Safety experts Legionella and Fire Safe Services have handed over Fire doors – worth around £1,000 each – to Leicestershire Police For their Method of Entry Training (MOE).
In the wake of the West London high-rise inferno, Grenfell, which took the lives of 72, the company set up an arm of the business to fit and maintain the specialized doors, along with providing Passive Fire Protections services and Critical Fire services to Housing associations, businesses, and local authorities.
Legionella and Fire Safe Services – based operate nationwide and sustainability champions – have an ongoing quantity of the old fire doors that are and have been replaced to meet the current regulations with regards to Fire Safety.
They are now in talks with three other police forces around the country about doing the same.
PC Ged Stacey-Midgley, the Method of Entry Trainer at Leicestershire Police training unit, said: “It is a remarkable act of generosity and one that will save lives by allowing training police officers to learn how break through or break down fire doors, which are now a legal requirement in every housing block in the country.
“We cannot thank Legionella and Fire Safe enough.”
Operations Director Danielle Bayliss from safety compliance company, Legionella and Fire Safe Services, said: “It is great to be helping the local community and our emergency services to potentially save lives.
“Sustainability is very important to us. Doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole is something we are passionate about.”
The idea to donate the used fire doors was that of the Legionella and Fire Safe surveyor Jamie Tooke, who first contacted PC Stacey-Midgley at Leicestershire Police.
Steve Morris Managing Director of Legionella and Fire Safe Services said “I am very impressed with Jamie’s initiative to drive this project, as a Company, we encourage our employees to “think outside the box” and Jamie has done a great job on securing this partnership and it pleases me to think we are helping others to protect and keep people safe, which is what we all strive to do”
The force’s training centre – based in Enderby, Leicestershire – runs various training for their Police officers in relation to Method of Entry, allowing offers to enter secure premises to secure suspects, evidence or preserve life and help people in crisis. Officers use a variety of tools and techniques but need a supply of doors to use.
Officers must undertake regular refresher training. This uses a large number of doors as these are rendered useless after being cut open or smashed down.
Officers in real life situations come across a variety of doors, ranging from hollow internal doors to heavy duty reinforced doors.
These officers will find themselves coming across flat fire rated doors.
Sadly, Grenfell Tower residents were let down by inadequate fire doors, which lacked correct inspection and maintenance.
But in the wake of the disaster, new fire door regulations now state residential buildings above 11 metres in height, property owners and managers must undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors, including self-closing devices in the common areas of the building.
Regular checks are required to identify any apparent damage or issues to fire doors by a designated fire safety person so problems can be resolved to avoid fire disaster.
*For further information about Legionella and Fire Safe Services’ Services please contact 0800 080 3045 or email info@legionellaandfiresafe.co.uk
Police force team up with fire safety experts | Express & Star (expressandstar.com)
ABOUT FIRE DOORS
Fire doors are tested against the elements and purpose-built to withstand roaring fires for as long as possible. They enable buildings to compartmentalise and delay the spread of fire from one area to another.
They have a few vital safety features and really can be the difference between life and death. When closed, they form a barrier to stop the spread of fire. When opened, they provide a means of escape. Because of their importance in protecting lives, it is imperative that fire doors receive regular inspections. Following the Grenfell Tower Tragedy 2017, Dame Judith Hackitt conducted an independent review into building regulations and fire safety. This review led to the creation of the Fire Safety Bill, which was introduced in March 2020 and, in April 2021, made law as the Fire Safety Act 2021. Worryingly, the FDIS highlighted that three quarters of all fire doors inspected in 2019, were condemned as not fit for purpose. In 2021, another report found that the most common reasons for inspection failure – which can be a result of one or multiple issues – were excessive gaps between the door and the frame (77%), care and maintenance issues (54%), and issues over smoke sealing (37%). In almost a third of cases (31%), inspections failed due to improper installation – meaning those doors were never fit to perform the task of holding back fire and smoke.
If you own a commercial or non-domestic property, there are strict regulations and guidelines to follow, ensuring the doors can withstand certain heats. Fire doors should always be fitted correctly by a competent installer, as they are a carefully engineered fire safety device.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), landlords have a responsibility to ensure their properties and tenants are safe. The ‘responsible person’ has a legal responsibility under the FSO and can be criminally prosecuted if they do not fulfil their duties. The responsibility extends to the requirement for a fire risk assessment in all non-domestic buildings, including the common parts of flats or houses with multiple occupation.
Website: legionellaandfiresafe.co.uk
