FIRE DOORS IN APARTMENT BLOCKS - A BRIEF GUIDE
As with all fire safety measures, fire doors need to be kept in good working order and in good repair. There are strict building regulations in place relating to the use of fire doors.
If you are an apartment block owner, or are looking to invest in a building that contains multiple residence, it's vital that you are up to speed with what the law requires.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended) (‘the FSO’) requires that, in a block of flats, there are suitable fire precautions in place to make sure that the common parts are safe to use as a means of escape in the event of fire.
Responsible persons, including landlords and freeholders are typically responsible for the maintenance of fire doors within an apartment block but may instruct a specialist management company such as Smith and Sons to assume responsibly and ensure regular checks are carried out, as well as any improvements made following amendments to legislation. When defects are found, action must be taken to ensure that the door in question is either fixed or replaced immediately.
Speaking on behalf of the Residential Block Management team, Property Manager, Danny Greenland said: “Smith and Sons carry out and arrange regular site inspections and fire risk assessments at all of our managed properties to give landlords and residents total peace of mind, guaranteeing that every aspect of their property management is in the hands of our expert team. Checks on communal area fire doors should be carried out at least every three months”
“In England, fire doors within apartment blocks need to meet Fire Safety regulations meaning that the frame, hinges, ironmongery, signage, and closers should be certified as fire resistant to the same level as the door itself. Fire doors typically will offer 30- or 60-minute fire resistance. The door must also include automatic closers and intumescent strips around it, creating a seal that prevents the passage of fire and smoke”
“If the top storey of an apartment building is above 11 metres in height, all flat entrance doors should be checked at least every 12 months. Smith and Sons arrange fire door surveys and incorporate this aspect of maintenance into our property management package. This means that we can also assist flat owners if they need to upgrade their flat entrance door to meet the specific fire regulations.”
Smith and Sons manage over 500 properties for landlords across Liverpool, Merseyside and the North West and are specialists in Residential Block Management, a niche area of the UK property sector.
For further information on Residential Block Management contact the Smith and Sons team on 0151 647 9272.
