Following The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, it became a legal requirement from the 23rd January 2023 to ensure that buildings over 11m in height (from the ground floor to the ground level of the top floor) had a responsible person carry out quarterly checks of fire doors in the common parts i.e. utility cupboard doors, internal hallway doors cupboard doors and annual checks of flat entrance doors that lead to the common parts. The responsible persons also need to provide residents with fire safety information relating to the importance of fire doors for building fire safety.

At Sussex Block Management, we have been busy ensuring this has been carried out, for any new buildings or those that don’t already have specific fire door reports we have instructed Fire Risk Assessments/Health & Safety reports and door reports to highlight any that require works. We ensure works are carried out and dates booked in for any regular checks where necessary. It is important to check the lease to see who is responsible for the flat entrance doors. We also provide letters on leaseholder requirements and fire emergency information which is also posted on our leaseholder portal.

Checks should be made for any gaps in the door frame, checking seals and hinges, if there is a sufficient door closer in place and in working order and if there is any damage or any alterations that have been made.

Buildings below 11m are not exempt however, and it is stated that any residential building with 2 or more sets of domestic premises are within the scope of the Fire Safety Order. The responsible person must still ensure there are general fire precautions and that all fire doors are capable of providing adequate fire protection.

There are additional requirements for buildings over 18m see diagram below.