As Fire Door Safety Week draws attention to the importance of fire doors in protecting lives and properties, the focus is clear: compliance with fire safety regulations is non-negotiable. Fire doors are essential barriers that prevent the spread of fire and smoke, giving building occupants critical time to evacuate safely. However, these life-saving measures are only effective when properly installed, maintained, and regularly inspected.
The tragic events of Grenfell and subsequent legislative changes in the UK have brought fire door safety into sharper focus. Building owners, property managers, and Responsible Persons are now faced with stricter legal obligations, including frequent fire door inspections, accurate documentation, and a reliable system to maintain a ‘golden thread’ of fire safety information. For those responsible, this means staying on top of rigorous inspection schedules and ensuring that every fire door and passive fire protection asset is fully compliant.
Understanding the Importance of Fire Door Compliance.
Fire doors do much more than close off rooms or provide privacy. They act as a vital barrier in a fire, preventing fire and smoke from spreading through a building. A compliant fire door can hold back flames and smoke for up to 30, 60, or even 120 minutes, giving people the time they need to evacuate and emergency services the time to respond. Without functioning fire doors, buildings become far more vulnerable in a fire, putting lives and assets at serious risk.
The Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, introduced in the wake of Grenfell, have significantly changed how fire doors are regulated. Fire doors in multi-occupancy residential buildings are now subject to regular inspections—quarterly in communal areas and annually within individual flats. These regulations reflect the critical role fire doors play and place increased responsibility on building owners and managers to ensure compliance at all times.
Common Fire Door Failures and How to Avoid Them.
Unfortunately, fire doors often suffer from wear and tear, poor maintenance, or improper installation, leading to compliance failures. Common issues include (but are most certainly not restricted to):
Gaps Around the Door: The gap between a fire door and its frame should be no larger than 3-4mm (8mm at the bottom). If the gap is too large, fire and smoke can pass through, rendering the door ineffective.
Missing or Damaged Seals: Intumescent strips and smoke seals play a key role in fire door performance. When exposed to heat, these components expand, sealing the door to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Missing or damaged seals can compromise the door’s integrity.
Non-compliant Hinges: Fire door hinges must be fire-rated to meet legal standards. Using regular hinges can lead to failure under fire conditions.
Broken Closers: A self-closing mechanism is essential to ensure that fire doors are always in the correct position to do their job. If the closer is damaged or non-functional, the door may remain open, undermining its purpose.
Maintaining the Golden Thread of Fire Safety
The ‘golden thread’ of fire safety information refers to the continuous, accurate, and accessible record-keeping of fire safety measures throughout a building’s life cycle. Post-Grenfell, this has become a central aspect of fire safety compliance. Building managers and Responsible Persons must ensure that fire doors and other passive fire protection assets are regularly inspected, maintained, and fully documented, creating a clear audit trail that stakeholders can access at any time.
Maintaining this golden thread is not just about compliance—it’s about transparency and accountability. Building owners and managers must demonstrate that they are actively maintaining fire safety standards and taking action to address any issues that arise. Failing to do so can lead to severe legal penalties and, more importantly, can put lives at risk.
How Technology Can Support Compliance
Managing multiple properties and hundreds of fire doors can be overwhelming, especially when keeping track of inspection schedules, maintenance logs, and documentation. Fortunately, technology has evolved to make this process simpler and more efficient.
This is where Passifire—our innovative, app-based system—comes in. Developed by our in-house team and based on decades of experience in the fire door sector, LFS Passifire offers a smarter way to manage fire door inspections and maintain the golden thread of fire safety compliance across your property portfolio.
Passifire captures real-time inspection data, stores it securely, and allows you to track the status of each fire door and compartmentation asset from installation through to ongoing maintenance. With Passifire, you can quickly generate reports, receive maintenance alerts, and access a complete audit trail for every asset—ensuring you stay compliant with the latest fire safety regulations.
Stay Compliant and Safe with LFS
Fire Door Safety Week is a crucial reminder of the importance of fire door compliance and the role these doors play in keeping buildings and occupants safe. With stricter regulations and increased scrutiny, Responsible Persons must take proactive steps to ensure fire doors are regularly inspected, properly maintained, and fully compliant.
London Fire Solutions is committed to helping building owners, property managers, and landlords maintain full compliance. From fire door surveys and inspections to ongoing maintenance and our innovative Passifire app, we provide the tools and expertise you need to protect your buildings and those inside.
To learn more about Passifire, request a demo, or find out how LFS can support your fire safety needs, contact us today for a demo.
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