FIRE DOORS STUART WILKINSON – HEAD OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, DOORASSURE, UK
Fire door compliance – what FMs need to know
Stuart Wilkinson, head of technical services at doorassure, draws upon 60 years’ experience in fire door manufacture, installation, repair, and inspection to explain what it means to be fire door compliant, the risks of failing to meet standards and how healthcare facilities managers (FMs) can ensure the longevity of their fire doors with the proper specialist support.
^In the UK’s bustling healthcare sector, responsible for a staggering 570 million patient interactions annually, the duty of care extends to facilities managers within diverse medical facilities. The safety of patients, visitors, and
staff within these healthcare environments is paramount. As a healthcare facilities manager, your role is crucial in maintaining these standards, particularly regarding fire safety – a vital aspect often underestimated when creating a safe environment for healing and recovery. Healthcare presents unique challenges
in fire safety, and fire risk assessments are vital when there are rigorous regulations and vulnerable occupants involved. Your responsibilities are vast, and a commitment to safety extends beyond mere compliance – it is about saving lives, preserving healthcare environments, and ensuring continuous care.
A burning issue Figures from NHS Digital show that 1,372 fires were recorded by NHS trusts in 2022/23, up 18 per cent from the previous year. This is equivalent to almost four fires a day across healthcare estates. The statistics are alarming, particularly when you consider that our data reveals that, on
Healthcare presents unique challenges in fire safety
average, 85 per cent of fire doors inspected fail, and of that, 75 per cent could be repaired. In the NHS, the percentages are likely
even higher due to the ageing estate, maintenance challenges, a lack of funding, and general wear and tear, often caused by misuse. Our inspectors have surveyed the fire doors across multiple NHS facilities and found that the failure rate has been as high as 100 per cent and the replacement rate as high as 90 per cent. The critical nature of healthcare fire
safety cannot be denied, but before developing and initiating a fire door safety strategy, FMs must first understand the regulations and standards governing their compliance.
UK Fire Door Regulations l Building Regulations (England and Wales): The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) governs these regulations,
Stuart Wilkinson
Stuart Wilkinson is the head of technical services for doorassure, the fire door lifecycle management part of the RW Joinery family. Stuart has over 30 years’ experience in the fire door industry. Having started his career in the contracting and construction
world, Stuart qualified as a quantity surveyor before becoming involved in the technical aspects of fire door provision and maintenance, where he has operated for almost all his career.
Following successfully building his own company, Stuart joined RW Joinery in 2021 as contracts manager before becoming responsible for all the technical aspects of fire door provision, from installation and compliance to maintenance and repair. Stuart is fully
accredited under the BM Trade and Q Mark scheme for all aspects of installing, maintaining, and inspecting performance doorsets.
IFHE DIGEST 2025
which establish fire safety standards for all buildings, including healthcare facilities. Essential documents include Approved Document B and Building Regulations 2010.
l Scottish Building Standards: Administered by the Scottish Government, these standards outline fire safety requirements for healthcare establishments in Scotland. The Technical Handbook – Fire serves as a critical reference.
l Building Regulations (Northern Ireland): Managed by the Department of Finance, these regulations specify fire safety principles applicable to healthcare premises. Technical Booklet E addresses fire safety.
Fire Door and Fire Safety Standards and Certifications l BS 9999: This standard provides recommendations and guidance about the design, management and use of buildings to achieve acceptable levels of fire safety for people in and around buildings.
l BS 8214: This standard is concerned with the safe installation of fire doors, not with their testing. However, it relies on other standards that are related to testing to specify which doors and other parts of door assemblies must be used.
l British Standard BS 476: Part 22: This standard assesses fire resistance performance as a foundation for evaluating fire doors. It examines factors like insulation and integrity during fire exposure.
l BS EN 1634 and BS EN 1363: These European standards harmonise fire testing methods across member states, measuring fire resistance, smoke leakage, and thermal insulation.
l Health Technical Memoranda, including HTM58 and HTM05-01: These set out recommendations and guidance for the
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