Fire Safety
COMPETENCE , COORDINATION AND COMPLIANCE : FIRE DOOR HARDWARE FUNDAMENTALS
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve for duty holders , Karen Trigg of Allegion UK reviews the importance of competence and coordination in relation to fire door safety .
When fire safety fails , lives are put at risk . In all buildings , reasonable steps must be made to reduce the likelihood and impact of fire , yet , many people remain unsure and indecisive towards fire safety practice and the roles and responsibilities associated with fire door safety .
In view of this , in October 2023 , new fire safety legislation was introduced to non-domestic properties in England and Wales . Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 ( BSA ) has made a number of amendments to the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order 2005 ( FSO ), with the latest improvements forming a new framework designed to improve fire safety in all regulated buildings , including workplaces , educational , healthcare and leisure premises and the shared areas of Houses in Multiple Occupation ( HMOs ).
In short , Phase 3 of the fire safety reform programme further strengthens fire safety in all FSO regulated premises by :
• improving cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons ( RPs )
• increasing requirements in relation to the recording and sharing of fire safety information thus creating a continual record throughout a building ’ s lifespan
• making it easier for enforcement authorities to take action against non-compliance
• ensuring residents have access to comprehensive information about fire safety in their building
The latest updates are comprehensive and aim to eliminate any ambiguity associated with fire safety compliance . And so , with greater emphasis being placed on accountability and all round coordination ,
how should responsible persons approach fire doors and their hardware ?
Competence and coordination
Fire doors are a key element of a building ’ s passive fire protection system and an area that elected RPs must possess a robust knowledge of , if they are to comply with the latest regulations . Equally , to keep buildings and occupants safe , responsible persons are required to perform various duties under the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order 2005 , which include : a . Undertaking regular fire risk assessments b . Implementing appropriate fire safety measures c . Creating and maintaining a fire safety plan d . Providing relevant fire safety information e . Regular testing and maintenance of fire safety equipment and systems f . Coordination with relevant authorities and other responsible persons g . Provision of information to a new responsible person when departing the role
Functional fire doors and clear exit routes are critical in ensuring appropriate precautions and preventative measures are in place . Adding to this , responsible persons are required to review the condition of their fire doors when conducting , recording and keeping written records of fire risk assessments , which consist of : 1 . Identifying fire hazards 2 . Identifying people at risk 3 . Evaluating , removing or reducing the risks 4 . Recording findings , preparing an emergency plan and providing training
5 . Reviewing and updating the fire risk assessment regularly
Fire doors are often the first line of defence against fire . When closed , they compartmentalise and delay the spread of fire and smoke whilst protecting property and providing occupants with an opportunity to escape . In contrast , duty holders must recognise that a building ’ s fire doors will not perform as intended unless essential hardware has been correctly specified , installed and maintained .
Sources : https :// www . gov . uk / government / news / new-fire-safety-guidance-comes-into-force-on-1-october-2023 | https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / ukpga / 2022 / 30 / contents https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents | https :// www . gov . uk / private-renting / houses-in-multiple-occupation
64 SEPTEMBER 2024 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM