Fire Door Safety Week makes a return this year following a hugely successful launch in 2013. The campaign will take place between 15 and 21 September 2014, engaging the breadth of the industry and raising awareness of the critical role fire doors play in passive fire protection in every commercial, public and multiple occupancy building.
The brainchild of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and BWF-Certifire, Fire Door Safety Week reached over 6.5 million people last year and received major support from the Fire Minister, fire industry leaders, fire and rescue services across the country and leading fire door and doorset manufacturers and ironmongers.
But prosecutions under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order continue to be given to building owners and property managers in the UK who neglect their responsibility to ensure fire doors are installed and properly maintained. Already in 2014 a fine of £70,000 and a 15 month jail sentence have been handed out in two fire door related judgements.
John Fletcher, BWF-Certifire scheme manager, said: “Fire Door Safety Week 2013 really got the industry fired up about the need for properly installed and maintained fire doors. But while prosecutions continue, we are determined to do even more to raise awareness.”
The need for Fire Door Safety Week is clear and this year it promises to be even bigger and better with backing from a wide range of organisations including the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS), Lorient, Fire Kills, Fire Mark Education, TRADA, Exova Warringtonfire, IFC, fire and rescue services, fire door and doorset manufacturers and major players in the ironmongery sector.
There is still time to organise Fire Door Safety Week activities. You can pledge your support at http://firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk/tool-kit/.
Follow Fire Door Safety Week on Twitter @FDSafetyWeek or search for tweets with the hashtag #firedoorsafetyweek
