In March, Sentry Fire Safety Group released a new study of fire doors in social housing in England. Using figures from local authorities, they provide a better idea of current standards. Alarmingly, they found serious issues that could mean residents are in harm’s way. We want to have a closer look here. Then, if you want to arrange reliable fire door inspections in Hartlepool and other areas, you can speak to us.
Failures
SFSG sent Freedom of Information requests to local authorities all over England for the study. They asked each authority to provide key data, including social housing numbers, number of fire doors, door certifications, inspections, and how many non-compliant doors were in properties.
While authorities had no obligation to provide data, many did. This allows a useful overview of fire doors in social housing in England. Crucially, it points to some worrying issues with standards and compliance. It also shows regional variations in problems.
The headline finding from the report is 65% of fire doors in social housing in England do not meet the minimum standards. More alarming, there is also a trio of failures; inadequate inspections, performance failures, and slow remediation. The combination means there could be serious fire safety problems. Rely on us if you want to arrange fire door inspections in Hartlepool and other parts of the North East.
A closer look at the problems
One of the most serious findings in the report is the majority of entrance and communal doors (63% and 67%) don’t achieve performance targets. They therefore fail to meet the FD30 standard. This requires that doors be able to resist fire for 30 minutes. It has been part of the Building Regulations for over 30 years, so it is unbelievable that so many doors are not compliant.
There are also big concerns about inspections and remediation. According to the figures, just 46% of entrance doors have had an inspection since the start of 2023. Even when problems are known, it can take a long time for repairs or replacement. A huge 63% of fire doors are awaiting some form of remediation.
Reasons for the issues
Notably, the study claims structural constraints are to blame for the problems with fire doors in social housing in England. This includes key things like a shortage of competent inspectors and installers. Worse, many local authorities are struggling with their finances. Therefore, the pressure to pay for the inspections and remediation of thousands of fire doors can be huge.
Talk to us about fire door inspections in Hartlepool
In the light of their findings, SFSG is recommending changes to policy and practice. This includes things like providing more funding, maintaining records, and introducing deadlines for remediation. Ultimately, they want to address all of the weaknesses to improve fire safety.
If you need to arrange fire door inspections in Hartlepool, you can rely on us. We give clients exceptional services. Crucially, we have competent inspectors and check each door carefully. We’ll identify any issues and give recommendations. So, get in touch today.
