Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 113 THE door industry journal winter 2023 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security dhf Throws its Support Behind New Fire Safety Regulations In a significant move to bolster fire safety standards in the United Kingdom, the Door & Hardware Federation (dhf) has thrown its full support behind the latest fire safety regulations introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022, specifically in Section 156. This new legislation marks Phase 3 of the Home Office’s ongoing commitment to enhancing fire safety in higher-risk buildings. Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 introduces several crucial amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). These changes are set to improve fire safety in all buildings regulated by the FSO, further building upon Phase 1 (the Fire Safety Act 2021) and Phase 2 (the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022). The new fire safety regulations took effect on October 1, 2023. Key provisions of Phase 3 aim to strengthen fire safety across all premises regulated by the FSO. These measures include fostering better cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons (RPs), imposing more stringent requirements for the recording and sharing of fire safety information, and ensuring the continual documentation of fire safety throughout a building’s entire lifespan. Importantly, it aims to make comprehensive fire safety information accessible to building residents and streamline enforcement processes for authorities. Michael Skelding, General Manager and Secretary of dhf explains that while certain requirements, such as the necessity for a competent person to conduct risk assessments, may not be implemented immediately, it is vital to begin preparations and consider the competency of those involved. These updates are seen as a significant step toward realising the principles outlined in the ‘Golden Thread’ report proposed by Dame Judith Hackitt. The implementation of these amendments is expected to lead to improved collaboration between Responsible Persons (RPs) and building owners, simplification of fire safety regulation enforcement, comprehensive access to fire safety information for residents, and the establishment of robust fire safety information management and record-keeping practices throughout a building’s lifetime. dhf has been an outspoken advocate for fire safety, particularly concerning third-party certified complete doorsets. This commitment has grown even stronger since the Grenfell fire disaster in June 2017. The dhf has consistently stressed the importance of fire doorset inspections being conducted by competent individuals. This move is part of a broader effort to elevate fire safety standards in the United Kingdom, aligning with the evolving legal and regulatory landscape. As the Building Safety Act 2022 comes into full effect, organisations like dhf are standing up for the safety of all building occupants and contributing to a safer built environment in the UK. Amending the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – a timeline of events The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 placed the responsibility on individuals within an organisation to carry out risk assessments to identify, manage and reduce the risk of fire on premises for which they were responsible. This represented a major change in the law; previously, under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, all public and commercial buildings, and all non-single-household domestic dwellings (apart from houses in multiple occupation), were required to hold a valid fire safety certificate issued annually after an inspection by the Fire Service. Following the Grenfell fire, this important piece of fire safety legislation for England and Wales has now been amended in three phases: • First, the Fire Safety Act 2021 extended the Order to apply to external walls, including balconies, doors, and windows, and also to internal doors between the common parts of the building and domestic premises. This ensured that flat entrance doors were included in the Order, which had previously been a moot point. These changes applied from 16 May 2022 under the Fire Safety Act 2021 (Commencement) Regulations 2022. • Second, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 created further responsibilities for Responsible Persons for buildings that contain two or more sets of domestic premises and have common parts through which residents would need to evacuate in case of emergency. With effect from 23 January 2023, these Responsible Persons had to provide fire safety information and information about fire doors to residents. Where the building exceeded 11 metres in height, additional duties included quarterly checks on fire doors in communal areas and annual checks on flat entrance doors. Further duties for ‘high rise’ buildings over 18 metres included provision of wayfinding signage and a secure information box for use by fire crews, sending plans of the building and details of external wall construction to the fire and rescue authority, and carrying out monthly checks of lifts and essential fire-fighting equipment. • Finally, section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 1 October 2023 in accordance with The Building Safety Act 2022 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023. This measure aims to improve cooperation between Responsible Persons, to ensure residents receive comprehensive information about fire safety, and also to improve record-keeping and sharing of information to create a continual record throughout the building’s lifespan. The powers of enforcement authorities in relation to non-compliance are also enhanced.
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