THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRE DOOR INSPECTION SCHEME
A survey conducted with people with formal responsibility for fire safety in their organisations , were asked if they were fully aware of their legal obligations . Nearly half of those surveyed said they either did not know or admitted they were unclear .
This worrying statistic reveals that despite the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order being introduced in 2005 , many organisations and individuals who are deemed the Responsible Person under this legislation , do not follow the necessary procedures to produce a Fire Strategy for the building or buildings under their control .
This has led to large fines being imposed , and in some cases , custodial sentences given to people falling foul of the law .
Undertaking a Fire Safety Audit in a building can be a formidable task , when one considers the amount of potential fire hazards that might arise when attempting to put a strategy into place .
Fire alarms , fire extinguishers , clear means of escape , sound fire compartmentation , are just a few topics that need to be addressed . One area that appears to be constantly overlooked is the condition and working function of fire resisting doors .
This problem was recognised in 2012 by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers , and the British Woodwork Federation , so they formed and launched the Fire Door Inspection Scheme .
This scheme is the first of its type in Europe , with its initial aim to transform people ’ s knowledge about how and why fire doors work and the potential dangers of getting things wrong .
The scheme has since progressed , and now has 40 Certificated Inspectors situated around the UK , who can carry out on- site inspections of doors in existing or new buildings . This is an essential part of any fire risk assessment .
Certificated Inspectors carry out detailed inspections of each door and prepare written reports to assist and advise building owners and managers as to the condition
of the door . As part of this , they can also advise on remedial action that might need to taken .
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