Ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Midsummer Fire Protection helps you meet fire door standards and safeguard lives.
Fire Door Regulations and Compliance
Fire doors stand as a crucial line of defence. They not only safeguard occupants from the rapid spread of fire and smoke but also serve as an essential means of escape during emergencies.
Over the years, numerous tragedies and incidents have emphasised the necessity of stringent regulations governing the installation, maintenance, and inspection of fire doors. Such regulations ensure that fire doors can perform their critical role when called upon.
The landscape of fire door regulations has evolved, shaped by lessons learned from past events and the continuous advancements in building design and materials. Key among these regulations is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which crystallises the duties of building owners and managers concerning fire safety.
Subsequent reforms, like the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, further pinpoint specific responsibilities, such as the periodic checking of fire doors in certain building types.
UK Fire Safety Regulations
Fire safety can be intricate, given the myriad of regulations that ensure the well-being of occupants and the structural integrity of buildings.
Central to this framework is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) which offers a comprehensive outline of fire risk assessments and the duties of the 'responsible person'.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 further refines requirements, emphasising the importance of regular checks on fire doors in multi-occupied residential buildings.
Meanwhile, the Building Regulations 2010 – Part B zeroes in on fire safety measures within building construction and design.
Together, these regulations form the cornerstone of fire safety practices in the UK, safeguarding lives and property.
Fire Doors in The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Commonly referred to as the RRO or the Fire Safety Order, marked a paradigm shift in the approach to fire safety in England and Wales.
Prior to its enactment, fire safety was governed by a patchwork of over 70 pieces of fire safety legislation.
The RRO was introduced to streamline and consolidate these laws, creating a more coherent and accessible regulatory framework.
The RRO fundamentally changed the way fire safety is approached, moving from a prescriptive system to a more flexible, risk-based approach. The emphasis is placed on prevention and continuous assessment, ensuring that fire safety practices evolve with changing circumstances.
Here's how the RRO details guidance and regulation of fire doors:
Purpose of Fire Doors: Fire doors serve as a primary method of passive fire protection within buildings.
They're designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, ensuring that escape routes remain unobstructed and usable for a longer time, thus facilitating safe evacuation.
Duties of the 'Responsible Person': The RRO 2005 introduces the concept of a 'responsible person' (typically the owner, manager, or occupier of a premise).
This individual or entity has the duty to ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are in place. This includes ensuring that fire doors are suitably installed, maintained, and remain effective.
Risk Assessment Requirement: One of the primary mandates of the RRO 2005 is for the 'responsible person' to conduct a fire risk assessment of the premises.
This assessment should identify potential fire hazards and persons at risk. Fire doors become essential in this context, as they are key components in mitigating identified risks.
Maintenance and Regular Checks: The RRO 2005 emphasises the importance of maintaining all fire safety measures in efficient working order.
Training and Information: The 'responsible person' is also tasked with providing appropriate training and information to employees and other relevant individuals.
This includes information about how to use fire doors correctly, the importance of not propping them open, and the potential risks associated with compromised fire doors.
Fire Doors: Within the realm of the RRO, fire doors play a crucial role as they act as a barrier, preventing the spread of fire and smoke, and thus, safeguarding escape routes.
Their maintenance, regular inspection, and compliance with standards are imperative under this order.
Within the RRO 2005, fire doors are not just passive components; they're actively integral to the overall strategy of fire safety. Ensuring they are in optimal working condition is paramount to complying with the Order and ensuring the safety of building occupants.
Fire Doors in the Fire Safety Regulations 2022
The Fire Safety Regulations 2022, introduced under the umbrella of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, were developed in response to recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.
These regulations have explicit requirements concerning fire doors, underlining their significance in maintaining building safety. Here's how fire doors are incorporated:
Purpose and Application: The regulations specifically target high-rise blocks of flats and multi-occupied residential buildings, emphasising the safety of residents and aiding the Fire and Rescue Services in planning and operational response.
Fire doors are crucial in these settings to compartmentalise fires, prevent the spread of smoke and fire, and safeguard evacuation routes.
Duties of the 'Responsible Person': Persons in charge of residential buildings above 11 metres in height have specific responsibilities concerning fire doors:
• They must undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors in common parts of the building.
• They are required, on a best endeavour basis, to perform annual checks on all flat entrance doors that open onto a building's common parts.
Training and Information: For all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, responsible persons must provide residents with pertinent information about the significance of fire doors for a building’s fire safety.
This includes the role of fire doors in containing fire and smoke, the importance of ensuring they function correctly, and the risks of compromising their integrity.
Connection to Previous Regulations: The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, laid under article 24 of the Fire Safety Order 2005, reinforce and expand upon the previous regulations' requirements.
They underscore the necessity for regular maintenance, inspection, and dissemination of information related to fire doors.
The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 emphasise the integral role fire doors play in enhancing safety within residential buildings, ensuring that they function optimally and that residents are well-informed of their importance.
Fire Doors in the Building Regulations 2010 – Part B
The primary purpose of Part B is to ensure the safety of building occupants in the event of a fire. It dictates the construction standards, materials, and protective measures necessary for different parts of a building, including fire doors.
Compartmentation: Fire doors play a crucial role in compartmentation, preventing the spread of fire and smoke for a predetermined period, allowing occupants more time to escape and the fire service a better chance of controlling the fire.
Self-closing: Fire doors must be fitted with self-closing devices, ensuring that they remain shut (except when held open by permitted hold-open devices which release them automatically if a fire is detected).
Materials and Construction: The regulations specify the type of materials and the construction standards for fire doors to achieve specific fire resistance durations (like FD30 for 30 minutes of resistance).
Integrity and Insulation: Fire doors should be tested for both integrity (E) and insulation (I) performance. This ensures they can resist the passage of fire and also limit the transfer of excessive heat.
Signage: Appropriate signage should be fixed on fire doors to indicate their functionality, such as "Fire Door Keep Shut".
Access and Egress: For buildings with certain occupancy types, fire doors may need to be easily openable from the inside without the use of a key.
While Part B deals with fire safety in buildings, fire doors also intersect with other building regulations, ensuring they are also sound-proof, thermally efficient, and accessible for all, including people with disabilities.
Building Regulations 2010 – Part B ensures that buildings are designed with optimal safety measures against fires. Fire doors are integral components of this defense mechanism. Their proper installation, maintenance, and operation are paramount to the safety of building occupants and the protection of property.
Understanding how fire doors fit into Building Regulations 2010 – Part B is critical not just for builders and architects, but also for building owners and managers who have a responsibility to maintain the safety features of their buildings throughout their life cycle.
What People Ask About Fire Door Regulations
Fire doors are a really important element of your fire safety strategy. Used correctly, they stop fires from spreading through a building, giving occupants a safe route and time to escape.
Also allows the Fire Brigade time to attend and potentially save your premises.
Fire doors help slow the spread of fire and smoke through a building. They not only protect lives but also protect the property and any neighbouring buildings. Fire doors only work, however, if they are properly installed and maintained. A fire door survey is a regular part of fire risk assessments and fire compartmentation surveys in any building.
Fire doors are a necessary addition to any building that houses more than 5 people at a time, such as schools, hospitals, offices, care homes, and large apartment buildings. However, it’s not enough to just have fire doors installed. Whether they are metal or wood fire doors they need to be regularly checked and assessed to make sure that they are in full working condition.
Our friendly and fully trained surveyors use the BMTRADA surveying checklist to complete the door survey and ensure every part of each fire door conforms to manufacture and industry guidance.
Fire doors play a crucial role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke between compartments, helping to protect occupants and property. They also provide a safe escape route during a fire emergency.
Fire doors should be inspected at least every six months or more frequently depending on their usage and location. Doors in high-traffic areas or those used more often may require more frequent inspections.
The "responsible person" under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is accountable for fire door maintenance. This can be the building owner, landlord, business owner, or building manager.
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Our Accreditations
Here at Midsummer Fire Protection, we believe quality should always come first, that’s why we are BMTRADA accredited. We undergo several reviews per year to ensure our standards are maintained.
About Midsummer Fire Protection
Why Choose Midsummer Fire Protection?
We are based in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in our purpose-built office located on the Kettering Venture Park.
Midsummer Fire Protection LTD are a well-established Passive Fire protection company.
We believe that Fire Protection should always come first, there is nothing more important than the protection of those within the building and the actual building itself. All of our installations are completed following manufacturers' specifications and we've completed projects in the following:
Schools, Universities & Science Centres
Housing Developments & Associations
Hospitals
Here at Midsummer Fire Protection, we believe maintaining high levels of customer service and building strong relationships with our clients is of the upmost importance.
We strive to be your go-to Fire Protection company and exceed your expectations at all times.
The service we provide will always be the right one, our teams are always on hand to provide you with expert advice whilst maintaining the highest level of customer service possible.
We believe in looking after every one of our clients and that’s why we have dedicated members of our team to help you wherever we can.
Please feel free to contact our office and receive the service you deserve from start to finish.
Accurate & Friendly Advice
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Accurate & Friendly Advice
Midsummer Fire Protection work side by side with our manufactures, we ensure all our installations are installed as per manufactures specification.
All of our employees are fully trained and are on hand to provide any information you may require.
If you unsure of a situation we would be more than happy to help. You are our priority and can assure you that we will find the right solution for you.
No Obligation Quotation
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No Obligation Quotation
You are under no obligation to use us at any time, there is no need to use our services just because you made contact.
Midsummer are firm believers of keeping are clients happy and ensuring they receive the right service for them.
Although we may do everything we can to ensure the right solution and service has been provided every time, we understand you may like a second opinion.
Effective Solutions
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EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
We work closely with of our manufacturers to ensure all solutions provided and correct and effective.
All installations provided by ourselves are installed under very strict guidelines and if needed, our manufacturers can also attend site to keep you reassured throughout all projects.
