Proposed revisions to Part B (fire safety) of the Building Regulations reinforce the message of the British Woodworking Federation‘s (BWF) Certifire Fire Door & Doorset Scheme, according to federation director Richard Lambert.
The proposals, currently undergoing public consultation, for the first time recommend checking that a fire door installation complies with the test evidence for the complete installed assembly. The draft guidelines stipulate that small variations affect a fire door’s ability to withstand fire in accordance with its rating.
Mr Lambert said this proposal backed the Certifire scheme’s drive to promote the “vital importance” of using compatible components in fire doors.
But he said the recommendation to remove the current requirement for fire doors in houses to have self-closers, due to people disabling them or wedging doors open, would provoke debate.
Mr Lambert said: “While this may seem a pragmatic measure, it doesn’t increase safety standards and the BWF is consequently still considering its response.”
The BWF, which is co-ordinating a formal response based on members’ views, also supports the growing role of residential sprinklers as outlined in the Part B revision but says they must not reduce existing requirements for fire doors.
A summary of the main proposals and their implications for the joinery sector will be published shortly on the BWF website at www.bwf.org.uk, while the full Part B consultation document can be viewed at www.odpm.gov.uk/buildingregs.
