We are a busy team this summer across our varied projects, and part of that work is the replacement of fire doors.
To share the scale of the work we’re talking about, the team will be replacing more than 500 fire doors over the school summer holiday period, at different school estates we are managing.
We assisted the schools with surveys of their existing fire doors to identify which needed to be replaced, and were successful with the subsequent CIF bids that we submitted to be able to fund the works.
Fire safety requirements are regulated in Approved Document B of the building regulations along with associated documents such as the recent Fire Safety Act 2021 and formerly the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These are updated periodically as technology improved or significant events happen with several key changes since the Grenfell disaster.
Buildings are built to the standards required at the time of construction, and periodically as elements of the building are refurbished or replaced, they are brought up to current standards including thermal values and in the case of fire doors to comply with the relevant resistance to fire and smoke in a building. Schools were in fact exempt from Building Regulations until 2001 with the onus on the local authority that was building and maintaining them to ensure they were safe for occupation.
School buildings experience heavy foot traffic, with students constantly moving between classrooms, cafeterias, sports halls, and other facilities. This high usage can lead to wear and tear on infrastructure, particularly on elements like doors, which are critical for both everyday use for security, sound transmission and emergency situations. This high traffic and general wear means they need to be replaced as a whole door set to ensure the door, hinges, glazed panels and frames all work as one unit to protect escape routes and high risk areas.
The need for fire door replacements has been growing, particularly as more schools transition from local authority control to becoming academies. This shift often leaves schools without the dedicated personnel or expertise to manage building maintenance, including the crucial aspect of fire safety.
At ECP, one of the many services we provide is to manage fire safety improvement works. With our knowledge of site maintenance and safety regulations we can help advise what is needed on sites to ensure everywhere is compliant. That includes the replacement and upgrading of fire doors.
When anyone talks of fire safety you cannot help but remember the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017. It has significantly heightened awareness and recognition of fire safety across all premises, both large and small. The tragic event underscored the importance of stringent fire safety measures, making it a critical issue for schools as well.
While our role in replacing fire doors is critical, and the work we are doing is showing how many schools are already addressing, and improving their fire strategy. From a fire safety aspect, school’s have a robust evacuation process in place, with trained fire marshalls responsible for guiding students and staff during emergencies. This teamwork ensures that in the event of an incident, everyone knows what to do and where to go, significantly enhancing the safety and security of all building occupants.
This summer, as we work on replacing over 500 fire doors, we’re proud to contribute to the safety and modernisation of educational facilities. Our work not only updates old infrastructure but also provides peace of mind to school administrations, parents, and students alike, knowing that they are in a well-protected environment.
Want to know more? Send an email to one of our team members today to find out how we can support you.
