Legislation

The Fire Safety Act 2021

 

In the case of multi-occupied residential buildings, the Fire Safety Act puts beyond doubt that structure, external walls and flat entrance doors fall within the scope of the Fire Safety Order. The Fire Safety Act will require Responsible Persons to ensure that these elements are included in their fire risk assessments if they have not been covered already.

 

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will make it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:

• Undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts

• Undertake – on the best endeavour basis – annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead onto a building’s common parts.
• The regulations will also require responsible persons to provide to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (that have common parts) information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.

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- How often should fire doors be inspected?

 

Depending on the type of building you are responsible for and who occupies it will influence the frequency of fire door inspections required.

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Some buildings, such as schools and hospitals, are subject to heavy traffic and the doors have a hard time often being subject to repeated misuse.

 

BS9999 recommends six monthly inspections and includes guidance on some of the main inspection criteria, but remember that you are responsible for ensuring an adequate inspections and maintenance routine is in place.

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- Residential Buildings:

 

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 makes it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:

• Undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common parts.

• Undertake annual checks of all flat entrance doors that lead onto a building’s common parts.