44


feature


fire, safety & security


competence and transparency – 


Karen Trigg  


The fire door safety model is changing. Improved building safety requirements and the demand for greater accountability have been the driving force behind new regulation and guidance. However, it is the growing relevance of competence and transparency that is redefining how responsibility is understood across the supply chain. Competence and transparency are far


from new concepts, but in the wake of regulatory updates, their interdependence is helping to form a framework through which higher standards can be achieved. More than ever before, the ability to


specify, install and maintain effective fire safety systems – such as fire doors and their hardware – hinges on demonstrable expertise. Crucially, that expertise must now be reinforced by clear, accurate and accessible information. Whether approaching a new


development or retrofit project, displaying a sufficient level of capability and clarity is now a prerequisite for compliance. Not only must decision makers show confidence in the products specified and installed on fire doors, but also in the data that underpins those choices. Whilst legislation outlines what is


expected of responsible parties, how are competence and transparency defined in theory? And in what way can professionals translate this into practice? Concepts defined In the context of fire doors, both safety and compliance are compromised when gaps emerge between regulatory expectations and execution. A certified fire door will typically compartmentalise a space for 30 to 60 minutes, preventing the spread of smoke and fire and providing occupants with a critical opportunity to escape. However, an ineffective fire door system can lose its integrity within minutes,


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