Faulty Fire Doors Prove Fatal

Two women lost their lives and a housing management company have been fined substantially after the fire doors installed on a block of flats failed to maintain the blaze. This recent tragic case further highlights the dangers and tragedy that can be caused by not abiding to the correct health and safety fire regulations.

The fire had spread so substantially that 100 fire fighters were called to the scene at Marine Tower on Abinger Grove in Deptford. Two women were rescued from the 16^th floor of the flats but were pronounced dead at the scene.

Lewisham Homes were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £23,407 prosecution costs at Woolwich Crown Court for breaking fire safety laws, with the judge stating that the fines would have been more substantial if the company wasn’t a not-for-profit organisation. His Honour Judge Justice Christopher Hehir said the successful prosecution by should act as a "wake up call", which highlighted the risks of not maintaining fire safety features in residential high rise buildings.

The investigation by fire safety officers revealed serious failure to maintain fire doors, which directly contributed to the spread of the fire and therefore the deaths of the women. The flat in which the fire started was fitted with a metal security door, which prevented the existing fire door behind it from being closed. This lack of protection therefore caused the smoke and fire to rapidly enter the hallway and trapped the two women in the opposite flat.

Door-Stop’s contemporary range of fire doors are independently regulated by CERTIFIRE providing the building owner with complete peace of mind – and removing any risk of prosecution from installing fire door sets that do not comply with Part B of the Building Regulations.

Martin Dickie, Business Development Director, at Door-Stop comments: “This is a tragedy that could have been easily prevented. With our Certifire certification, a Door-Stop fire door, correctly installed, provides a powerful demonstration that due diligences have been served.

“The third party certification also monitors the manufacturing and fire compliance of the components being used, so the building owner takes on the least risk, since the door specified has been underwritten by the third party certification body.”

Each door in the range is also manufactured to a high level of security and complies with PAS023/024 security accreditation, as well as Secured by Design approval, ensuring that the homeowner can stay safe and secure in their home.  What’s more, Door-Stop offers an unbeatable 7-day delivery service, with a promise that a delivery date will be confirmed at order – not an estimation. 

To find out more about Door-Stop’s certified fire doors go to https://www.door-stop.co.uk/fire-doors