FIRE SAFETY


make sure they are accurately covered by the certification issued by the third-party accredited body. Validation should not be based on self-certification or claims of compliance.


Decision-makers within healthcare estates departments are advised to invest in fire doorsets that are fully factory-prepared.


arriving on site. In addition, all components come from one source of supply, and sit under one fire test certificate, field of application, or assessment. All work is completed under factory production control, and ideally audited by a third party, thereby ensuring the complete compliance of the doorset at the point of production. The doorset is manufactured to either stock or tailored sizes, and can be made to suit new or existing buildings. Critically, it is produced within the manufacturer’s test data remit.


Some onus on the specifier Decision-makers within healthcare estates departments are advised to invest in fire doorsets that are fully factory-prepared, because a complete doorset provided by the manufacturer is the end-product for which that manufacturer is ultimately responsible. In contrast, a fire door assembly is reliant on components and materials being obtained from several sources, and then being manufactured correctly on site. Here the onus is then on those sourcing the door assembly to provide an end-product that meets all the correct standards and demands, as well as to detail evidence of performance and certification. With a factory-prepared doorset, decision-makers can be confident that all parts have been compiled from a single source, meeting exacting standards and tolerances, which are crucial for fire and security performance. They will also have an audit trail to satisfy legislative stipulations such as those in Regulation 38 of Building Regulations Approved Document B.


Setting the standard Testing and certification of all products that can impact on fire safety is mandatory, and


64 Health Estate Journal May 2022


must be done through impartial, third- party accreditation. To meet the necessary standards, a fire doorset must pass one or a series of rigorous tests, as well as be properly certified and rated to withstand fire for a set period. This testing should be conducted by an independent testing body, in accordance with the relevant British or European standards. With the Fire Door Inspection Scheme finding that 76 per cent of fire doorsets inspected in 2019 were not fit for purpose, the importance of ensuring that these systems are up to standard cannot be underestimated. Many of the fire safety products used within Grenfell Tower were found to have not performed as they should have, with a leaked BRE Global draft report noting that only 17 per cent of the door-closers installed in the high-rise residential building were actually present and working. Shockingly, 50 per cent of the door-closers installed did not even work properly. It is therefore essential that a thorough


study is completed by the decision-maker to compare the expectations of each fire doorset – including all hardware – to


Potential pitfalls in healthcare sites For new healthcare sites, one common challenge is that fire doorsets are often installed on projects near to completion, and it is generally only in the closing stages of a project, immediately prior to handover, that product conformity information is requested and submitted – again, meeting Regulation 38 requirements. By this time it is often too late to address any concerns with ‘non-conforms’ or ambiguities, leading those responsible to compromise or believe that liability lies elsewhere in the supply chain. It’s therefore recommended to source certified doorsets as complete systems. Should the door and door components come from different suppliers, then those responsible should demand to see an audit trail to prove compliance and track performance, before they are installed.


Designing for all Another factor that should be a matter of course for all buildings today, but especially for sites such as hospitals, is inclusive design. The guidelines governing inclusive design state that buildings must not only avoid creating access and usage issues, but also ensure that all people are able to escape in the event of a fire or other emergency. Inclusive design is defined as an


‘approach to the design of an environment, including buildings and their surrounding spaces, to ensure they can be accessed and used by everyone’. When talking about inclusive design, many people immediately think of those with a disability, or specific, specialist requirements. While inclusive design encompasses the needs of these people, its key objective is to make a site inclusive for all, no matter what. In fact, despite public perception and the wheelchair being the symbol for accessibility, less than 8 per cent of disabilities require the use of a wheelchair. Whether it’s the elderly, the disabled, or children, everyone should be able to access and use a building and its facilities easily and safely. This is a critical requirement in hospitals and other healthcare settings, which cannot afford to compromise on inclusivity. Industry evidence nevertheless suggests


Depending on the width and mass of the door, the related door-closer power size can be easily identified.


that there is still a great deal of confusion and non-compliance surrounding the guidance governing inclusive design. This includes Approved Document M, the Equality Act 2010, and, crucially, BS 8300-1 and 8300-2:2018, which set out how buildings should be designed, constructed, and maintained, to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all.


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