DOOR CLOSERS & CONTROLS
HIGH-RISK RESIDENTIAL : ASSESSING REGULATION 10
» THE FIRE RISKS associated with multioccupied residential buildings remain high on the sector ’ s agenda , and the latest wave of fire safety reforms can help address key concerns , says Karen Trigg of Allegion UK .
In recent years , both highrise and high-risk building environments have been the subject of much industry focus . Where Grenfell was a catalyst for change , the incremental introduction of new reforms ( such as the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Bill ) - alongside major Government funding schemes - have since been key in raising fire safety standards across the board .
But while significant steps have been made in a number of areas , professionals can ’ t afford to now stand still . Only recently , Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service were forced to evacuate a block of flats deemed to be a fire safety risk , of which tenants cited a lack of communication concerning the building ’ s fire safety . Evidently , these are not isolated incidents , and there is still work to be done .
In fact , many multi-occupied building environments have been exposed for falling short in fire safety situations . While it ’ s true that the complexity and scale of high-risk settings present unique fire safety challenges , responsible parties must endeavour to address them , focusing on all components of fire protection in the process . And where fire door safety is concerned , the latest evolution of the legislative landscape might prove to be the answer .
Introducing Regulation 10
On the 23rd of January 2023 , The Fire Safety ( England ) Regulations 2022 , made it a legal requirement under regulation 10 for responsible persons of all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to :
• Undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors ( including self-closing devices ) in the common parts ; and
• Undertake – on a best endeavour basis – annual checks of all flat entrance doors ( including selfclosing devices ) that lead onto a building ’ s common parts .
In addition , the updated regulations state responsible persons must provide residents with relevant fire safety instructions and detailed information relating to the importance of operational fire doors in regard to the building ’ s fire safety systems .
These essential updates derive from the recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry ( Phase 1 report ) and , among others detailed under The Fire Safety ( England ) Regulations 2022 , are designed to improve fire safety standards in high-rise , high-risk residential buildings . Under UK legislation , all revisions must now be followed closely , with responsible persons expected to alter their approach to fire door safety in response to the framework .
Educating and Evaluating
For decision makers overseeing fire door safety in high-risk residential buildings , in relation to Regulation 10 , there are perhaps two key takeaways :
• The rate and proficiency of risk assessments on fire doors and their hardware is changing ; and
• there is greater accountability to provide residents with improved communication and education on fire door safety .
Last year , after an increase in demand for fire door inspections , the Fire Door Inspection Scheme revealed three quarters of fire doors inspected in the UK did not meet the required standard . Furthermore , prior to the Fire Safety Act 2021 , flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings may not have been considered as part of fire risk assessments .
Today , there is a greater impetus on providing detailed checks on fire doors and their hardware as fundamental components of
passive fire protection . The newly proposed quarterly checks of fire doors - as well as the annual checks on flat entrance doors and self-closing devices - will ensure the standards of inspected fire doors rise , with responsible persons pushed to systematically inspect the key elements of all doorsets moving forward , including the certification , gaps , seals , hinges and closing elements .
Commonly , third-party tested fire doors are available in ratings ranging from FD30 to FD120 and can protect buildings and their residents from smoke and fire for 30 to 120 minutes respectively - but only when the aforementioned components are fitted , maintained and used appropriately . Furthermore , to remain compliant , all dedicated fire doors must be fitted with a certified fire door closer ( a minimum power size of EN3
Sources : https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / ukpga / 2021 / 24 / contents / enacted | https :// www . gov . uk / guidance / the-building-safety-act | https :// www . bbc . co . uk / news / uk-england-suffolk-64949329 https :// constructionmanagement . co . uk / govt-package-towards-new-building-safety-inspectors / | https :// www . gov . uk / government / publications / fire-safety-england-regulations-2022
40
MAY / JUN 2023
locksmithjournal . co . uk Issue Takeover
Magazine Sponsor