The Fire Safety Regulations (England 2022) came into force on January 23rd 2023, following the recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The regulations hold building owners, managing agents, and other responsible parties accountable for ensuring fire safety in their buildings and impose criminal penalties for any breaches that put residents, staff, or visitors at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire.
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This guide is intended to help those responsible for compliance with the Fire Safety (England 2022) Regulations fulfill their duties under Regulation 10, which addresses fire doors in buildings that contain two or more domestic premises and common parts through which residents would need to evacuate in a fire. It assumes that a fire risk assessment has already been carried out to determine the suitability of the fire doors and focuses on ensuring that these doors remain suitable over time.
What the Law Requires:
Regulation 10 applies to all blocks of flats, whether purpose-built or converted, that incorporate common parts, including flat entrance doors. However, routine checks of fire doors are only required in blocks of flats where the top storey is more than 11m above ground level (usually a building of more than four storeys).
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended), building owners and other responsible parties must carry out a fire risk assessment to ensure that the common parts of a block of flats are safe to use as a means of escape in the event of a fire. The fire risk assessment should have already identified the fire doors in the building and determined their suitability for preventing the spread of fire and smoke. These doors should be maintained in good order and replaced if necessary by a competent person.
Some requirements are as follows:
- Fire doors must have a minimum fire resistance rating of 30 minutes.
- Fire doors must be properly installed and maintained.
- Fire doors must be self-closing and automatically re-locking.
- Fire doors must be fitted with appropriate fire and smoke seals.
- Fire doors must be fitted with appropriate fire and smoke door furniture, such as hinges, handles, and latches.
The Role of Fire Doors
Fire Doors play a crucial role in safeguarding the means of escape from fire in a block of flats. There are four main categories of fire doors in these buildings:
- Flat entrance doors: These doors are particularly important because most fires occur within the flats themselves, and the flat entrance door is the first line of defense against the spread of fire and smoke into the common parts.
- Doors to stairways and lobbies: These doors keep the stairways and lobbies free from fire and smoke, allowing residents and others to evacuate safely and facilitating firefighting operations.
- Doors that sub-divide corridors: These doors limit the spread of fire and smoke throughout the building.
- Doors to plant rooms, cupboards, and service risers: These doors protect these areas and prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
Residents: What You Need To Do
Regulation 10 requires:
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Fire doors should be kept shut when not in use
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Residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices
- Residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the responsible person.
Routine Checking of Fire Doors
- Check the door has not been replaced with a non-fire door
- Letterboxes are firmly closed and not jammed open
- No damages or defects to the door or frame, glass (if applicable) or ironmongery
- Intumescent strips and smoke seals are present, undamaged & make contact with the door edge or frame
- The gap between the door and frame does not exceed 4mm, except at the bottom of the door (gap tester cards are available for this)
- There is an effective self-closing device on fire doors of flat entrances and fire doors within common parts so it can hold back fire & smoke
- Fire door signage
In conclusion, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 place a legal obligation on building owners and other responsible parties to ensure fire safety in their buildings and make sure that fire doors are properly maintained and in good working order. Residents also play a crucial role in ensuring fire safety by following the guidelines provided by the responsible person and reporting any faults or damages immediately. By working together, we can help ensure that our buildings remain safe.
If you are unsure whether your building requires fire doors to be fitted, you can reach out to the below for help:
- Building Control: Your local Building Control body is responsible for enforcing building regulations in the UK, including the requirements for fire doors. They can give you advice on what you need to do to ensure your property meets the fire safety standards.
- Fire Safety Professional: A fire safety professional, such as a fire consultant or engineer, can help you assess the fire safety requirements of your property, including the need for fire doors. They can help you understand the regulations and give you recommendations for making your property compliant.
- Fire Door Manufacturer: If you're unsure about what type of fire door you need for your property, a fire door manufacturer can provide you with advice on the best products for your specific requirements.
- Your Local Authority: If you're still unsure about the fire safety requirements for your property, you can contact your local authority for advice. They may have a fire safety inspector who can visit your property and give you advice on what you need to do to make it compliant.
Shop our Fire Doors & Fire Door Sets by following the links below:
Fire Doors - Fire-Rated, Fire Resistant Doors, FD30, FD60 (directdoors.com)
Exterior Fire Doors (directdoors.com)
1 Hour Fire Rated Doors (directdoors.com)
Fire Rated Door Set Kit (directdoors.com)
Read the official UK government guidance for further information here: Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: fire door guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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