Published by the Home Office, this guidance explains how to conduct routine checks on fire doors and provides information to residents.
It is aimed at Responsible Persons carrying out simple checks upon a fire door. It is based on the assumption that the fire risk assessment has already assessed the suitability of the fire doors.
The Regulations
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23 January 2023. The Regulations implement the majority of those recommendations made to government in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report which require a change in the law.
Responsible Persons, including both building owners (for example freeholders) and other persons having control of the premises (for example managing agents) are required to comply with the Regulations from 23 January 2023. Any breach of the Regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more relevant persons (for example residents, staff or visitors) at risk of death or serious injury in the event of fire.
Guidance
The guide is intended to assist those with duties under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations to comply with regulation 10, which makes requirements about fire doors in all buildings that contain two or more domestic premises and that contain common parts, through which residents would need to evacuate in a fire.
It is aimed at carrying out simple checks upon a fire door, and is based on the assumption that the fire risk assessment has already assessed the suitability of the fire doors. It is about making sure that the fire doors remain suitable thereafter and match those that were taken into account in the fire risk assessment.
Regulation 10
This means that Regulation 10 applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.
Regulation 10 makes requirements in relation to two matters, namely:
Information about flat entrance doors that the Responsible Person must give to all residents (whether tenants or leaseholders) - this requirement relates to all blocks of flats.
Routine checks of fire doors that the Responsible Person must ensure are carried out - these checks are only required in blocks of flats in which the top storey is more than 11m above ground level (typically, a building of more than four storeys).
The document sets out information about what the law requires, the role of fire doors, and information for residents. The steps for undertaken routine checking of fire doors are also inlcuded.
Home Office January 2023
Below for the full document: