The scheme also noted that 63% of the buildings inspected ‘had additional fire safety issues’, with 100,000 inspections of over 2,700 UK buildings the basis for the statistics. FDIS also noted that the results ‘highlighted the challenges with fire door installation’, with 30% ‘condemned’ due to ‘poor’ installation issues including ‘excessive gaps around the door’ and ‘use of non-compatible foam’.
Other findings included that 57% of installed fire doors inspected ‘needed small scale maintenance’, while the top three reasons for failures included ‘excessive gaps’, smoke sealing issues and ‘poorly adjusted door closers’, which would ‘prevent the door performing as designed to hold back the spread of fire’. Of those inspected, only 24% that were third party certificated were ‘correctly installed and maintained’, while 40% of these were ‘condemned due to poor maintenance’.
Another 36% of third party certificated fire doors were condemned ‘due to both poor installation and poor maintenance’ – while finally, 16% of the doors inspected by FDIS ‘were not fire doors’ at all. Scheme manager Louise Halton commented: ‘The buildings that our inspectors visit include sleeping accommodation and those that house the elderly, the disabled, and people with mobility or cognitive needs – some of the most vulnerable in our society.
‘However, the latest data shows that the vast majority of fire doors are not fit for purpose. This paints a very worrying picture of the fire safety of the UK’s buildings, and one that we must all play a role in changing for the better to help protect lives. The biggest concern for our inspectors is the lack of knowledge that people have about fire doors.
‘For example, third-party certificated fire doors provide crucial specification information and proof of performance for building owners, but if they are incorrectly installed or not maintained, they will not perform as designed and prevent the spread of fire. The correct specification, installation and ongoing maintenance of a fire door can really mean the difference between life or death for occupants, so it’s vital that building owners take responsibility and ensure that their fire doors are regularly inspected and maintained so as to save lives.’