Fire safety compliance has always been important to keep people safe. However, post-Grenfell, fire compliance has been brought into the public eye with the Building Safety Act 2022, The Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety Regulations 2022.
Fire Safety Compliance is a critical part of the design process for new projects and existing developments are now reviewing the fire safety of their buildings. The latest regulations have made fire safety compliance a critical consideration for all projects and there are now consequences for not considering the fire safety of the building as a system.
What is Fire Safety Compliance?
Fire Safety compliance is adhering to legal standards and regulations: for example, the type of fire door needed for the building, installing alarms and fire extinguishers throughout the building. When the building is designed, it is crucial to follow the standards and regulations to ensure the building is compliant, this could mean deciding on the type of fire door that needs to be installed to help contain the fire.
Maintaining fire doors is an essential part of fire safety. Fire doors help to contain smoke and flames, preventing them from spreading throughout a building and giving people more time to evacuate. To ensure that fire doors perform their function effectively, regular maintenance is crucial. Regular maintenance could include checking for damage, inspecting seals, checking the hinges and making sure the labels are clear and visible. Making fire compliance a non-negotiable priority for safety.
The Importance of Fire Safety
Fire Safety hugely matters in the construction industry and to ensure buildings are safe and adhere to the standards is crucial. Fire safety prevents the loss of lives, fires can spread quickly, and having proper safety measures in place can save lives by providing people with enough time to evacuate and escape harm.
Fires can cause significant damage to buildings, equipment, and valuable assets. Fire safety measures, such as sprinklers, fire exits, and fire alarms, help minimise the risk of fire damage and protect both tangible assets and the overall business.
Fire causes thousands of injuries yearly and will continue to rise if buildings are not compliant, making fire safety a moral and practical necessity.
Benefits of Fire Safety Compliance
Buildings that are fire safety compliant come with tangible perks for contractors and developers. The main and key benefits include reduced fire risk, lower insurance premiums and finally peace of mind for occupants. Having fire-rated doors in your building will enhance the building’s resilience by protecting it from fire and smoke if a fire does start, which is highly appealing for facility managers.
Penalties for Non-compliance of Fire Safety Law
Most contractors or developers are unaware of what are the penalties for non-compliance with fire safety laws. The main penalties you would get are fines, normally in the UK it is thousands of pounds. Legal action can be taken or even imprisonment for severe breaches. Being non-compliant can also void insurance and could possibly harm your reputation. To avoid these penalties, all you simply need to do is follow the fire safety compliance laws and regulations, it is key to remember that some buildings may have different rules to comply with.
How to ensure Fire Safety Compliance?
To ensure fire safety compliance, you can simply follow these steps:
- Conduct risk assessments
- Install certified fire-rated products (Here at Selo we have a range of fire-rated doors that will be suited to your next project)
- Train staff (regular training would be required)
- Regular inspections
- To keep up to date on laws to help boost safety. This is hugely vital at the minute as there are some big changes coming in the next 5 years in the construction industry.
Why compliance is worth the effort?
Compliance is worth the effort as it’s an investment in safety, legality, and long-term savings, which no one can compromise on. Fire safety products are usually more expensive, but this is due to the crucial benefits they come with and should be prioritised over non-compliant products. Non-compliant products can lead to fires which will end in damage which will then require more money to be spent in the long term.
Fire safety compliance is a vital shield against disaster—saving lives, avoiding penalties, and ensuring peace of mind. Here at Selo, we understand choosing the right fire safety products can be difficult, so we have a dedicated team on hand to help you specify the correct fire door needed for your development.
If you have any questions on fire doors or fire safety compliance, get in touch today!