HARDWARE & SECURITY |
||||||||
|
Why is it important to raise fire door safety standards ?
Fire doors play an essential role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and preserving the effective compartmentation of buildings . The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 Report revealed that fire doors in the Grenfell Tower didn ’ t perform as expected .
Speaking at the inquiry , expert witness Dr Lane said : “ Fire doors are a crucial element of the stay-put strategy , as they represent an opportunity for weak spots to form in the fire-resistant partitions that separate a flat fire from occupants either on that floor where the fire has started or occupants in the flat above the floor the fire has started .
“ Fire doors are , therefore , a building regulations requirement as a passive fire protection measure . Faulty fire doors mean faulty compartmentation and compartmentation is the primary basis of the stay-put strategy .”
|
What has driven the Academy ’ s launch ?
Following the Grenfell tragedy , there have been changes to fire safety regulation , including the Fire Safety ( England ) Regulations 2022 regulations . Enforced in January 2023 , this legislation requires the responsible person for multi-occupied
|
residential buildings over 11m to :
• Carry out quarterly checks on all fire doors in the common parts .
• Carry out annual checks on all flat entrance doors that lead onto a building ’ s common parts .
In response , FDM identified an opportunity to help organisations and the wider fire door industry achieve compliance while raising inspection and maintenance standards . To help raise standards , the Academy ’ s focus is on the importance of sourcing primary test evidence and how to interpret that evidence when inspecting or manufacturing a fire door .
Why does primary test evidence matter ?
In the Grenfell inquiry , it was revealed that 106 of the 120 doors in the tower had been replaced and differed from the product tested by the manufacturer before sale including the hardware .
Dr Lane said : “ If you want to use the phrase ‘ getting the door through the test ’ it [ the hardware ] is a sensitive business . Any piece of metal , locks , letter boxes may act as heat spread route , flame spread route , hot smoke route and cause the door to fail .”
Sourcing primary test evidence as part of door inspections and maintenance will ensure the correct components have been
|
installed and have not been substituted or changed .
What makes the Training Academy different to other fire door safety training ?
The Academy offers hands-on practical training in a dedicated site ; made possible thanks to the site ’ s design and industry backing from a range of different door manufacturers and component suppliers which have provided their products free of charge . These products have been set up in designated rooms enabling participants to learn how to identify and fix potential issues on different types of fire doors and components . The centre is modelled on a floor of a high rise building and behind each ‘ flat door ’ is a component room .
How much has been invested into the Training Academy ?
The facility forms part of UAP ’ s new head office in Dumers Lane which follows a £ 750,000 investment .
Who is Nicola John ?
Nicola has spent 20 years working with construction and door manufacturers in various management and director roles . A former business consultant , Nicola also ran her own company , using her knowledge to advise a range of organisations on strategic growth and development . For
|
the past four years , she has been working with UAP to provide specialist leadership , management and training guidance and is now the managing director of UAP ’ s two new businesses , FDM and Armadillo Metal Coatings .
What role will UAP play in FDM ?
UAP is funding FDM but the FDM business , including the Training Academy , will operate as a separate , independent entity .
What type of doors form part of the training ?
Practical training is provided on timber , steel and composite fire doors , flat and cross corridor doors , including stairwell and riser doors .
What is GQA Qualifications ?
GQA Qualifications is an awarding body for specialist sectors and occupational roles . Its current qualifications cover 17 sectors including the Glass and Fenestration Industries , Construction , Print , Automotive Glazing , Polymers , Nuclear , Chimney Occupations , Paper , Meteorology and Print .
Qualification development is carried out in accordance with regulatory and Sector Skill Council requirements , using industry experts throughout the development and consultation processes .
www . uapcorporate . com
|