Changing fire safety regulations
Updated fire safety regulations and how they will affect you as the responsible persons. There have been attempts to improve fire safety and compliance within the structural integrity of large buildings following the Grenfell Tower inquiry Phase 1 report. The proposed guidance is becoming a legal requirement as of 23rd January 2023 in attempts to implement best practice.
What’s changing regarding fire doors (regulation 10)?
The fire safety (England) regulations 2022 will make it a legal requirement for responsible persons of all multi-occupied residential buildings (with storeys over 11 metres in height) to undertake annual inspections (on a best endeavour basis) on all flat entrance doors leading onto a building’s common areas. Responsible persons must also undertake quarterly inspections of all fire doors in the common areas with best endeavours. These doors are to be compliant in accordance with current standards. Responsible persons will be required to provide residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety with best endeavours.
Prior to the Fire Safety Act 2021, flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings may not have been routinely considered as part of the fire risk assessment process. The act has omitted the legal ambiguity, and confirms that flat entrance doors are in scope of the Fire Safety Order.
Who are the responsible persons, and what should you do?
The responsible persons are those responsible for residential buildings above 11 metres in height or those containing two or more sets of domestic premises. They are responsible for implementing general fire precautions in these buildings. This duty involves the process of ensuring that all fire doors (including flat entrance doors) can provide adequate precaution.
The legislation will soon be made compulsory. Therefore, it is crucial that as the accountable persons, you have a concise plan to undertake the correct safety measures to ensure compliance in your building. So, what measures will you implement to ensure your fire doors are undertaking routine inspections?
At Global, we have our very own composite Ceasefire FD30 fire door range, made with sustainably sourced materials including an Agri-fibre core. As part of Global’s complete approach, we can supply, install, maintain, and survey your composite doors.
Best endeavours?
This phrase denotes how the responsible persons are to engage with the residents when attempting access for routinely inspections of flat entrance doors. An example of this interaction would be agreeing the date for the inspection to occur.
Global are an appointed company featured on our Fire Safety (FS1) framework. To find out more about Global and our Fire Safety (FS1) framework contact our LHC team.
