Fire Doors: Are We Doing Enough After Grenfell?

The Grenfell Tower fire serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety in buildings. One crucial element is fire-resistant doors. These doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and give occupants precious time to evacuate.

Regulatory bodies need to strengthen enforcement measures to identify companies selling uncertified fire doors.

However, there's a concerning issue within the fire door industry which is unregulated manufacturers. While fire certification exists, it seems the industry hasn't done enough to crack down on those who bypass these critical regulations.

Here's why this matters

Uncertified doors = compromised safety:

Fire doors that haven't been properly tested and certified simply cannot be relied upon to perform as expected in a fire. This places residents and building occupants at immense risk.

Unregulated manufacturers can offer lower prices by cutting corners on materials and construction. This creates unfair competition for legitimate manufacturers who prioritise safety.

Grenfell - a wake-up call not yet heeded?

The Grenfell Tower fire shone a spotlight on building safety issues, including fire doors. Yet, it seems the industry hasn't addressed the problem of unregulated manufacturers with the urgency it deserves.

What can be done?

Increased enforcement: ?

• Regulatory bodies need to strengthen enforcement measures to identify companies selling uncertified fire doors.

Transparency in the supply chain: ?

• Greater transparency is needed throughout the supply chain, ensuring all fire doors used in construction projects are demonstrably certified.

Procurement knowledge:

• Understanding what fire certifications/accreditations should be present from the manufacturing company when buying products that could have real life impacts on the end user.

Prioritising safety over profit: ?

• The industry as a whole must prioritise safety over profit margins. This means actively weeding out bad actors and promoting the use of properly certified fire doors.

Let's learn the lessons of Grenfell and ensure the industry prioritises safety. We owe it to the victims and everyone who deserves to feel safe in their homes and buildings.