Fire Door Safety Week
Fire Door Safety Week Feature
crucial peace of mind to building owners and users that the fire door will perform as designed. “At the BWF Fire Door Alliance,” she continues, “we believe the only way to
ensure a fire door will hold back the spread of smoke and fire is through a robust third-party certification process.” As such, for BWF Fire Door Alliance members third-party certification involves meeting strict criteria, including:
Fire testing – Full fire door assemblies or fire doorsets manufactured by BWF Fire Door Alliance members are tested to BS 476: Part 22 or BS EN 1634-1 standards at a UKAS-accredited test facility.
Manufacturing process audit – The fire door manufacturer or licensed processor is audited by a UKAS accredited certification organisation.
Regular audits – The fire door is subjected to regular scrutiny to ensure that test data is not a one-off result.
WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES DO LANDLORDS AND SOCIAL HOUSING PROVIDERS HAVE? All landlords are required to ensure that their properties are fit for human habitation for the entirety of a tenancy under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. According to Helen, this means “making sure that the property is free of
serious hazards, including exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke through the use of fit-for-purpose fire doors.” In addition to the Homes Act, there are a number of fire door regulations that
may apply depending on whether the fire doors are installed within a new building or existing property. This includes the Building Regulations for new builds and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order: 2005 (RRO) for modifications to existing buildings. The Housing Act (2004) may also apply. Fire doors are required in houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) as well as in
high-rise buildings such as flats. These are often categorised as high-risk buildings and are therefore subject to rigorous regulation and checks in order to safeguard tenants’ lives. Fire doors can also be required in houses in certain cases, for example, if there’s an integral garage in a two-storey property, and within new build or renovated three-storey houses. When selecting a fire door for any of these situations, “the most important
factor to consider is its proof of performance,” says Helen. “At the BWF Fire Door Alliance, we believe that only third-party certified fire
doors can provide confidence and assurance that the fire door will perform as designed to hold back smoke and fire.” Another vital factor for landlords and housing providers is correct
installation: “A fire door that has been installed incorrectly or fitted with incompatible components will not perform as it’s designed and could put lives at risk.”
It’s therefore vital that only a competent and trained professional installs fire
doors, and that the manufacturer’s instructions are followed to help save lives and maintain the door’s certification. “If there’s ever any confusion over whether a fire door is needed, seek expert
advice to ensure compliance with regulation and the safety of the building’s occupants,” she adds.
FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK In response to “a legacy of fire door neglect,” and to raise awareness of the vital role fire doors play in protecting lives and property, Fire Door Safety Week was launched in 2013. “As a broad awareness campaign, it aims to highlight the role of fire doors
and specific fire door performance-related issues such as poor installation and maintenance,” explains Helen. It also encourages building owners and users to take an active role in fire
safety by checking the operation and condition of their fire doors, so that they can be repaired or replaced if needed. By engaging and educating the general public, construction industry
professionals and building owners, the campaign aims to help people understand the correct specification, supply, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance for fire doors. “We want to improve fire door safety standards across the country so that
lives are not unnecessarily lost due to fire door neglect,” Helen says. “As part of this, we recently launched the BWF Fire Door Alliance ‘Be
Certain, Be Certified’ campaign to highlight the importance of third-party certification of fire doors in improving fire safety standards across the UK. The campaign addresses a lack of understanding over what certification is and the role it plays in protecting lives.” Calling for the adoption of third-party certification of fire doors throughout
all UK buildings, ‘Be Certain, Be Certified’ offers guidance and resources to anyone responsible for specifying fire doors in a UK building.
Helen Hewitt is CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) 48 | HMM August/September 2021 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
“If there’s ever any confusion over whether a fire door is needed, seek expert advice to ensure compliance with regulation and the safety of the building’s occupants” Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF)
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