When it comes to fire safety compliance, the traceability of fire doors and their hardware is critical. And in an era where information is more accessible than ever before, the industry is presented with a transformative opportunity, explains Karen Trigg of Allegion UK.
Building safety has always been an ever-evolving landscape of legislation and regulatory frameworks. The industry strives for stronger construction safety practice and in doing so, the need for reliable, transparent and accessible product information is clear – especially when fire door safety compliance is on the line.
It was in response to the Grenfell Tower fire and Dame Judith Hackitt’s review that the Building Safety Act 2022 was passed, which has since looked to introduce a number of ground-breaking reforms to improve fire safety standards and facilitate greater accountability across the board. A key component of the regulation has been the requirement for duty holders to retain fire and structural safety information, making it necessary to manage an accessible digital record of decisions and updates throughout a building’s lifecycle.
This ’Golden Thread of Information’, as it’s known, has placed a renewed focus on the presentation and management of construction product information and ensures the right people have the right information at the right time. From a single source, building owners, developers, regulators and residents are given a greater understanding of the materials and assets used during the construction process, as a way of driving standards and saving lives. With emphasis shifting from product performance claims to verified, traceable assurances, there has never been a better time to assure peace of mind when it comes to fire door safety.
Fire door confidence
The Building Safety Act recognises the importance of fire safety systems and mandates that the Golden Thread of Information must include comprehensive data on all fire detection and prevention systems in high-risk buildings, including fire doors.
As a vital element of passive fire protection, fire doors and their hardware are often the first line of defence against fire and smoke, and as such are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties and houses in multiple occupation. To operate as intended, fire doors will call on their various hardware components, including hinges, latches, seals, door closers and opening mechanisms, meaning they are only as effective as the weakest link in their assembly. As such, the correct specification, installation and maintenance of fire door hardware is considered crucial if a building is to meet both its functional and safety standards. With that, decision makers must be confident they can identify the necessary hardware for their building, and in doing so, must also ensure components are fit for purpose and comply with UK Construction Products Regulations.
To assist duty holders in meeting these expectations, conscious manufacturers have stepped up, and as part of the Golden Thread regulatory framework are providing more detailed information in the form of product datasheets, installation guides and training portals. From a compliance standpoint, decision makers can instantly check a product’s associated Declaration of Performance (DOPs) to show hardware conforms to the correct testing standards and UKCA and CE certifications, as well as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) when looking to conform to the latest environmental benchmarks. With this information, those involved in product selection can assure their installed fire door hardware will perform when it is called upon.
Transparent product information is also useful when it comes to maintenance periods and conforming to Approved Document B, with amendments made as recently as March 2025 focusing on Regulation 38, which states that “the person carrying out the work shall give fire safety information to the responsible person no later than the date of the completion of the work, or the date of occupation”. By providing this material, manufacturers are offering improved traceability on products and their performance, empowering duty holders to comply with legal obligations and keeping occupants safe in the process.
Transparency equals opportunity
Data is a critical resource in decision making and with several schemes evolving such as the Golden Thread and the Code for Construction Product Information, a real strategy is forming. Where information is accessible and no longer ambiguous, the industry is fostering a proactive culture of collaboration, further transitioning from reactive compliance-driven tasks to a more effective method for tackling fire door safety and building design as a whole.
Outside of duty holders being able to demonstrate compliance by showing how they are managing risks throughout their buildings, there is perhaps a greater opportunity presented with clear communication amongst stakeholders. Where it’s imperative for industry professionals to remain informed on the latest standards and hardware options, a collaborative approach can lead to better and more informed design choices that continue to deliver post-project delivery and improve fire safety outcomes. Furthermore, with information readily available, there is an opportunity for early identification of potential hazards and vulnerabilities. For existing projects, decision makers can check what hardware product has been used and where, deciding if it has been suitable and further reducing the use of ineffective options and avoiding costly retrofits when the time has come to repair or replace products.
From an operational perspective, when reliable product information can be accessed and assessed instantaneously, duty holders are able to streamline their decisions – assuring any changes or issues with fire door safety products are rectified quickly and actioned efficiently. With this holistic approach to information sharing, building and fire safety management becomes a shared duty. The Golden Thread is setting the standard and protecting all stakeholders in the process – helping to build trust in an area it is most needed.
The use of traceable and transparent product information means the approach to fire door safety and building management is changing and the industry is urged to continue building upon this culture whilst navigating the latest standards. Traceability is no longer a burden of best practice – it’s an industry expectation and equally, a golden opportunity that must not be missed.
For more information please visit: https://www.allegion.com
About the Author
Allegion UK group
At Allegion, we help keep people safe and secure where they live, learn, work and connect. With more than 30 brands sold in 120 countries across the globe, we specialize in security around the doorway and beyond: everything from residential and commercial locks, door closer and exit devices, steel doors and frames to access control and workforce productivity systems.
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