Private Landlords: Be Certain, Be Certified.

Bodies with enforcement powers, whether this is for the Housing Act, the Building Regulations or the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), can request evidence that fire doors comply with the legislative requirements.  Compliance can be demonstrated through third-party certification, that states the performance of the installed product and the specification of product conforms with the scope of the certification. This specification should be adhered to and only compatible components used, otherwise challenges can arise, and the fire doors might not provide the levels of fire resistance and smoke control that is required of them.

In addition, to adhere to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords are required to ensure that properties are fit for human habitation for the entirety of the tenancy. This means ensuring the property is free of serious hazards, including exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke through the use of fire doors that can hold back the spread of fire and smoke.

By selecting a fire door that has been third-party certified, landlords and residents can have confidence that the fire door will perform as designed in the event of a fire – but it is important to be aware that correct installation and maintenance are crucial to ensuring this.

The performance requirements of fire doors and their locations within a building are stated in national Building Regulations. Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations that apply to England and Wales lists the various requirements and is divided into parts, with Part B covering fire safety. Each part has an associated Approved Document that provides guidance on how to achieve the requirements.

All fire doors must have the appropriate proof of performance for the ratings they carry. This proof is obtained by subjecting the door to testing to BS 476-22 or to the European equivalent BS EN 1634-1. The door is tested as a complete assembly and can only be assured to replicate the performance if the tested design uses the correct compatible components, including door frames, seals and essential ironmongery.