Fire Door and Regulation 38

Where a building is erected or extended, or has undergone a material change of use, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to that building or extension, Regulation 38 requires that a package of fire safety information must be assembled and given to the ‘Responsible Person’ for the premises.

This package of fire safety information is ‘as built’ information which records the fire safety design of the building or extension

The fire safety information provided should include all fire safety design measures in appropriate detail and with sufficient accuracy to assist the Responsible Person to operate and maintain the building safely. The exact amount of information and level of detail necessary will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the building’s design. Approved Document B, Volumes 1 & 2, 2010 edition (with 2019 amendments) provides a guide for the type of information that should be provided which will depend on the complexity of the building.

In order for the Responsible Person to carry out future fire doors inspections and maintenance, it’s crucial that the correct information concerning all fire door components is handed to them. When we refer to a ‘fire door’, it’s not just the fire door leaf information that is needed, but information relating to the complete fire door assembly.

A fire door assembly is made up of components which are required to make it perform correctly in the event of a fire. These components include the door leaf, frame, seals and essential building hardware which are referred to in the door’s fire test evidence. Using the wrong components may have a significant effect on the overall performance of the fire door, meaning that it may not perform as intended in the event of a fire; endangering lives and property.

The following checklist provides an example of the type of information relating to each individual installed fire door, that you should include in the fire safety handover pack.

1. The location and rating of every fire door in the building.

2. The fire door certificate – which MUST be relevant to each installed fire door.

3. The type of seal (intumescent / smoke seal / acoustic) fitted to the door or frame.

4. Details of the doorframe (hardwood, softwood, MDF etc.) and how that relates to the fire door test.

5. Details of hinges, closers and other essential building hardware (CE marked) and how that relates to the fire door test.

6. Maintenance information for each component, including the door leaf.

7. Frequency of inspection and maintenance, depending on expected usage of the door.

More information relating to Regulation 38 can be found in our dedicated subject fact card – click here to download.