Interest in seeking out third-party certification for fire doors is lagging, according to new research from the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Fire Door Alliance.
In a press release from 5 September 2023, the BWF Fire Door Alliance revealed the results of its latest survey to discover whether attitudes towards third-party certification had changed following the Building Safety Act coming into force.
A total of 1,000 people who share the responsibility for fire door specification, installation, and maintenance were asked a series of questions related to the third-party certification of fire doors. 66% said they were “more likely to seek certification as a consequence of the Building Safety Act”. It was also found that 52% now look for third-party certification to provide proof of performance for a fire door. However, the figures also showed that the total number of fire doors that had been third-party certified was lower in 2023 than in 2022, at 54% and 56% respectively.
Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF Fire Door Alliance, said: “It’s clear that new legislation is having an effect on attitudes towards traceability and accountability in fire safety, which is hugely positive to see. For fire doors specifically, we’re seeing a greater understanding of the benefits that third-party certification can deliver in aligning with the intention of new legislation.
“However, the findings highlighted a disconnect between greater awareness and intent, and the number of third-party certified fire doors being specified. This is concerning and highlights that more guidance and training support are needed to increase uptake. We do anticipate that as legislation leads to more robust systems over traceability, we will see increased demand for third-party certification. Certification provides robust proof of performance and traceability of a fire door’s components, its manufacture and journey through the supply chain. As such, it is a ready-made solution for complying with new regulations.”
The results show that third-party-certified fire doors were most likely to be specified in public buildings, such as hospitals (39%), state schools (39%), and private schools (33%). Social housing, however, saw a significant decline in third-party certification at 11%, which is a decrease from 2022’s survey result of 23%. As the BWF Fire Door Alliance outlined, the “alarming drop suggests that other factors are in play”, such as pressure on social housing budgets.
The survey also investigated the top barriers preventing individuals and organisations from specifying third-party-certified fire doors. 42% stated that it was down to associated costs, a rise from 35% in 2022, and 30% said it was due to the uncertainty surrounding the data needed to demonstrate fire door performance, an increase from 28% in 2022.
While 78% said that they had read the Home Office’s new fire safety documents for responsible persons, 33% admitted that more information from the government would help them improve their understanding of their responsibilities. In addition, the survey data showed that 39% of respondents would like more input from their employers, while 55% said they needed better training support.
Since the Building Safety Act came into force, there has been greater emphasis on the importance of seeking out independent approval of fire doors. As BWF Fire Door Alliance states, “…third-party certified fire doors help ensure legal compliance, but also their importance in improved fire safety performance generally”.
Helen Hewitt adds: “The Building Safety Act is still in its relative infancy and it’s natural that there’s an adjustment period in meeting requirements. The onus isn’t just on organisations or individuals themselves to comply, but it also requires the government, employers, and the fire and building safety industry to continue to provide education and support in navigating these major changes. Only by doing this can we make our buildings safer for all.”
You can access the full report here.