What can we learn from the Grenfell inquiry report?

In the last few weeks, we have been digesting the full weight of the recent Grenfell Report – seven volumes that detail the catalogue of failures that led up to ‘one of the worst post-war civil disasters in the UK’ - a disaster that resulted in the preventable deaths of 72 people. 

The performance of fire doors forms a key part of the report and highlights some basic yet catastrophic failures which raise questions about how we, as an industry, can respond and learn for the future.

• Many of the self-closing devices on the front doors either weren’t working properly or were missing, which means they were unable to provide a barrier to the smoke which quickly built up and caused the lobbies to be smoke-logged, preventing many of the tower’s residents from escaping.
• The Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) had failed to specify the correct fire safety standard when ordering 104 doors that had been fitted between 2011-12 and it was found that they did not meet the fire resistance standards required,
• Although the inquiry saw two fire resistance test certificates confirming 30-minute integrity of the doors when tested in accordance with BS 476-22, it appears no fire resistance tests were actually carried out. The test report showed that the doorset had been tested on one side and not both, as is required.
  
  

Each of these issues taken in isolation would pose a danger, and together they lead to fire and smoke being able to quickly move around the inside of the building and seal off routes that should have been open for residents to use as an escape.

How will these findings affect manufacturers of fire safety doors?

The report and its predecessor will continue to drive changes in fire safety, which makes them essential reading, particularly for our clients in healthcare. Hospitals are trusted institutions and carry a responsibility to safeguard the thousands of patients, staff and visitors that are in their buildings every day. A survey of 2,000 adults found that 52% of people still consider hospitals the safest due to their fire prevention measures*.

Fires across NHS trusts happen, on average, nearly four times a day*, which makes the performance of fire doors and exit routes vital. It is no exaggeration to say that the additional minutes of safety provided by a well-manufactured and fitted doorset can make the difference between life and death.

As the focus on the Grenfell Tower inquiry and the related legal processes continues in the coming months and years, we believe we will see some key changes in how the industry operates:

• Quality fire doors will become top of mind as more conversations around the importance of fire safety doors take place. These discussions will broaden in reach as people begin to understand and appreciate more of the details around the difference made by quality fire doors.
• We’ve seen many situations where cost becomes the deciding factor in the selection of a product, a scenario that was noted by the inquiry panel in relation to materials used in the Grenfell Tower, and the spotlight on the risks of compromising safety should inspire a shift in people’s thinking, to prioritise quality and safety and pay more attention to how properly assembled, fitted, tested and maintained doors can protect lives.
• With the increased scrutiny and open reporting of the failures that contributed to the Grenfell fire, there is a potential for people-power to influence decision making. In the last decade, we’ve seen an evolution in social media which means companies have to be more accountable and involve their customers and communities in new ways which could easily spread to hospital safety and calling out areas of damage or risk.
• Competition within the market will increase, though for good reason. Those who have previously offered products that were of lower quality or safety will no longer be able to do so and will need to focus on improving their product certification and ratings to maintain a position in the market. Though this can mean a greater challenge for suppliers and manufacturers, it will be a positive move for customers and end users.
  
  

Now is the time to set a new standard for fire safety doors

The report noted that issues were inherent in the design and manufacture of doorsets and we believe there are some simple actions we can take, as an industry, to improve the transparency of choosing the right product and help educate those making the purchase. In our view, complete clarity is required to avoid anyone being misled by certificates of conformity to fire standards. We therefore recommend that:

1. copies of all test results supporting any certificate issued by the construction regulator be included in the certificate;
2. manufacturers be required to provide the construction regulator with the full testing history of the product or material to which the certificate relates and inform the regulator of any material circumstances that may affect its performance; and
3. manufacturers be required by law to provide, on request copies, of all test results that support claims about fire performance made for their products.
4. The report makes for shocking and sad reading, every word weighted with the memory of the lives that could have been saved if the companies and bodies involved had acted differently. How the industry evolves is yet to be seen, but what is clear is that we all have a responsibility to take action to ensure that fire regulations cannot be manipulated or ignored, and that no one’s life is put at unnecessary risk in this way again.

*Numbers provided by research here.