Setting the standard for compliance and certification

Phase 1 of the Grenfell Inquiry highlighted the inadequacies of the government’s previous regulatory regimes, with particular focus on the insufficient consistency of manufacture, installation and maintenance and demonstration of compliance fire doors. 

Allowing the flow of traffic around a building, fire doors have two main functions. Firstly, they must provide a barrier to stop the spread of fire and smoke when closed, whilst secondly offering a safe means of escape when open. 

Because these components play such a crucial role in ensuring the safety of a building and its occupants, it is vital that in the event of a fire, the door will perform with the required integrity.  

In response to the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry, the recent release of the draft legislation outlined within the Construction Products Regulations 2022, places requirements on the general safety principles that all construction products being placed on the UK market must meet. This marks the government’s latest efforts to reform the testing and certification of building components, to overcome the concerning ambiguities regarding what compliance looks like and how it should be achieved.

Some construction products are still being placed on the market with critical performance criteria being evidenced primarily by assessment. Whilst assessments may be based on test data, this method does not take into account the consistency of manufacture and product configuration control. 

However, other manufacturers are undertaking comprehensive testing and certification processes by a registered third party, which are regularly updated and re-submitted. This has created significant inconsistencies throughout the industry with regard to the level of testing each product undergoes and how often.

Whilst the introduction of the government’s new measures aim to overcome these discrepancies. Door manufacturers should utilise this opportunity to not only adhere to current standards and regulations but adopt a proactive approach to testing and certification that ensures compliance with future legislative updates. This not only demonstrates best practice but supports customers in successfully ensuring the installation is both fit for purpose and fit for the future.

To achieve this, door manufacturers can choose hardware that has already undergone independent testing and where applicable, third party certification. To give confidence that the critical components they specify are subject to third party surveillance and will therefore perform consistently not just during initial approval testing for the door set, but throughout the service life of doors in service. 

By choosing certified hardware and decorative furniture from the same supplier, door manufacturers can not only give customers the confidence the door will provide a suitable barrier in the event of a fire, but also offer the greatest breadth of choice in the design and personalisation of the entire doorset. This aids manufacturers in continuing to respond to the latest industry trends from a design perspective, whilst still fulfilling their obligation to ensure the highest standards of fire safety and security.