SECTOR INSIGHT
ASSA ABLOY DOOR GROUP CHAMPIONS FIRE DOOR INSPECTIONS
Door Group , a division of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland , is calling for a higher calibre of fire door inspections this Fire Door Safety Week , after research found a third ( 32 %) of the British public would not report a problem with a fire door , putting lives at risk .
» SHOCKINGLY , THOSE ASKED believed that a fire door that was propped open with a wedge or a fire extinguisher was safe , and 15 % believed that keeping a fire door closed stops it performing , highlighting a lack of understanding around the role fire doors play in the event of a fire .
What ’ s more , only 19 % of those responsible for the specification , installation and maintenance of fire doors inspect their fire doors twice a year , 14 % inspect annually , while 3 % only inspect their fire doors when an issue has been reported . Four in five respondents say end clients do not require third-party certified fire doors to be specified .
Brian Sofley , Managing Director at Door Group , said : “ Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building , as they provide a critical part of the fire compartmentation requirement . Gross negligence when it comes to fire door safety can have serious and devastating implications .
“ The public ’ s lack of understanding around fire doors means it ’ s even more vital that buildings and facilities managers ensure compliance to protect occupants . However , nearly a third ( 30 %) of those responsible for fire door safety say they do not fully understand their responsibilities under the Building Safety Act .
“ It is imperative that those responsible for the property ensure life safety products have been independently verified , are regularly audited or certified and have been manufactured and installed by competent companies or individuals .
“ Suppliers and manufacturers also have a duty of care to their customers at each and every stage of a project , to offer a solution that is properly and unambiguously safeguarded by certification .”
As part of its commitment to fire door safety , Door Group provide a fully comprehensive inspection
which can be carried out every three , four , six or 12 months to suit specific requirements .
Following inspections , Door Group offers detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements , with the knowledge that identifying any potential issues that could impact safety and product performance can be lifesaving .
If any issues do occur , a tailored repair proposal is issued to include anything from replacement doors to a regular maintenance program . Door Group inspectors are BRE-certified and will ensure that all fire doors inspected meet all necessary standards and regulations .
For more information on ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions , please visit https :// bit . ly / 3gGLU3R
Sources : 1 Research conducted in 2022 by the British Woodworking Federation as part their Fire Door Safety Week campaign ‘ Close the Door on Fire ’ - https :// www . firedoorsafetyweek . co . uk /, 2 https :// firedoors . bwf . org . uk / latest-news / almost-a-third-of-those-responsible-for-fire-doors-do-not-understand-fire-door-responsibility-under-building-safety-act /
OCTOBER 2023
57
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