THE door industry journal summer 2025 96 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk The Age of Information: A Golden Opportunity 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 groundbreaking 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 Sources: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5afc50c840f0b622e4844ab4/Building_a_Safer_Future_-_web.pdf https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-building-safety-act | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/keeping-information-about-a-higher-risk-building-the-golden-thread https://www.gov.uk/guidance/construction-products-regulation-in-great-britain
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