Fire Safety and Fire Door Checks: Ensuring Compliance and Protecting Lives
At Sureserve, we’re committed to helping social housing landlords maintain safe, compliant, and efficient properties. Our Property Inspection Services are designed to streamline essential inspections, ensuring you meet regulatory requirements with minimal disruption.
Understanding Your Fire Safety Responsibilities
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)[1], social housing landlords must ensure their properties adhere to fire safety regulations. A designated "responsible person" is legally required to conduct fire risk assessments in non-domestic areas, including shared spaces in flats and HMOs (houses in multiple occupation).
Failure to comply with fire safety regulations can lead to criminal prosecution, making it essential for landlords to stay up to date with legal obligations.
Landlords must ensure the following fire safety measures are in place[2]:
- Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property.
- Any faulty smoke alarms must be repaired or replaced promptly.
- Carbon monoxide alarms must be installed if there is a gas appliance in a habitable room, such as bedrooms or living rooms.
- Self-closing fire doors must be installed in front doors of flats and communal areas.
- A fire risk assessment must be carried out, and any identified fire risks or hazards should be removed or minimised as much as possible.
- Fire exits and escape routes should remain unobstructed and clearly marked.
The Importance of Fire Safety Doors
Fire doors play a crucial role in fire safety by preventing the spread of fire and smoke. They are designed to restrict a fire within a certain area, slowing the spread of a fire and buying precious time for residents to evacuate and for emergency services to respond.
However, fire doors can only perform their function if they are properly maintained and used correctly. A fire door that is damaged or propped open will not provide protection.
To ensure fire doors remain effective[3]:
- Regular checks should be done to check that self-closing mechanisms work properly.
- Seals and hinges must be inspected for signs of wear or damage.
- The door must fit well within its frame and close fully without obstruction.
- Fire doors should never be left propped open.
How Sureserve Ensures Fire Safety Compliance
At Sureserve, we incorporate fire safety into our Property Safety Inspections, providing landlords with a thorough inspection of fire doors, alarms, emergency escape routes, and communal areas. Our team ensures that fire safety equipment is functioning correctly and highlights any potential hazards that may compromise tenant safety.
Our Property Inspections offer an efficient, data-driven approach to housing stock management, helping clients stay ahead of compliance requirements while proactively addressing potential risks.
Prioritising fire safety isn’t just a legal requirement - it’s a vital step in protecting lives and properties.
Contact us
For more information about our fire door safety checks and other property compliance services, contact us today.
Find out more about Sureserve's Property Safety Checks.