Guidance Documents

This video will explain the function of automatic door release mechanisms and how you can carry out monthly checks on them.

There are two main door release mechanisms that you may have in your building:

Those which are part of door systems which hold doors open during normal use but close when a fire alarm activates.

Those which normally secure a door closed but release a lock when a fire alarm activates.

Fire Safety England regulations require the responsible person to carry out monthly checks on all these mechanisms.

Both systems can be tested by operating the fire alarm test function. Doors that are held open should release on activation of the fire alarm and should close properly into the recess.

Doors which are normally held secure by electromagnetic locks should release when the alarm sounds.

You should also check any override switches operate correctly as well in case of faults.

Any faults with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service.

Information on how to report faults to your local fire and rescue service can be found on their website.

You must create a monthly record of the checks undertaken and this should be made available to residents.

This video was created by the North West Fire and Rescue Services. Thank you.

This video will explain how an evacuation alert system operates and how you can carry out monthly routine checks.

Evacuation alert systems are used by firefighters to evacuate a high-rise residential building in a fire if necessary. The evacuation alert system does not detect a fire. It is manually operated by the fire service. Firefighters can use an evacuation alert control and indicating panel to activate evacuation alert on one or more floors. Once activated, it will operate sounders and visual alarm devices in the areas selected.

The Fire Safety England Regulations require monthly checks to be undertaken on evacuation alert systems to ensure they are in good working order so they can be used when needed. To carry out a monthly check of an evacuation alert system, it is good practice to:

Check the evacuation alert control and indicating panel has appropriate signage to indicate its location.

Visually check the evacuation alert control and indicating panel for damage or tampering.

Check the indicator panel for signs of faults.

Ensure that any evacuation alert system zone plans, where required, are in place.

Check your operator's manual for any further recommendations made by the manufacturer or installer of your system.

Any faults with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service. Information on how to report faults to your local fire service can be found on their website.

You must create a record of the monthly checks undertaken and this should be made available to residents.

This video was created by by the North West Fire and Rescue Services. Thank you for watching.

This video will explain the function of fire detection systems and how you can carry out monthly checks on them.

Fire detection systems are designed to detect the products of a fire, such as smoke and heat, and then fulfil an action. That action could be the activation of a warning signal or the operation of equipment, such as automatically operating ventilation, for example.

The Fire Safety England Regulations require the responsible person to carry out monthly checks on fire detection, including those linked to ancillary equipment and smoke control systems.

The Fire Safety England Regulations only require these monthly checks to be carried out on detection systems in common areas. You should already have a weekly testing regime for your fire detection systems, and this should continue.

However, for the monthly checks of detection in common areas under the Fire Safety England Regulations, you should check the following:

The control and indicator panel for damage.

The control and indicator panel for fault indications.

Visually check sounders for signs of damage.

Check that ancillary equipment, such as automatically opening smoke vents, operate correctly on activation of the alarm.

If your smoke detection system operates any other equipment, this should also be checked.

Check your operator's manual for any further recommendations made by the manufacturer or installer of your system.

Any faults with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service. Information on how to report faults to your local fire service can be found on their website.

You must create a record of the monthly checks undertaken, and this should be made available to residents.

This video was created by the North West Fire and Rescue Services.

This video will explain the function of fire doors and how you should carry out checks on flat entrance doors and fire doors in communal areas. Fire doors are one of the most important measures to protect the means of escape from fire. Their job is to resist the passage of fire and smoke and it is important that they are checked regularly for faults, damage and wear and tear.

To comply with the Fire Safety England Regulations you must carry out checks on flat entrance doors every 12 months and fire doors in communal areas every 3 months in buildings which are more than 11 metres in height and contain two or more domestic premises. These checks are simple to do and should not need a specialist to carry out. However, where issues are identified you should ensure that they are rectified by a competent person.

To check flat entrance doors you will need access to the flat to check the door on both sides. You should contact residents prior to the day of inspection so that residents can be present. You should make records of the steps you have taken.

To check flat entrance doors you should:

Check the door has not been replaced with a door that is not fire resistant. This may be obvious but where it is not you should request the technical information for the door from the resident and details about who installed it.

Check that fire door signs are displayed on modern fire doors.

Check letterboxes are firmly closed and not jammed open. If a letterbox has been fitted by the resident you should ask for proof that the new letterbox is suitable for use in fire resistant doors and has been fitted by a specialist contractor.

Check there is no damage, defects or alterations to the door, the frame or the secure wall that might allow smoke or fire to spread.

Check the conditions of any fire resisting glass and glazing systems in the door panel and any other panels which form part of the door set.

There should be no obvious defects in the hinges.

Intumescent strips and smoke seals should be checked for damage. Check they make contact with the door edge or frame and have not been painted over during decorative activities. These strips and seals may be fitted to either the door or the door frame.

Check the gap between the door and the frame. The gap should never be more than 4mm except at the bottom of the door where the gap should be as small as practical ensuring that the door won't snag on floors or flooring covers even if it drops on its hinges. A gap tester card can be purchased and used for these checks.

Check there is a working self-closing device on fire doors or flat entrances and fire doors within common parts. This is very important. The fire door that does not close fully into its frame will not adequately hold back fire and smoke. You should check that the door will close fully into its frame when opened at any angle and allowed to close under the action of the self-closing device. A simple way to check this is to firstly open the door fully then let it go then open the door to around 15 degrees and let it go. In both cases the door should fully close into the frame overcoming the resistance of any latch or friction with the floor.

You should undertake the same checks on fire doors in communal areas too. Some communal fire doors may have hold open devices. You should check they are not missing or damaged and test them by pressing the test button to check the device release. You should also check during your regular fire alarm tests that these devices release automatically when the fire alarm sounds.

Where you have door selectors on communal double leaf fire doors you should check that the selector is in good working order and the doors close in the correct order when closing. Some fire doors may be self closing or kept locked shut such as those on riser cupboards and plant rooms. These too require the same checks and you should check that those are required to be locked are locked shut.

You should make records of the checks you have made on the fire doors in the building and records of the steps you have taken to carry out 12 monthly checks on flat entrance doors including cases where you have been unable to gain entry.

This video was created by the North West Fire and Rescue Services.

This video will explain how lifts for use by firefighters and evacuation lifts operate and how you can carry out monthly routine checks.

Lifts for use by firefighters are known by various names including fireman's lifts, firefighting lifts and firefighters lift.

These type of lifts are used by firefighters to transport personnel and equipment to the upper floors of buildings to undertake firefighting activities. The most basic of these simply has a control switch that firefighters can use to take control of the lift, while others have more features such as control switches, water ingress protection and secondary power supplies.

Some buildings may be fitted with evacuation lifts which are used for the evacuation of people with disabilities and persons requiring assistance. There may also be lifts in your premises that are neither lifts for use by firefighters nor evacuation lifts and may be automatically sent to the ground floor and remain out of use when the fire alarm sounds.

The type of lifts you have in the building should be identified within your fire risk assessment and lifts for use by firefighters or evacuation lifts should be recorded on plans and shared with your local fire and rescue service.

The Fire Safety England regulations require monthly checks to be undertaken on lifts for firefighters and evacuation lifts to ensure they are in good working order so they can be used when needed. To check the lifts you must:

Operate the firefighters switch or evacuation lift switch to check the lift car returns to the fire service access level or evacuation level in the case of evacuation lifts.

Check that the lift car can be taken to upper floors using the internal controls.

Once you have reached the required floor level, check that the doors can be opened from within the car. In some lifts you will need to keep hold of the button until the doors are fully open as the doors may begin to close if released too early. This is a safety feature on some types of lifts.

Check that when the firefighters switch or evacuation switch have been activated that the landing controls are disabled and don't call the lift to the floor requested.

Check your operators manual for any further recommendations made by the manufacturer or installer of your system.

Any faults with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service. Information on how to report faults can be found on their website. You must create a record of the monthly checks undertaken and this should be made available to residents.

This video was created by the North West Fire and Rescue Services.

This video will explain the function of dry risers and wet risers and how you can carry out monthly checks on them.

A dry riser is a pipe that can be filled with water at an inlet like this. It is used by firefighters to pump water to the upper floors of the buildings. Wet risers are pipes that are pre-filled with water for firefighters to use to fight fires in taller buildings. This inlet is used to supplement the water supply when required. Firefighters plug hoses into an outlet like this so they can use it to fight fires in the upper stories of the building.

As a responsible person of a high-rise residential building, you have a duty under the Fire Safety England Regulations to check the riser monthly. This check should include:

That the inlets and outlets are in good condition, ready for immediate use.

That any washers are in good condition.

Additionally, for wet risers, check that any pumps and associated equipment are functioning correctly and that water storage tanks are full.

You should also check your operator's manual for any further recommendations made by the manufacturer or installer of your system.

Any faults with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service. Information on how to report faults to your local fire service can be found on their website.

You must create a record of the monthly checks undertaken and this should be made available to residents. This video was created by North West Fire and Rescue Services.

This video will explain the function of smoke control systems and how you can carry out monthly checks on them.

A smoke control system is intended to limit the passage of smoke into any stairway by removing smoke from common corridors and lobbies in case of fire. Smoke control systems can either be natural using the buoyancy of the smoke or powered by fans. Both types of system will have a control panel usually adjacent to the fire alarm control panel. There may be orange override switches on floor levels for emergency operation of smoke vents.

As a responsible person of a high-rise residential building, you have a duty under the Fire Safety England Regulations to check the systems monthly. However, you should be checking the system weekly as part of your weekly test regime.

The monthly check for smoke control systems should include:

A visual check of any control and indication equipment.

Checking the smoke control system responds to the activation of any associated fire detection system.

Checking the system responds to the operation of manual controls.

Reviewing your operator's manual for any further recommendations made by the manufacturer or installer of your system.

Any faults with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service. Information on how to report faults to your local fire service can be found on their website.

You must create a record of the monthly checks undertaken and this should be made available to residents.

This video was created by the North West Fire and Rescue Services. Thank you for watching.

This video will explain the function of fire suppression systems and how you can carry out monthly checks on them.

Fire suppression systems are designed to protect life by ensuring a fire does not become too large so that fire safety systems within the building, for example the smoke control, can work effectively. The suppression system will normally be a water-based fire sprinkler system but it may be a gaseous system for specific risks such as electrical intake equipment which can be protected by carbon dioxide.

As a responsible person of a high-rise residential building, you have a duty under the Fire Safety England Regulations to check the system monthly. However, you should be checking the system weekly as part of your weekly test regime.

To comply with the Fire Safety England Regulations, the monthly checks of suppression systems only need to be a visual check of the systems and equipment to ensure they are not damaged and there is no indication of any faults showing on the control and indication equipment. You should also check your operator's manual for any further recommendations made by the manufacturer or installer of your system.

Any faults or damage identified with the equipment that cannot be repaired within 24 hours should be reported electronically to your local fire and rescue service. Information on how to report faults to your local fire service can be found on their website.

You must create a record of the monthly checks undertaken and this should be made available to residents.

This video was created by the North West Fire and Rescue Services. Thank you for watching.

If you had a fire in your home tonight, would you know what to do about it? You need to be prepared and know your escape plan. And one day, it could just save your life. Make sure you and those you live with know what to do in the event of a fire.

Whether a fire starts in your flat or somewhere else in your building, it's important that anyone in your flat, including children and the elderly, know how to escape. Make an escape plan so that you and those you live with know what to do if there is a fire in your flat. Learn what escape signage there is in your building and what it means. Keep doors and window keys accessible. Avoid keeping them in the kitchen because this is where most fires in the home start. Everyone in the flat should know where the keys are. Keep your hallways and doorways free from clutter. This includes in communal areas. Report any discarded rubbish to your landlord or management agency. If there is one, identify a second escape route you could use if the first one is blocked. And remember to review your escape plan regularly in case anything changes in your building or flat.

So, what can you do if you find fire or smoke in your flat? You should never try to fight the fire yourself. Where possible and safe to do so, close the door to the room where the fire is. Alert any of the people in the flat and activate any manual alarms. Get out. Stay low if there is smoke. Close all the doors behind you if you can and stay out. Once you are safe, continue to evacuate the building. Call the fire service by dialing 999 and make sure you stay on the phone to them whilst you evacuate the building. Always use the stairs to get out of the building. Make sure you keep left. It's dangerous to gather in the hallways and lobbies because this may block access for the firefighters trying to get into the building. Do not use the lift unless instructed by a firefighter. This is because the fire may cause a power failure trapping you inside. It may also stop firefighters from using it to transport equipment up to higher levels.

It's important to find out where the muster points for your building are. This is where you need to go if there is a fire. It's normally outside your building in a specific area. Contact your landlord to find out.

What can you do if there is a fire in another part of the building? Your building has a stay put or stay safe policy. This means unless the fire was in your flat or you feel in danger, you can remain where you are. Keep your front door and windows closed. Don't investigate. Leave your with people. Make sure you stay together. Unnecessary evacuation can obstruct firefighters and delay them putting out the fire. If at any time you feel like you're in danger, you should leave the building. But you may not be able to return to your flat for a number of hours. If your building is fitted with an emergency evacuation system, the fire service may decide to partially evacuate the building. This can be done on a floor by floor basis. Check with your landlord or management agency whether the building has an evacuation alert system. If it does and you hear the alarm, you should evacuate.

Other things you should know:

Never block emergency access to the building or hydrants. Firefighters need to get their fire engines as close to the building as possible and be able to access the fire hydrants for additional water supply.

Firefighters may put up smoke curtains to help stop the smoke from spreading. But you can easily escape through it if needed.

Firefighters may put a smoke hood over your head to help filter the toxic smoke from the air as you escape.

Once you've escaped, don't go back inside your home. Even if there is someone or a pet inside. Wait for the firefighters to arrive and when they do, make sure you give them as much information as possible. Plan your escape plan.

If you had a fire in your home tonight, would you know what to do about it? You need to be prepared and know your escape plan. And one day, it could just save your life. Make sure you and those you live with know what to do in the event of a fire. Whether a fire starts in your flat or somewhere else in your building, it's important that anyone in your flat, including children and the elderly, know how to escape.

Make an escape plan so that you and those you live with know what to do if there is a fire in your flat. Learn what escape signage there is in your building and what it means. Keep doors and window keys accessible. Avoid keeping them in the kitchen because this is where most fires in the home start. Everyone in the flat should know where the keys are. Keep your hallways and doorways free from clutter. This includes in communal areas. Report any discarded rubbish to your landlord or management agency. If there is one, identify a second escape route you could use if the first one is blocked. And remember to review your escape plan regularly in case anything changes in your building or flat.

So, what can you do if you find fire or smoke in your flat? You should never try to fight the fire yourself. Where possible and safe to do so, close the door to the room where the fire is. Alert any of the people in the flat and activate any manual alarms. Call the fire service by dialing 999 and make sure you stay on the phone to them whilst you evacuate the building. Never assume that someone else has called. Get out, stay low if there is smoke, close all the doors behind you as you can and stay out. Always use the stairs to get out of the building and make sure you keep left. Do not use the lift unless instructed by a firefighter. This is because the fire may cause a power failure, trapping you inside. It may also stop firefighters from using it to transport equipment up to higher levels.

It is important to find out where the muster points for your building are. This is where you need to go if there is a fire. It is normally outside your building in a specific area. Contact your landlord to find out. It is dangerous to gather in the hallways and lobbies because this may block access for the firefighters trying to get into the building.

What can you do if there is a fire in another part of the building? Your building has an evacuation strategy. Ask your landlord or management agency for the evacuation plan if you do not already have it. You should evacuate the building when the alarm sounds. Get everyone in your flat out of the building using the emergency exits and stairs. If your building is fitted with an emergency evacuation system, the fire service may decide to partially evacuate the building. This can be done on a floor-by-floor basis. If you hear the alarm, you should evacuate. If you are higher up, you can't evacuate. Wait to be rescued by firefighters.

Other things you should know:

Never block emergency access to the building or hydrants. Firefighters need to get their fire engines as close to the building as possible and be able to access the fire hydrants for additional water supply.

Firefighters may put up smoke curtains to help stop the smoke from spreading, but you can easily escape through it if needed.

Firefighters may put a smoke hood over your head to help filter the toxic smoke from the air as you escape.

Once you have escaped, don't go back inside your home, even if there is someone or a pet inside. Wait for the firefighters to arrive and when they do, make sure you give them as much information as possible. Plan your escape plan.