FIRESAFETY & SECURITY
FUNDAMENTALS MATTER
Separate to the procedural removal of ACM cladding , attention shifts to what building owners can accomplish internally to improve fire safety standards . Beyond comprehensive risk assessments and evacuation plans , referenced at multiple stages of the reformed FSA is the use of fully compliant , fully tested fire doors . Often found propped open , damaged or poorly maintained , fire doors are a regular sticking point when it comes to fire safety incidents - yet characteristically , ey thare fundamental in keeping people safe in fire situations .
Available in ratings ranging from FD30 to FD120 , fire doors and their equipment will provide between 30 to 120 minutes of protection against fire and smoke - but only when fitted , maintained and working correctly . The overhauled regulations have now put an increased pressure on building managers to comprehensively inspect the certification , gaps , seals , hinges and the closing elements of their fire doors - whether main or individual flat entrance doors - to ensure all is functioning suitably .
All dedicated fire doors require a fitted fire door closer ( a minimum size 3 is recommended ), and when it comes to their maintenance , it ’ s good practice to perform weekly checks . To ensure the closer ( and door ) is working as intended , it ’ s key to release a fire door from a fully open position to ensure it closes into the frame at an appropriate speed . Furthermore , by opening and releasing the door from a 5 degree angle , checks can also confirm the closer is shutting the door onto the latch effectively . Should an internal inspection highlight an operational issue - perhaps from damage to the door and its furniture - building managers must ensure maintenance is carried out quickly and professionally in a conscious effort to keep their doors operating as intended .
Additionally , with certified and compatible ironmongery playing a key role in the operation of fire doors , all hardware and furniture - including the door closer , hinges , intumescent seals , wall sealing , latches , locks and the door leaf - must meet their respective EN classification codes and health and safety standards . With safety inspectors , fire and
rescue teams and residents all permitted to raise concerns , the approach to fire safety should always be done to code - from the planning and installation stage right through to maintenance periods . If not , building managers risk falling foul to what the BSB now references as the ‘ golden thread of information ’, a live digital documentation of a high-risk residential building ’ s lifecycle , designed to increase transparency and accountability .
It ’ s clear then that we ’ re approaching a new age of fire safety for high-rise residential settings , with the newly reformed FSA and BSB - alongside accelerated government spending - paving the way to a brighter , safer future . With this renewed focus , building managers must take the next steps and strive to understand their responsibilities while revisiting the basics of fire safety before taking action of their own .
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https :// www . theguardian . com / uk-news / 2021 / may / 07 / fire-breaks-out-at-london-tower-block-with-grenfell-style-panels | https :// www . gov . uk / government / collections / building-safety-bill https :// www . allegion . co . uk / en / blogs / 2018 / fire-door-safety-the-ins-and-outs . html https :// www . shponline . co . uk / legislation-and-guidance / building-safety-bill-published-outlining-biggest-improvements-to-building-safety-in-nearly-40-years /
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