The Cost of Neglecting Fire Door Inspections
Introduction
Proper fire door inspections are essential in property management to ensure the safety of occupants and to stay compliant with fire safety regulations. Failure to comply with legislation can lead to consequences, which can include reputational damage, financial penalties, and endangerment to life.
Today, we explore the purpose, implications, and proactive measures to avoid the repercussions of inadequate fire door inspections.
Why Fire Doors Matter
Fire Doors are an incredibly important aspect of your home's safety. It’s not just any door; it’s a crucial shield in the event of a fire.
These doors are made with fire-resistant materials designed to compartmentalise fire and smoke, slowing their spread and giving occupants time to escape. They are required to contain fire & smoke for a minimum of 30 minutes.
In a fire, a working fire door can save lives by protecting escape routes, assisting firefighters in their operations, and keeping the fire contained, minimizing damage. Given their importance in safety, maintaining fire doors is vital for them to perform their life-saving functions.
Understanding Fire Door Inspections
Fire door inspections can vary based on the building’s complexity and risk level, but key aspects of them include:
Regularly checking for any damage, defects, wear, or anything else that could obstruct the door’s functionality.
Ensuring the door closes securely without any gaps or obstructions. A gap should be less than 4mm around the top and sides, slightly larger at the bottom but no more than 8mm.
Looking for any seals around the door or frame, ensuring they’re undamaged.
Check all hinges are tightly fixed and marked with CE or UKCA. This applies to handles, letterboxes, and spyholes too. They should all be fire-rated.
Checking that the fire door has a certification mark, proving it's a legitimate fire door.
These checks test the components, such as the hinges to ensure they are in working condition.
Documentation needs to be kept as proof of compliance & standards, as well to identify potential issues.
These elements are essential for thorough fire door inspections to ensure they perform as designed for their intended purpose. Without proper inspection, the effectiveness of fire doors is compromised, resulting in potentially disastrous consequences.
The High Stakes of Neglecting Fire Door Inspections
A Life-Threatening Risk
Neglecting fire door inspections poses a severe risk of injury and loss of life. Every life matters, and there is no room for error when it comes to their protection.
The Grenfell tower tragedy serves as a poignant, real-world reminder of the consequences of poor fire door maintenance. Whilst this avoidable disaster was caused by a combination of things, fire doors played a large role in failing to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Some of the failures of Grenfell’s fire doors included:
A fire door from Grenfell tower was tested and found to have failed its purpose after lasting only 15 minutes when it should have lasted double that time.
It was reported that the fire doors had “flaws in the manufacturing and processing of composite fire doors.”
Some fire doors were left open, and some were missing the ability to self-close due to missing component(s).
As a result, the manufacturing of the fire doors was deemed inadequate, which prompted the government to require the manufacturer to address the issues, to which they cooperated. Had the fire doors been installed correctly and complied with safety standards, it could have mitigated the spread of fire and smoke. The self-closing functionality of fire doors, while being a secondary level of protection, would have bought valuable time. This extra time could have been critical for occupants to evacuate safely and for firefighters to navigate the building more effectively.
The Financial Risks of Inadequate Fire Door Inspections
Opting for low-cost inspectors might save money initially, but it can lead to hefty fines later. The expenses related to the removal, repair, and maintenance of fire doors can be considerable, especially given the number of fire doors in a single building; the individual costs of each door can quickly accumulate.
Additionally, poor fire door inspections can lead to missed issues, such as defects, gaps between the door and the frame, or broken seals. These issues, when not identified early, can worsen over time, causing further complications. When the problems are finally addressed, the costs can be significantly higher than had the original problem been addressed. For example, a gap between the door and frame can worsen over time, leading potentially to the removal of the door frame which incurs heavier costs to rectify.
There are also other penalties for non-compliance, including unlimited fines and imprisonment for failing to properly maintain fire doors.
Another factor to consider is the impact on insurance premiums and property damage. Poor fire door maintenance can lead to higher insurance premiums, as insurers may view the property as higher risk. If a fire occurs and the fire doors fail to function properly, the resulting property damage can be extensive. This not only leads to expensive repairs but can also affect the overall value of the property.
Broken Trust and Irreparable Reputation
News of safety violations spread quickly, and rightfully so – when lives are at risk, the demand to know how it occurred, often due to negligence, will break trust and the reputation of property managers and developers.
Even if the fault lies with an inspector rather than the developer, the developer's name will still be associated with the safety issues. This association can lead to decreased property values and rental incomes, as tenants may seek safer alternatives.
Recovering from reputational damage can be incredibly challenging. Once trust is broken, it takes time and effort to rebuild. These negative perceptions can persist in the minds of potential buyers and tenants, making it difficult to regain their confidence. In addition, the spread of negative information through word-of-mouth and media can further tarnish the developer's reputation, leading to long-term financial and professional consequences.
Finding the Right Inspectors
There is no workaround - regular fire door inspections are essential for identifying potential hazards and ensuring the safety of a building's occupants. These inspections play a part in maintaining the integrity of fire doors, which are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
Qualified and regulated fire door inspectors play a key role in maintaining safety. In the UK, the National Association of Fire Door Inspectors (NAFDI), promotes third-party accredited fire door inspections through its membership. This association is important as its membership requires include meeting statutory regulations, holding industry-recognised certifications and other specific criteria.
The Fire Protection Association (FPA) is another credible force in the fight against improper fire safety. Membership with the FPA enables individuals and companies to exchange knowledge, news, and updates on fire safety. Also, the FPA publishes a wealth of resources including articles, guides reports and the like. In-depth research is conducted into fire protection technologies and strategies, allowing members to stay at the forefront of safety.
Achieve Peace of Mind
It is often more convenient to have the managing agent handle the processes involved in sourcing appropriate fire door inspectors. As a professional entity specialising in safety management, they serve as the central point of coordination. This allows for efficient scheduling of inspections and communication with minimal disruption.
At POD, we ensure high standards are met by:
Independent Safety Accreditations.: We hold a 5-star safety audit conducted by the British Health & Safety Council:, an independent body that scrutinises and judges safety standards. POD is also proudly a member of both the National Association of Fire Door Inspectors (NAFDI) and the Fire Protection Association (FPA), which demonstrates our commitment to the highest safety standards.
Qualified: Our inspectors hold certifications which include a Fire Door Diploma from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) and the ABBE Level 3 Fire Door Inspector qualification from the FPA.
Induction & training: Our inspectors are supervised and undergo continuous professional development and relevant training; they must demonstrate validated experience before performing independent inspections.
Avoiding poor fire door inspections is a necessity to avoid the repercussions mentioned in this article. That is why at POD we offer comprehensive visual fire door inspection services to ensure the safety and compliance of your properties. Our team of certified professionals conducts thorough inspections, identifying and addressing any issues to maintain the integrity of your fire doors.
We believe that necessary repairs should not come with hidden agendas or exorbitant prices. That's why we keep the repair and inspection processes separate, ensuring that our inspectors do not profit from any repair work.
With our expertise, you can have peace of mind knowing that your fire doors are in optimal condition, protecting both property and lives.
Choose Safety With POD
With POD, you can embed reliable and compliant fire door inspections effortlessly. Contact us below for a free consultation:
● Fill out our business enquiry form
● Email us at relationships@podmanagement.co.uk
● Call us on 0333 577 6656
We look forward to hearing from you.