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How Landlords Can Ensure Fire Door Compliance in the UK

As a landlord, fire door safety is a critical responsibility. Ensuring adequate fire safety measures are in place is a legal obligation; to protect both your tenants and your property. Fire doors play a pivotal role in preventing the rapid spread of fire and smoke, providing crucial time for safe evacuation. However, lack of compliance can lead to severe consequences, as evidenced by the recent case of two Cardiff landlords fined over £20,000 for neglecting fire safety standards

This guide empowers landlords with knowledge on fire door regulations, inspections, and maintenance. Learn how to comply with UK fire safety laws and avoid penalties. Lyons Fire Safety (LFS) is here to help you understand your fire safety responsibility.

Landlord Fire Safety Obligations - The Legal Framework

Under the Housing Act 2004 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, landlords are designated as the legally responsible person for fire safety in their rental properties. This means you have a duty to ensure adequate fire safety provisions are in place and properly maintained, including:

  • Conducting annual fire risk assessments (LFS offers professional certified assessments)
  • Installing working smoke alarms on each floor
  • Providing fire extinguishers and blankets in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
  • Ensuring all internal flat doors are certified fire doors
  • Maintaining clear evacuation routes and fire exits
  • Following fire door regulations for installation and hardware (Lyons Fire Safety installs code-compliant fire doors)

Landlords, as responsible parties, shoulder the cost of fire safety, not tenants. Non-compliance leads to harsh penalties.

LFS makes fulfilling your legal obligations simple. We offer comprehensive fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, supply, installation, and maintenance – all by trained experts. We guarantee your rentals meet the latest UK fire safety standards, safeguarding your investment and your tenants.

You can read more about our detailed process on our dedicated page – Lyons Fire Safety UK Fire Door Inspections. We go over our services, how we carry out inspection and surveys. Get in contact with Lyons Fire Safety if you’re in need of a robust fire door inspection for any property.

Fire Door Requirements for Rental Properties

The requirements for fire doors in rental properties in the UK are not solely based on the year the property was built, but rather specific regulations and standards.

Fire doors must meet certain British standards such as BS 476 and BS EN 1634-1 which dictate appropriate fire resistance testing and grading. These are tests carried out by the manufactures of the doors themselves.

  • The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 made it a legal requirement from January 23, 2023 for responsible persons of multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 meters tall to conduct quarterly fire door checks and annual checks of all flat entrance doors leading to common areas.
  • If a rental property is not an HMO, fire doors are not legally required unless mandated by a local selective licensing scheme requiring additional fire safety measures.

A certified fire door assembly comprises the door, frame, glazing, intumescent seals, and compatible ironmongery like hinges, closers, latches and locks that have been tested together.

Proper installation and maintenance of fire doors is critical to ensure effectiveness. If faults are found, maintenance must be done to keep doors fit for purpose or replacement may be needed.

Don’t install fire doors alone! Consult professionals for guaranteed compliance with local regulations. Regular inspections and maintenance are key to maintaining fire resistance.

Lyons Fire Safety is here to help. We guide you through fire door requirements, perform certified compliance inspections, supply and install proper fire door assemblies, and guarantee your properties meet all fire safety obligations.

Importance of Regular Fire Door Inspections

While fire doors are engineered to resist fire and smoke, their effectiveness can be compromised by lack of maintenance, damage, or improper installation. That’s why regular professional inspections are crucial. We can identify any issues that could put your property and tenants at risk.

As a landlord, you should have all fire doors:

  • Professionally inspected at least annually
  • Checked during routine maintenance visits or between tenancies
  • Promptly repaired or replaced if defects are found during inspections

Proactive Fire Door Maintenance and Replacement

In addition to scheduled inspections, landlords should have a proactive maintenance plan in place to ensure fire doors remain in optimal condition. If you choose us, at LFS, to carry out maintenance, these are the key areas we focus on post-inspection:

  • Ensuring doors are properly sealed and fitted in frames
  • Checking door closers operate correctly and adjust as needed
  • Verifying intumescent strips (which expand in heat) are undamaged
  • Replacing any fire door hardware that is defective or compromised
  • Keeping fire doors clear of obstructive items that could impede closing

If fire door replacements are needed, we ensure that new doors are certified to meet the appropriate British fire resistance standards (BS 476 or BS EN 1634-1) for your property type.

landlord fire door safety. fire door inspection - carried out by LFS

Prioritise fire safety! Professional inspections, routine maintenance, certified replacements, and clear documentation ensure compliance, protect your tenants, and avoid penalties. All from us, at LFS.

FAQs: Landlord Fire Door Safety

Not necessarily. Fire doors are legally mandated for the entrance doors of individual flats that open onto shared/communal areas in multi-occupancy buildings over 11m tall. However, for standard rental properties that are not HMOs, fire doors may not be strictly required unless specified by local selective licensing schemes.

Consult your local fire safety regulations and conduct a fire risk assessment, ideally through an accredited professional. The assessment will evaluate factors like the building’s height, layout, and number of occupants and existing fire protection to determine appropriate fire door requirements.

Lack of proper fire-rated doors in the required areas contravenes fire safety laws like the Regulatory Reform Order and Housing Act. This could lead to enforcement action from local authorities including fines, prosecution, and potential closure of unsafe properties until violations are remedied.

There is no definitive lifespan, as it depends on factors like the quality of components, intensity of use, and proper maintenance. However, fire doors should be replaced if they can no longer be restored to full compliance through repairs and maintenance, typically after 20-25 years of use.

While possible for experienced landlords, fire door installation must rigidly follow all specifications and standards. Any mistakes in components, fitting or lack of third-party certification can severely compromise fire resistance. It’s advisable to get in contact with us at Lyons Fire Safety to ensure full compliance.

Don't Risk Non-Compliance: Contact Lyons Fire Safety

For landlords, diligent fire door compliance through proper installation, regular inspections, and proactive maintenance is not only mandated by UK fire safety regulations, but a fundamental duty to safeguard lives and property.

Don’t compromise on fire safety and risk penalties or liabilities. Partner with Lyons Fire Safety to ensure your rental properties meet all fire door regulations through:

  • In-depth fire risk assessments
  • Detailed inspections identifying any deficiencies
  • Replacement of non-compliant fire door assemblies
  • Installations following certification standards
  • Scheduled maintenance and repair services

Protect your tenants, secure your investment, and gain peace of mind knowing your fire safety responsibilities as a landlord are fully covered. Contact Lyons Fire Safety today to discuss your fire door needs.

Phone: 0121 517 0562

Email: david@lyonsfiresafety.co.uk

Lyons Fire Safety: Landlords’ Trusted Partner for Comprehensive Fire Door Compliance Solutions