Monthly fire safety oversight stopped non-fire-rated flat entrance doors from being installed across a residential development and prevented the error from being repeated in other blocks.
- Client Housing association (confidential)
- Service Development fire safety oversight
- Contract start December 2024
- Contract term 3 + 2
- Value delivered to date £450k
Overview
Clear Safety supports our client across multiple residential developments, providing fire safety advice, compliance inspections and ongoing construction assurance. Our involvement extends from the construction phase through to occupation, including pre- and post-occupation Fire Risk Assessments.
The Challenge
On a development comprising multiple apartment blocks, installation of flat entrance doors had started in one core serving 20 flats over four floors. During a monthly inspection, our inspector identified that non-fire-rated doors were being installed, contrary to the fire strategy requirement for FD30S doors.
Our Approach
The finding was escalated promptly so the installation could be checked and controlled before it progressed further.
- Notified the Construction Site Manager and our client’s Clerk of Works.
- Recorded the conflict between the installed doors and the fire strategy.
- Supported the project team’s investigation into the cause.
- Maintained oversight while the correct replacement doors were ordered.
The Outcome
The investigation confirmed that an ordering error had occurred. Installation of the non-fire-rated doors was halted and the correct fire-rated doors were ordered. Although delivery of the correct doors took 16 weeks, the issue was identified early enough to avoid delaying handover and occupation of the block.
- Stopped further incorrect doors from being installed.
- Prevented the same ordering error from being repeated across other blocks.
- Avoided more extensive replacement costs and disruption.
- Reduced the risk of serious handover delays or later remediation following a Fire Risk Assessment.
Ongoing Support
Our structured inspection and reporting regime covers design, construction, handover and occupation. Detailed design reviews, construction inspections and practical site advice help project teams resolve issues efficiently. We also review Regulation 38 information, M&E certification, commissioning records and fire risk assessments to provide assurance that fire safety objectives have been achieved.
Key Benefits
- Independent verification against the fire strategy.
- Early intervention before defects are repeated at scale.
- Reduced exposure to avoidable cost and programme delay.
- A clearer Golden Thread to support ongoing building management.
