On the 14th June 2017, a devastating fire tore through Grenfell Tower in West London, resulting in the tragic loss of 72 lives. The fire, which originated in a fourth-floor flat, spread rapidly up the 24-storey residential block. The speed of the spread highlighted significant failures in both the building’s fire safety systems and current fire safety regulations.
One of the reasons that the fire may have spread so quickly was that many of the fire doors in the building were improperly installed. This allowed smoke and flames to spread, making evacuation difficult. So, what has changed since Grenfell? And will these changes make fire doors, and the buildings they’re installed in, safer?
Fire doors are crucial for building safety. Designed to compartmentalise and contain flames and smoke, they provide protected escape routes, limit building damage and help prevent the spread of fire.
Before the Grenfell fire, fire door standards stated that doors should be able to resist fire for specified periods (generally 30 or 60 minutes) to allow time for evacuation and firefighting. However, the Grenfell Inquiry later exposed significant compliance and performance issues with the fire doors installed in the building. This fire door failure may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and the devastating loss of life.
During the Grenfell fire, many fire doors installed in the block failed. Evidence revealed by the inquiry showed that the fire doors in the tower differed from the tested manufacturer's specifications.
Identical fire doors failed tests following Grenfell. Many of the internal fire doors to flats were unable to resist fire for the required 30 minutes. Shockingly, some refurbished doors failed after just 15 minutes, with others failing within 20 minutes.
Following Grenfell, there have been significant changes in fire safety regulations. These changes aim to prevent similar tragedies in the future. One of the most important changes is that fire door testing will now be done to a higher standard to ensure products meet declared ratings. For example, doors will be inspected to ensure that the fire-rated expanding foam, hinges and closing devices used meet required safety standards.
What’s more, the "Golden Thread" principle has gained prominence. This requires building information, including fire door records, to be comprehensive, accurate and accessible throughout a building’s life cycle.
The Grenfell Tower fire profoundly impacted the future of building design, particularly in regard to fire safety measures. There is now an increased focus on ensuring that all of the components of a building’s fire safety system, including fire doors, are fully compliant and correctly installed.
The tragedy also underscored the importance of accountability in fire door manufacturing and installation. Manufacturers now face great scrutiny, and there is amplified responsibility across the supply chain for accurate information and proper installation.
Partly due to the failure and improper installation of fire doors, Grenfell Tower became one of the deadliest fires of modern times. By raising standards across the industry and ensuring all fire doors are properly installed using tested, fire-resistant materials, we can work to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Contact us to find out more.
Image source: Canva