanding of the priorities for fire safety, the importance of taking a holistic approach and how each of the seven steps to fire safety plays a key part in ensuring buildings are designed and built to the required standards.” To view the online CPD module, please click on the following link IMA CPD – Seven Steps to Fire Safety For more information about IMA visit www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Partel, a leading manufacturer of air and wind tight membranes, has combined a decade of industry experience and technical knowledge to develop two new fire-rated breather membranes EXOPERM DURO A1 and EXOPERM MONO DURO A2, that surpass current fire safety regulation levels for high-rise and high-risk buildings. These high-performance membranes are designed to achieve the highest levels of fire performance while also protecting the building structure by allowing vapour to diffuse from within the structure towards the exterior keeping the internal components of the wall dry, preventing ‘thermal bypass’ of external air through the insulation, and also performing the secondary task of weather protection and preventing penetration by external environmental impurities such as wind and rain. Suited to offsite and onsite construction, residential or commercial projects, both products are fully independently certified and tested in accordance with EN13501-1. The membranes are compliant with Document B Fire Safety and are suitable for use in a range of external wall types, especially in high rise buildings or those that pose a greater risk of fire safety. “At Partel, we are proud to introduce our additional fire-rated breather membranes, EXOPERM DURO A1 and EXOPERM MONO DURO A2, which go beyond current fire safety regulations and complement our limited combustible vapour control layer IZOPERM PLUS A2” said Hugh Whiriskey, CEO of Partel. “We are committed to developing advanced membranes that will help to facilitate offsite manufacturers, contractors, and architects create facades that are fully non-combustible.” Introducing EXOPERM DURO A1 EXOPERM DURO A1 is a newly engineered breather membrane that incorporates advanced technology with an integrated glass fibre fabric to achieve the highest fire performance levels. This CE and UKCA marked membrane is A1 non-combustible and is suitable for use on closed joint facades. It balances other technical attributes alongside fire in order to ensure long-term protection of the building envelope, highly vapour open with an Sd value of 0.03m, Class W2 resistance to water penetration, superior aging resistance and dimensional stability. Introducing EXOPERM MONO DURO A2 Partel’s EXOPERM MONO DURO A2 is an innovative airtight yet vapour permeable façade membrane, based on Monolithic Technology. This CE and UKCA marked membrane is Class A2-s1,d0, guaranteeing limited-combustibility, absent or very limited smoke emissions and no burning droplets. It is suitable for use on open or closed joint facades, providing architects with greater design freedom. It balances airtightness, moisture management and secondary weather protection with fire performance and is incredibly vapour open boasting an Sd value of 0.09m, air permeability value of 0,006 m³/m², h, Pa, Class W2 resistance to water penetration, superior aging resistance and dimensional stability. Complete System Partel’s membrane solutions are further complemented by ECHOSEAL ALU FR, a fire-rated air and windtight adhesive tape specifically designed for use with Partel’s fire performance membranes. The tape ensures that membrane overlaps, window, and door connections are securely sealed. It can be used internally and externally due to its particular technological functions. Delivering Exceptional Performance Partel’s newly developed fire-rated breather membranes, EXOPERM DURO A1 and EXOPERM MONO DURO A2, exceed current fire safety regulations and provide superior protection of the building envelope. Independently certified and tested in accordance with EN13501-1 and compliant with Document B Fire Safety they can help facilitate the creation of non-combustible facades and offer peace of mind that the products are tested and certified to the latest industry standards. For more information visit Partel or contact a member of the Partel team to discuss requirements for your next project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1) identified numerous failings including compromised escape routes and fire doors that did not, through damage and/or disrepair, act in the way that they should to prevent smoke and gases from spreading. As such, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendations 33.29 (a) and (b)) that the owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings carry out an urgent inspection of all fire doors to ensure compliance with current legislative standards and that regular (no less than every three months) checks be carried out to ensure all fire doors are fitted with an effective self-closing device which is in working order. The Inquiry also recommended (Recommendation 33.30) that all those who have responsibility for the condition of the entrance doors to individual flats in high-rise residential buildings (with unsafe cladding) be required by law to ensure these doors comply with current standards. As a direct result, Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduces enhanced fire safety regulations. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were published on 6 December 2022 and came into effect in England from 23 January 2023. The regulations introduced changes with regards to fire doors which have an impact for the Responsible Person. They require responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings which are classed as high-rise buildings, (defined in The Fire Safety (England) Regulations as a building at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys), and also those above 11 metres in height in an identical use of multi-occupation residencies where communal areas and escape routes exist, to provide new additional safety measures with regards to the periodic and ongoing inspection of fire resisting doorsets. Quarterly inspectionsIt is now a legal requirement in high-rise buildings and multi-occupied residential buildings more than 11 metres in height to undertake quarterly inspections of fire resisting doorsets (including their self-closing devices) in the common areas, as these doors are subject to considerable use and subsequent failings or damage. This includes (but is not limited to) cross-corridor fire doors, staircase enclosure fire doors, and fire doors of protected lobbies and higher risk rooms such as plant rooms, riser shafts, and storage areas. Annual inspectionsThe new Fire Safety Regulations also state that it is now a legal requirement to carry out annual checks of fire resisting entrance doorsets to apartments or flats on a ‘best endeavours’ basis, with a procedure identical to the above, identifying and recording findings and actioning any remedial works required to return the door to a compliant nature. Information for residentsThe Responsible Person must also now provide residents with information relating to the significance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety, highlighting the importance of not removing or disconnecting self-closing devices, keeping fire doors closed, and immediately reporting any faults or damage to doors. This needs to be documented to ensure all residents are provided with the directive to protect the entire building and its occupants. Residents must receive this information when they move into a multi-occupied residential building, and on an annual basis thereafter. As a fire risk assessor inspecting such premises, there exists a requirement to evidence these practices, to identify failings, and make suitable and sufficient recommendations in the remedy of such failings. Fire risk assessmentsThe Fire Safety Act 2021 also states that ‘the effect of the Act will be to require fire risk assessments of buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises to be updated to take account of doors, if they have not already done so.’ This is detailed in section 9 as affecting ‘all doors between the domestic premises and the common parts (e.g. entrance doors to individual flats which open to common parts).’ This means that the Responsible Person should regularly review the fire risk assessment of their building(s) to ensure compliance, particularly if there is reason to believe it is no longer valid, or if significant change in the matters to which it relates has taken place. If these measures have already been considered within the existing current fire risk assessment, it is not necessary to have another fire risk assessment carried out whilst it remains compliant with this directive. Fire door inspection surveysWhilst a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment typically involves a review of the condition of existing fire doorsets, it is unlikely that it will extensively cover all fire doors and frames so a fire door inspection survey may be required. At the FPA, our fire door inspectors conduct comprehensive, non-destructive fire door surveys and deliver detailed reports on the condition of the entire doorset. Find out more about the FPA’s fire door inspection survey service. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
