Fire Inspector Checks

Communal fire door inspections in the UK involve several important steps to ensure the fire doors in shared areas of a building are in optimal condition. For communal fire doors, the responsible person must conduct checks at least once every six months to comply with regulations, and for taller buildings, once every three months. Additionally, for buildings over 11 meters tall, there is a specific requirement to inspect the fire doors at the entrances of individual residential premises annually

Whilst inspecting communal fire doors, arguably the most crucial aspect is testing the self-closing devices on the doors to ensure they are working properly. Because communal fire doors are used so regularly, this can easily cause minor alterations, which may affect the performance of the fire door. Therefore, it is essential to carefully examine the doors and their surroundings for any changes that could impact their effectiveness.

Specific fire door inspection requirements vary depending on the type of building. For multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 meters in height, the responsible person should conduct quarterly checks of communal doors and annual checks of flat entrance doors. Whereas for buildings under 11 meters, there is no requirement to inspect flat entrance doors and communal doors only need to be inspected six monthly. Whatever the frequency of inspections for fire doors, the aim is to ensure that the fire doors meet the necessary safety standards.

Certification verification is another crucial step in the fire door inspection process. The certification (a CE mark) will also indicate what type of fire door the relevant fire door is. For example, an FD30 provides 30 minutes of protection whereas an FD60 provides minutes of protection. And, the right fire door needs to be installed in the right place, to accord with the fire strategy of the building. Therefore, it is important to confirm that the fire doors have the required certification and are equipped with combined smoke and fire seals around the door frames. Smoke seals play a vital role in containing smoke and preventing fire spread - and because smoke kills long before the actual fire, the self-closing mechanism and smoke seals are arguably the most important parts.

If any faults or issues are identified during the inspection, it is crucial to request repairs from a competent professional promptly. Regular maintenance and prompt repairs are necessary to ensure that fire doors remain fully functional and ready to be used in case of an emergency.

Consequences of Non-Compliance With Communal Fire Door Inspections

Non-compliance with communal fire door inspection requirements in the UK can have severe consequences. It puts people's lives in danger during a fire as fire doors may fail to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Fire doors have the essential function of splitting a building into compartments.

Legal Consequences For Non-Compliance

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require responsible persons of multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 meters tall to conduct quarterly checks on all fire doors in common areas and annual inspections on flat entrance doors. Failure to comply can result in fines and even imprisonment.

Non-compliance Affects Insurance Coverage

Insurance companies might refuse to pay out in fire-related incidents if the building owner did not take proper measures, such as regular fire door inspections, to ensure fire safety. Failure to comply with fire door inspection requirements can lead to significant property damage during a fire, resulting in expensive repairs or replacements. To ensure the safety of occupants and avoid legal and financial consequences, it is crucial to comply with communal fire door inspection requirements.

Ringley has their own fire door inspection App and full tender workflow toolkit as well as a number of qualified fire door inspectors. Our fire door inspection solution includes the instant generation of fire door tender packs and schedules of original developer install faults.

Importance of Regular Fire Door Inspections

Regular fire door inspections are critical to maintaining fire safety in residential and commercial buildings. Ensuring that fire doors are properly maintained, with functional self-closing devices and smoke seals, is essential to protecting lives and property in the event of a fire.

Compliance and Legal Risks of Neglecting Fire Door Inspections

Neglecting to comply with fire door inspection regulations can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions, including fines, insurance issues, and heightened risk to occupant safety. Regular inspections and prompt maintenance are vital to avoid these risks.