BWF and BRE collaborate to raise standards in fire safety

The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and BRE (the Building Research Establishment) have joined forces in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of fire doors and to help advance standards in their design, manufacture and installation.

Fire doors are the first line of defence against devastating fires and when properly built, installed and maintained, they save lives and protect property. Despite this, fire doors across the UK are still badly fitted, non-compliant, left propped open or damaged and, as a result, could be putting millions of lives at stake.

Fire Door Safety Week (FDSW) kicks off today to continue to educate about the critical role that fire doors play in delaying the spread of smoke and fire, and keeping occupants and firefighters safe.

BRE, which has over 95 years’ experience at the leading edge of building research and development, is supporting the campaign and the BWF to develop a series of emotive and educational fire door safety films. The films highlight the potentially devastating effects of fire and smoke and the need to ensure that best practice and standards are followed throughout the industry.

Hannah Mansell, spokesperson for FDSW, as well as British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Head of Technical Research and Insight, chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum and a trustee of the Children’s Burns Trust, says: “We’d like to thank BRE for its ongoing support, in allowing us to use its facilities for our filming. We are delighted to be working in collaboration with a cross-section of the industry, to raise awareness of these life-saving messages around fire door safety as well as working to help raise standards to ensure the safety of building occupants and firefighters.”

Debbie Smith, Managing Director at the BRE Global, said: “Fire safety within the design of a building is of critical importance and fire doors are an integral part of that. We at BRE are passionate about driving forward building safety and we are continually working with our stakeholders from across the built environment, such as the BWF and the Fire Door Alliance, to help improve technical knowledge and understanding to help deliver safer buildings for all.

“We fully support Fire Door Safety Week and encourage industry to get involved in helping to raise awareness of the critical role of fire doors and the need for improved industry standards and practice. The need for good installation and ongoing inspection and maintenance of fire doors is not well understood outside of the industry and this must change.”

Leveraging greater unity to support fire safety is paramount. The newly formed Fire Door Alliance sees companies certifying product under the BWF Certifire process continuing unabated, while those currently using the Q-Mark scheme are now able to join the alliance and work with the wider sector to effect much needed change.

FDSW, a national campaign, is run by the British Woodworking Federation, the BWF-Certifire Scheme and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme, in partnership with the Home Office’s National Fire Safety campaign.

Throughout the week, there will be numerous events and campaign activity to raise awareness about the importance of fire door safety. To access a free toolkit of fire safety advice resources to help run your own FDSW activities, visit www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk