Sue Corrick of Allegion UK reviews the expanding role of digital information in building safety and how its use is transforming fire door hardware from passive fire protection to an active data source.
Data drives informed decisions, and in the built environment, the role of information is growing. Where fire safety is paramount to building design, the adoption of digital practice – combined with modern legislation – proceeds to have a greater impact on standards and is reshaping the landscape as we know it.
Before the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower fire, the fire door safety sector accepted a conventual approach, reliant on physical testing, manual record keeping and reactive maintenance procedures. Though, as regulations tighten and the demand for accountability and transparency heightens through updated proposals such as the Construction Products Reform Green Paper, data is now positioning itself at the heart of how modern systems are tested, monitored and maintained.
Above all, the industry must remain focused on improving the structure, quality and usability of digital handover information, in compliance with Regulation 38 and ‘Golden Thread’ requirements. The use of standardised, accessible asset data can further elevate fire safety standards and safe building operation, supporting professionals throughout the supply chain as they navigate hardware specification, installation and maintenance.
And so, as many move towards a more transparent, traceable and digitally integrated model, how does something as mechanical as a fire door closer contribute to a progressively data-reliant environment?
Strengthening certification
Testing has always existed as the foundation of fire door safety standards. Yet, the ‘Green Paper’ proposals are perhaps set to reform the testing and certification environment, with critical gaps being identified in the construction product regulatory framework. Fire doors and their hardware components endure comprehensive fire resistance tests, durability cycle assessments and sustainability evaluations as a way of generating detailed evidence of a system’s capabilities, but much of this data is often considered inconsistent, missing or unverified.
Historically, this information has been stored in a disconnected system of paperwork, but it is now clearer than ever that testing data should be collected, saved and accessed in a different way to ensure safety claims are credible and independently verifiable. Following almost a decade of pivotal regulatory updates, the increased governing pressure placed on building design is changing the management of construction products, and with that, third-party testing and unified, structured data files are becoming more valuable. This movement is strengthened by legislation such as the Building Safety Act, which has placed a renewed focus on competency whilst highlighting the importance of traceable, accessible product information.
This shift is altering the way fire door certification and record holding is approached, where:
- Test evidence must clearly demonstrate classifications, limitations and compatibility between components such as door closers, hinges and leaf assemblies
- Assessment reports must be transparent, retrievable and linked directly to a manufacturer’s products
- Digital record keeping is becoming essential for duty-holders, who are being held responsible for products remaining reliable and suitable throughout a project’s lifecycle
Testing data contributes to a single source of truth, made accessible through The Golden Thread of Information – a legal requirement under the Building Safety Act. The ‘Golden Thread’ has been transformative in documenting verified data and acts as an intuitive framework for how product information can be created, maintained and made accessible. Access to this digital vault of information has become central to compliance by promoting transparency and reducing risk, with the government now proposing a centralised library for all construction products to further expand regulatory coverage and support greater decision-making.
Data makes the difference
Whilst it’s clear how testing and certification can impact product specification, perhaps less understood are the other ways in which data is helping to build a more accurate picture of the built environment and its fire safety systems. Inspection data from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS), for example, tells us that care and maintenance issues are present in 54% of fire door inspections, reflecting the need for ongoing care post hardware specification and installation.
In truth, data is redefining the role of mechanical fire door hardware components in real time too. Take fire door closers, which are a key component of fire doors, and as such, are an important data contributor when it comes to fire door safety. Forward-thinking manufacturers are also exploring how data can better support fire safety practice and hardware, such as door closers, can now incorporate stores of data right from the box, with video installation guides made available to installers through QR codes and safety critical data accessible via the ‘Golden Thread’. This modern approach to fire safety management is helping to eliminate guesswork and should be widely viewed as an opportunity to simplify processes for all involved.
Fire door safety will always remain a technical discipline, but in an age where information can be accessed instantly from our fingertips, even a mechanical fire door closer has a digital voice. By combining robust hardware and practical expertise with reliable, accessible data, the industry is paving its way to a safer, more accountable built environment.
Sources
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/909/regulation/38
About the Author
Allegion
Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in seamless access, with leading brands like CISA®, Interflex®, LCN®, Schlage®, SimonsVoss® and Von Duprin®. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion secures people and assets with a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and institutions.
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