TEAM Talks: The Crucial Role of Fire Doors

The Crucial Role of Fire Doors

Monday 10th June, 2024

Illustration by TEAM Safety Services Ltd.

With the introduction of The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, it has become even more critical to ensure that fire doors are regularly inspected and maintained. These regulations mandate that all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 meters in height must have quarterly checks on all fire doors and annual inspections on flat entrance doors.

Fire doors are crucial in saving lives and limiting fire damage to property. They are an integral part of a building’s passive fire protection system, designed to stop the spread of fire and smoke, providing essential protection for escape routes, and supporting fire-fighting activities.

The primary functions of fire doors include:

Allowing people to exit a space with automatic closing.
Protecting escape routes from the effects of fire, including smoke, gases, and flames.
Limiting the amount of oxygen available to slow or stop fire spread.

Typically, fire doors are engineered to resist fire for a set period of time for example 30 or 60 minutes, giving occupants crucial time to evacuate. They comprise various components, including the frame, door leaf, and essential fixtures and fittings.

TEAM Safety Services Fixed Fee Fire Door Inspections

Illustration by TEAM Safety Services Ltd.

Proper Installation and Maintenance

Correct installation and maintenance of fire doors are vital to their performance. Fire-rated doors must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, including specified ironmongery and other features tested under fire conditions. The British Woodworking Federation asserts that "third-party certification is the only way to ensure fire doors are manufactured consistently to protect lives and save property. Cutting corners can cost lives."

Regular Inspections

Due to their critical role in fire safety, fire doors require regular inspections. The frequency of these checks depends on factors such as the door’s age, condition, and frequency of use. For example, a fire door on a frequently used staircase needs more frequent inspections than one in a less used area, like a boiler room. Competent installation and regular maintenance by qualified personnel are necessary to ensure the doors' reliability.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, building owners, operators, and occupiers, including landlords in residential premises, must ensure their fire doors are fit for purpose and well-maintained. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 reinforces this by mandating regular inspections. These are the legal requirements of Responsible Persons for every multi-occupied residential building in England over 11 metres in height. Responsible Persons can be prosecuted if they do not fulfil these safety duties.

Click here to learn more about the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 Fire Door Guidance

TEAM Safety Services Fixed Fee Fire Door Inspection Service

At TEAM Safety Services, we are dedicated to helping business owners, housing associations and Responsible Persons comply with essential fire door regulations through our comprehensive inspection services. As UKAS-accredited fire door inspectors, we provide a full spectrum of inspections designed to exceed regulatory requirements. Our goal is to ensure your building remains compliant and you, your staff, your residents and members of the public stay safe.

To assist with budgeting and planning, we are now offering a fixed-fee fire door inspection service for residential buildings. This fixed-fee annual service is based on the number of doors in your property, allowing for fixed costs while covering all necessary fire door inspections.

Learn more about our annual fixed-fee fire door inspections here

Our inspection services include:

Quarterly Inspections on Communal Fire Doors: Regular inspections to ensure communal fire doors are in suitable condition and compliant with fire safety standards.
Annual Inspections on Flat Front Doors: Annual checks to demonstrate best endeavours as outlined in the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 guides, ensuring that flat front doors meet the required fire safety standards.
Innovative Reporting and Compliance Solutions: Electronic inspection reports and asset management tagging for Golden Thread compliance. This ensures that all inspection data is easily accessible, trackable, and compliant with regulatory standards.

We will handle all aspects of the inspection process for streamlined management and communication, including:

Visit Coordination and Resident Communication: We manage and organise all inspection visits and communicate directly with residents to minimise disruption and ensure smooth operations. This also includes the required resident information about fire doors that the Responsible Person must provide to all residents (whether tenants or leaseholders).
Online Portal for Resident Reporting: Our bespoke online portal allows residents to report fire door concerns easily, ensuring that potential issues are addressed promptly.
Communal Area Fire Safety Inspections: With every visit, we also conduct comprehensive fire safety inspection of communal areas, enhancing overall fire safety in your housing association.

TEAM Safety Services will help you to maintain the highest fire safety standards and protect your staff, residents and property. Contact us today to receive a personalised quote and learn more about our fixed-fee fire door inspection service.

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