In the wake of serious fire incidents across the UK, local authorities face mounting pressure to enhance fire safety measures in public buildings. For Birmingham City Council and similar bodies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland responsible for schools, social housing, and community facilities, implementing comprehensive fire safety strategies is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental duty of care to residents. Local government responsibilities now include ensuring the highest standards of fire safety across all public buildings under their management.
What practical steps can local authorities take to enhance fire safety in their buildings?
For local authorities, compromising on building safety is never an option. The first step for any local authority is conducting comprehensive fire risk assessments across their property portfolio. A greater understanding of fire doors and their components, including testing and certification, regulations and standards, inspection, and maintenance is needed. Birmingham City Council, like other organisations in the West Midlands and throughout the UK, should look at the following practical solutions.
Prioritising fire-rated products
Whether replacing existing fire doors or installing new ones in social housing or municipal buildings, integrating properly certified fire-rated doors and windows stands as a cornerstone of any robust fire safety strategy. These specialised products are designed to contain flames and smoke for designated periods, creating crucial evacuation time during emergencies. When local authorities specify these products for new builds or refurbishments, they’re making a significant investment in occupant safety.
For local authorities across England, Wales, and Scotland, fire doors must meet stringent testing requirements under BS 476-22 or EN 1634-1, providing resistance ratings from 30 minutes (FD30) to 120 minutes (FD120) depending on the building’s requirements.
The critical role of certified fire doors in public buildings
For buildings managed by Birmingham City Council and other local authorities across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, properly specified and manufactured fire doors represent a critical safety feature and can be the difference between life and death if a fire breaks out. A fire door is It’s also crucial that trained fire door installers are used.
What must local authorities look for?
Any fire door installed must have a Field of Application from the manufacturer, which is the document that collates all the test evidence and makes the official statement that door sets within the size ranges listed are all compliant. Without it, the right door will not be fitted, making the consequences potentially catastrophic.
All fire doors must be third party audited for both fire and security compliance and have third party certification, which provides an additional level of assurance that the product is produced to the same specification and quality as that originally tested, and that the original test behaviour and criteria is both met and reliably maintained consistently.
Navigating the complex regulatory landscape
The regulatory landscape for building and fire safety has evolved substantially in recent years, particularly in the wake of recent legislative changes, and the requirements for fire door specification and installation have never been more demanding. With the Building Safety Act’s ‘golden thread’ requirements introducing unprecedented demands for documentation and test evidence, local authorities face heightened scrutiny, and regulators now have enhanced powers to hold landlords accountable for non-compliance.
When it comes to fire doors, local authorities must reference and carefully check the manufacturer’s test evidence/certification and documentation for proposed fire door sets to ensure that it demonstrates compliance and meets the performance requirement in the Building Regulations guidance for fire resistance and smoke control from both sides.
How are fire safety standards evolving for social housing?
For local authorities with substantial social housing responsibilities, the standards for fire safety continue to evolve. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, organisations across London and the UK have reassessed their approach to fire safety in multi-occupancy dwellings. Current best practices include comprehensive documentation of all fire door installations and maintenance; regular communication with residents about fire safety measures; and clear evacuation procedures
How can Birmingham City Council and local authorities develop effective maintenance strategies?
Even the highest-quality fire safety products require regular inspection and maintenance. Local authorities throughout the UK should establish comprehensive testing schedules that include fire door inspections, emergency lighting system testing, fire alarm system testing and regular assessment of evacuation routes and signage.
Building safety knowledge among staff and residents
Facility managers, maintenance teams, and building users all play essential roles in fire safety. Local authorities should invest in regular training programmes covering evacuation procedures, fire door operation, and early hazard identification.
For residents in local authority housing, providing clear guidance on the importance of fire doors and how to maintain them properly is equally important. This collaborative approach ensures that fire safety becomes everyone’s responsibility.
A collaborative approach
Birmingham City Council and other local authorities throughout the UK achieve the best fire safety results when working in partnership with fire safety experts and specialist manufacturers. By engaging with certified suppliers who understand the unique requirements of public buildings, councils can develop tailored solutions that address specific challenges within their estates.
By implementing these strategies, local authorities can significantly enhance fire safety across their building portfolio, protecting communities while fulfilling their statutory obligations. When lives depend on critical safety features performing as designed, choosing the right partners for fire safety solutions becomes an essential decision for responsible public bodies.
Shelforce: Supporting fire safety for local authorities
At Shelforce, we understand the unique challenges faced by Birmingham City Council and local authorities throughout the UK when implementing fire safety measures. As a trusted manufacturer and supplier of fully compliant fire doors specifically designed for local authority projects, we combine technical expertise with practical knowledge of municipal building requirements.
A fully compliant fire door
Our flagship Fireshel 30-minute fire, smoke, and security resistant door system delivers superior fire protection while meeting all current regulations. Having been fire tested from both sides to EN1634-1 and achieving impressive 49-minute fire resistance, our products exceed the standard requirements to provide maximum safety for building occupants.
Decades of experience
With decades of experience serving local authorities, we understand what matters most: helping councils meet their regulatory obligations while working within budget constraints. We provide comprehensive documentation for our Fireshel, including vital test evidence and Field of Application certificates, ensuring local authorities have everything needed to demonstrate compliance.
Get in touch for your next project
By partnering with Shelforce, local authorities gain not just high-quality fire doors but also access to expertise that helps navigate the complex landscape of building safety regulations.
Contact Shelforce today to discuss your next fire door project.
