Fire Safety Reform Gets Support

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The Door & Hardware Federation has welcomed the latest fire safety reform, following the commencement of the Fire Safety Act 2021 in England and Wales and the fire safety (England) regulations 2022.

The regulations came into force on 2 January 2023 and were made under article 24 of the fire safety order 2005.

 These reforms are an important step forward in improving fire safety and have been introduced by the government in response to implementing the fire safety recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower inquiry phase 1 report.

 “The fire safety (England) regulations 2022 which were laid before parliament on 18 May 2022 are now in force and must be followed as UK legislation”

– Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens 

Head of commercial operations, Door & Hardware Federation

Doors, balconies and windows

The regulations strengthen the regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005, clarifying what should be included in fire risk assessments of multi-occupancy residential buildings and focuses on two essential fundamentals: the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows; and all doors between domestic premises and common parts of the building.

 “The implications for responsible persons are thus to focus attention on elements of buildings which some fire risk assessments have previously overlooked,” says the federation’s Sowsbery-Stevens. “Responsible persons should consider whether a more in-depth assessment of the external walls is required, particularly if their building uses cladding.  A competent fire risk assessor can tell you if your building needs this comprehensive treatment or not.

 “The new rules primarily apply to high-rise buildings where responsible persons must undertake monthly checks on lifts and other key firefighting equipment intended for use by firefighters and reporting any defects to the fire & rescue service if they cannot be fixed in 24 hours; install information boxes with name and contact details for the responsible person and a copy of the building floor plans; and provide building plans to their local fire & rescue service and keep a secure copy on site; maintain up-to-date information on external wall systems, including the design and materials involved; and erect wayfinding signage with flat and floor numbers to make the exit routes clear in low light or smoky conditions.”

Fire doors

It is important to note that in residential buildings over 11 metres in height, responsible persons must make quarterly checks on fire doors connecting common parts of the building and make every effort to carry out annual fire door checks of flat entrance doors. However, all multi-occupied residential buildings, regardless of height, must provide fire door Information so residents can understand the importance of fire doors, as well as fire safety instructions to residents, including how to report a fire and evacuation strategy information.

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Picture: The DHF is supporting the government’s latest reforms of fire safety.

www.dhfonline.org.uk

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
15th February 2023

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