FIRE SAFETY
Taking fire door inspections to the next level
Nicola John , Director of Fire Door Maintenance ( FDM ), and Andrew Tyas , Managing Director of Contactless Check Solutions ( CCS ) explain the growing need for more thorough fire door inspections , why the ‘ responsible person ’ may soon find themselves out of their depth , and what can be done to overcome the challenges .
» THE FIRE SAFETY ( ENGLAND ) Regulations 2022 require the ‘ responsible person ’ for multi-occupied residential buildings over 11m to carry out annual inspections on all flat entrance doors , and quarterly checks on fire doors within communal areas and which cross corridors . On paper , this requires a relatively simple check to establish whether the door is in good working order . However , for owners and managers of larger residential portfolios , particularly social landlords , this process is difficult to navigate .
To deliver the large numbers of checks required , housing providers will need people on the ground to deliver them . And as this process unfolds across hundreds of doors , the likelihood of finding more serious faults increases , driving the need for more thorough inspections as well as specialist skills and knowledge .
To make sure a fire door is safe and futureproofed , both sides must be inspected , and sourcing the manufacturer ’ s primary test evidence is strongly recommended . In line with the ‘ golden thread ’ policy post-Grenfell , this will confirm if the correct components have been installed and have not been substituted or changed .
From 1 October 2023 , the responsible person will also have to navigate Section 156 of the Building Safety Act - a new piece of legislation set to have a huge impact on the industry . This requires all fire door inspections in residential blocks over 18m to be documented in written form , including proof of the action that has been taken .
Combined , these changes will put a huge amount of pressure on the responsible person who is unlikely to have the time , skills and resources needed to meet the legislative requirements .
To tackle these challenges , many local authorities are faced with the prospect of training people inhouse to deliver more thorough fire door inspections . However , this can be an expensive and lengthy process , delaying potential compliance with the law .
As well as people on the ground , new systems will also be required to assist with scheduling , monitoring and reporting the inspections . This is likely to see manual processes replaced with digital solutions offering more efficiency and accuracy .
Rising to the challenge
In response to these hurdles , specialist companies are stepping up to help local authorities . Software providers are offering a range of technology to help the responsible person manage , inspect and maintain fire doors in accordance with UK fire door regulations .
Cloud-based software , incorporating a mobile App and desktop dashboard , provides an efficient , cost-effective solution . More advanced technology features a fire data pin , which is installed into the hinged side of the door blade . The pin holds all the digital data needed for traceability and can be scanned for inspection using any compatible smartphone , without the need for additional hardware .
The fire door must be opened for the pin to be scanned , meaning false reports can ’ t be submitted . Unlike a label or QR code , the pin can ’ t be peeled off or damaged , and will still work if painted over .
To address the people challenge , pools of operatives are being trained by specialists to deliver fire door inspections at scale , and to a higher standard . These operatives can work alongside software
Nicola John
Andrew Tyas
providers and have the skills to identify and fix issues on numerous different types of fire door .
Before any work begins , details of the manufacturers of fire doors within a building are sourced . This information is provided to the operatives as part of the bespoke training process , enabling them to know exactly what to look out for during the inspection and ensuring they are aware of any potential risks .
A holistic approach
With new fire safety regulations now firmly in place and more legislation coming down the line , there is an urgent need for local authorities to develop a robust fire door inspection system . By working with specialist partners , housing providers will benefit from an integrated service on the ground and ‘ in the cloud ’ ensuring fire doors are inspected by a skilled team and to the highest safety standards .
www . fdmltd . co . uk
26
SEPTEMBER 2023
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