£33,700 Penalty Highlights the Importance of Fire Door Checks and Maintenance
A recent prosecution involving a guest house near Shepton Mallet has provided another serious reminder that fire safety measures cannot simply be installed a
nd forgotten.
Prestleigh Inn B&B Limited was fined £26,000 and ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £5,700 in legal costs after admitting multiple fire safety offences. The case was brought by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service following concerns raised by a guest.
When fire safety inspectors visited the five bedroom property, they identified several significant failures. These included:
• No suitable fire risk assessment
• A fire alarm system displaying nine faults
• No evidence of regular alarm maintenance
• Inadequate maintenance of emergency lighting and firefighting equipment
• Defective fire doors affecting the escape routes
The conditions were considered serious enough for legal notices to be issued prohibiting anyone from sleeping at the premises until the necessary remedial work had been completed.
Fire Doors Are a Critical Life Safety Measure
Fire doors are designed to slow the movement of fire, heat and smoke through a building.
When correctly installed, closed and maintained, they help to protect escape routes and provide occupants with valuable additional time to leave the premises safely. They can also help contain a fire within one area, reducing the risk to other parts of the building.
A fire door that does not close correctly, has damaged seals or has excessive gaps around its frame may not provide the protection expected from it.
Fire doors can become damaged through everyday use. Hinges may loosen, self closing devices can stop working, seals can become damaged and doors may be wedged open for convenience.
These problems may appear minor, but during a fire they can allow smoke and flames to spread rapidly into corridors, staircases and other escape routes.
Government guidance confirms that those responsible for premises must complete and record a suitable fire risk assessment and put appropriate fire precautions in place. These measures must then be maintained in good working order.
What Should a Fire Door Inspection Include?
Checks should include:
Door condition
The door should be free from significant damage, holes, splits or unauthorised alterations that could affect its fire resistance.
Door gaps
The gaps between the door and its frame must be suitable and consistent. Excessive gaps may allow smoke and fire to pass around the door.
Hinges and fixings
Hinges should be secure, correctly fitted and appropriate for the weight and fire rating of the door.
Self closing devices
A fire door should close fully into its frame from any position without assistance. It should not catch on flooring, the frame or other objects.
Intumescent strips and smoke seals
These should be correctly installed, continuous and free from paint, damage or missing sections.
Glazing and vision panels
Any glazing must be suitable for use within a fire resisting doorset and should not be cracked, damaged or incorrectly replaced.
Door frames
The frame must be secure and compatible with the door. Damage or gaps between the frame and surrounding wall may affect the performance of the doorset.
Ironmongery
Handles, locks, latches and other fittings should operate correctly and must not compromise the door’s fire resistance.
Signage
Where required, doors should display the correct fire door signage, including instructions to keep the door shut or locked.
Maintenance Is Just as Important as Installation
Installing a certified fire door is only the beginning.
Doors in busy buildings can experience considerable wear. Hotels, guest houses, care homes, schools, offices, residential developments and commercial premises may have doors opening and closing hundreds of times each week.
Without regular inspection and maintenance, a compliant doorset can gradually become ineffective.
The frequency of checks should be determined by the building’s fire risk assessment, the type of premises and how heavily each door is used. Doors in busy or higher risk locations may need to be inspected more frequently.
Any defects should be recorded, prioritised and repaired by a competent person. Where a door cannot be repaired to an acceptable standard, replacement may be required.
Property managers should also maintain clear records showing:
• When inspections were completed
• Which doors were checked
• What defects were identified
• What remedial action was required
• When repairs were completed
• Who carried out the inspection or repair
These records can provide important evidence that fire safety responsibilities are being actively managed.
The Responsible Person Remains Accountable
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, responsibility for fire safety usually sits with the person who owns, manages or has control of the premises.
This may include an employer, landlord, managing agent, building operator or business owner.
Appointing a contractor to complete inspections or assessments does not remove this responsibility. The Responsible Person must make sure that suitable assessments are completed, recommendations are acted upon and fire safety systems remain properly maintained.
A lack of knowledge is not a defence. In the Shepton Mallet case, the company accepted that it could not rely on its lack of fire safety knowledge to excuse the offences.
Do Not Wait for an Incident or Complaint
In this case, the investigation began after a guest raised concerns.
Businesses should not wait for an occupant, employee, visitor or enforcement officer to identify serious fire safety defects.
Regular fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and planned maintenance allow problems to be identified before they place people at risk.
They can also help organisations avoid:
• Enforcement or prohibition notices
• Business interruption
• Expensive emergency repairs
• Criminal prosecution
• Significant financial penalties
• Reputational damage
• Risk of serious injury or loss of life
How Legionella and Fire Safe Services Can Help
Legionella and Fire Safe Services provides professional fire safety support to organisations across the UK.
Our services include:
• Fire risk assessments
• Fire door inspections and surveys
• Fire door installation
• Fire door repairs and maintenance
• Passive fire inspections
• Fire stopping inspections and remedial works
• Ongoing fire safety compliance support
Our team can identify defects, provide clear recommendations and help you put an effective inspection and maintenance programme in place.
Fire doors play an essential role in protecting lives and preserving safe escape routes. They must be correctly specified, properly installed and routinely maintained.
To arrange a fire door inspection, fire risk assessment or passive fire survey, contact Legionella and Fire Safe Services on 0800 080 3045.
Email : info@legionellaandfiresafe.co.uk
