In the UK, fire safety within residential and commercial buildings is governed by a comprehensive legal framework, designed to enhance the protection of occupants against fire risks.
In 2024, it’s crucial for stakeholders, including developers and building managers, to stay informed about the key aspects of fire rated door regulations to ensure compliance and safety.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 serves as the cornerstone of fire safety legislation in England and Wales, outlining the responsibilities of persons in control of premises to assess, manage, and mitigate fire risks.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 further clarifies and extends the scope of the Fire Safety Order to cover the structure, external walls, including cladding, balconies, and windows, and individual flat entrance doors leading to common parts of multi-occupied residential buildings.
Since 2023, it’s become a legal requirement for the responsible person of multi-occupied buildings over 11 metres to:
Any obvious issues with fire doors, such as broken closers, should be checked for and identified.
Fire doors are an essential element in maintaining the integrity of fire safety measures within buildings. They serve to compartmentalise fire, prevent the spread of smoke and flames, and ensure safe escape routes are maintained.
In 2024, fire doors must be certified to demonstrate they can withstand fire for a minimum specified period, typically 30 minutes (FD30) or 60 minutes (FD60), in accordance with BS EN 1634. However, in some instances, a greater fire integrity is required up to 240 minutes (FD240). This is dependent on the building use and associated fire risk.
The requirement for fire doors extends to various parts of a building, including bin stores, substations, data centres, offices, warehouses and manufacturing facilities, and doors separating different fire compartments within a building eg. an office block.
Proper installation and regular maintenance of fire doors are vital to ensuring they function correctly in the event of a fire. This includes ensuring that door closers, hinges, and seals are in good working order and that doors are not propped open or modified in a way that would compromise their integrity.
While certification and installation are vital aspects, ongoing inspection and maintenance of fire doors also play a crucial role in fire safety. If unaddressed, these defects can severely impact the fire door’s ability to perform its compartmentalisation and fire-resistance functions.
To protect integrity, a comprehensive fire door maintenance regime should include:
Any faults or non-conformities must be swiftly corrected, either via adjustment or replacement of the door. Retaining documentation of testing and maintenance provides assurance of regulatory compliance.
By establishing and implementing a rigorous inspection and maintenance schedule, building owners and facilities managers can fulfil their duty around fire door safety.
Fire safety is a critical aspect of building management and development in the UK. Fire doors play a pivotal role in protecting lives and properties by containing fires and maintaining safe escape routes.
Here at Bradbury Group, we deliver certified FD30 to FD240 protection with our M2MFD steel fire door range. With up to four hours of fire integrity, the range provides crucial time for evacuation and emergency response as part of a fire safety system. Rely on Bradbury Group’s expertise in supporting residential compliance today. Contact our expert team for assistance specifying long-term fire safety.
