The Government publish quarterly updates regarding the progress of the implementation of Phase 1 recommendations following the Grenfell tower fire. One of the key updates made on September 30th is in relation to Fire Doors and gives recommendations to the owners and managers of residential buildings on how they should be managed and maintained moving forward.
There have been three recommendations published for owners and managers in regards to fire doors these set out what will be expected of responsible persons once the Fire Safety Act implements these into regulation. We have summaries these recommendations below.
What are these recommendations and what do they mean for owners and managers of residential property?
- Recommendation 33.29a
Recommends that the owner and/or manager of every building containing separate dwellings carry out an urgent inspection of every fire door to ensure they comply with applicable legislative standards; this applies whether or not they are high-rise buildings.
Since the Fire Safety Act achieved Royal Assent on the 29th of April 2021, the Government have consulted on what control measures are reasonably practicable for the level of risk that arises from incorrect or poorly installed fire doors. Similarly, to the EWS1 guidance, there is a discussed criteria for when a building requires a fire door inspection in relation to its height:
- Buildings 18 metres and above – all fire doors in the non-domestic parts should be checked at not less than three-monthly intervals and all flat entrance fire doors at not less than six-monthly.
- Buildings 11-18 metres – all fire doors in the non-domestic parts (the common parts) should be checked at not less than six-monthly and all flat entrance fire doors at not less than yearly intervals.
- Buildings under 11 metres – the government sought views on the role of guidance to promote checks of the self-closing devices on all fire doors in these buildings at a frequency which would take account of the age of a building, its height and risk profile.
The Government intends to implement this recommendation in the Fire Safety Order, the scope of which is clarified by the Fire Safety Act, and make it regulation in ‘Autumn 2021’.
- Recommendation 33.29b
Recommends that all owners and managers of any residential building, whether it is high-rise or not, carry out checks on the self-closing devices at three monthly intervals to ensure they are effective and in working order. As with 33.29(a), the Government have consulted on the criteria for when a check on the self-closers is required:
- Buildings 18 metres and above – all fire doors in the non-domestic parts should be checked at not less than three-monthly intervals and all flat entrance fire doors at not less than six-monthly.
- Buildings 11-18 metres – all fire doors in the non-domestic parts should be checked at not less than six-monthly and all flat entrance fire doors at not less than yearly intervals.
- Buildings under 11 metres – the Government sought views on the role of guidance to promote checks of the self-closing devices on all fire doors in these buildings at a frequency which would take account of the age of a building, its height and risk profile.
The government intend this recommendation to become regulation in Autumn 2021.
What is the impact of cladding here?
Since the Fire Safety Act refers to both resident fire doors and external wall systems, you may be wondering about the impact of these recommended changes on buildings with unsafe cladding. Recommendation 33.30 refers to high-rise buildings whose external walls incorporate unsafe cladding and states that those responsible for the entrance doors of individual flats shall be required by law to ensure they comply with current standards, and where necessary, replace the door. This proposes to stop delays with doors becoming compliant or being replaced, leaving occupants at risk.
As with the previous recommendations mentioned the Government intends to implement this through Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order and make this regulation in Autumn 2021.
Following these updates, should there be a requirement for any further clarification please contact a member of the 4site Consulting Team.
