Fire doors play a crucial role in building safety. These specially engineered fire prevention devices stop the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gases, minimising damage to property and saving lives.

It’s understandable then that the presence and quality of your fire doors can directly impact your building insurance policies and premiums.

Here, we explore the relationship between fire safety features and building insurance. Plus, we provide tips for making sure your fire doors comply, so you don’t get caught out.

Insurance and Fire Safety Measures

Building insurance covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your premises if damaged or destroyed by things like burst pipes, fallen trees, flooding, storms, theft, and fire.

Because of the severity of damage caused by fire, and therefore the steep repair costs, insurance companies are extremely rigorous when it comes to drawing up their policies and providing cover.

According to AON, disasters like Grenfell, combined with an increase in vacant properties due to hybrid working and underinvestment in maintenance because of economic challenges, have led to heightened insurer anxiety in recent years. Which means that insurers may require higher standards for fire protection than what is mandated by Building Regulations.

Fire safety measures your insurers might expect to be implemented include (but aren’t limited to):

• Correctly installed and well-maintained fire doors, which allow for safe evacuation and prevent fire and smoke from spreading
• Working fire and smoke alarms
• Firefighting equipment like fire extinguishers, risers and hydrants
• Sprinkler systems
• Emergency lighting and signage
• Fire exits

Benefits of Fire Doors for Insurance

The benefits of fire doors are well documented and widely understood. They are an essential part of building safety because they prevent the spread of fire and smoke, saving lives and protecting properties in the process.

But do fire doors bring any benefits to your insurance policy? In short – yes. Insurance companies recognise that a properly installed, certified, and well-maintained fire door can significantly reduce the risk of fire-related damage.

By having fire safety devices like fire doors in place, you demonstrate to your insurance company a commitment to minimising the risk of a fire and protecting your property from fire damage.

This can lead to better insurance coverage and potentially lower premiums, which could save you a lot of money in the long run if a fire were to breakout in your building.

Insurance Factors

So, what are insurers looking for when it comes to fire doors in your building? And how can you make sure you comply? Here are some things to consider:

• Proper installation – this may sound obvious, but insurers place a big emphasis on the importance of proper fire door installation. To ensure your fire doors are installed correctly, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions using the fixtures and fittings provided by them. And make sure the work is carried out by a competent person who has been trained to install them. Fire doors should be installed as complete assemblies, including the door leaf, frame, glazing apertures, intumescent strips, and ironmongery.

• Regular maintenance – Routine inspections should be carried out to check for damage or non-compliance. If any damage or alterations are spotted on inspection, you’ll need to make sure repairs are carried out straight away using compatible, fire-rated components.

• Third-party certification – insurers often insist on the use of third-party accredited fire doors like those certified by BWF-Certifire. This confirms that the fire doors meet stringent performance standards and quality controls.

• Fire resistance rating – in accordance with fire safety standards, insurers require fire doors to have verified fire resistance ratings. Common fire door ratings include FD30, FD60, FD90, and FD120, indicating the duration in minutes they can withstand a fire.

• Self-closing devices – fire doors should be fitted with self-closing devices.  These ensure that the door can self-close all the way to the rebate stop and latch, helping to minimise the spread of fire and smoke. Regulation 10, introduced after the Grenfell disaster, places particular emphasis on the importance of effective self-closing devices.

• Documentation and evidence – you’ll need to be able to provide documentation with evidence of fire certificates, fire resistance ratings, fire safety notices and your maintenance records. Insurers might also ask that you keep a comprehensive fire safety management plan that includes staff training, maintenance schedules, and regular drills.

• Regulatory compliance – compliance with fire safety regulations like the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is mandatory. This means appointing competent persons to carry out the installation and maintenance of fire doors, as well as regular risk assessments.

Not complying with these factors could lead to insurance claims being denied in the event of a fire, as insurers may view it as a failure to adhere to necessary safety standards.

Communicating with Insurers

When it comes to communicating with insurers, there are a few key points to consider. Following these points will make it more likely that your building’s fire safety measures meet the insurance company’s requirements.

1. Start conversations early

There are many stakeholders, including insurers, who have a valid interest in the fire safety measures that are incorporated into a building’s design. According to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2, early consultation with insurers is essential. Failure to consult with them at an early stage could result in additional measures being required after completion or insurance premiums being increased.

• Demonstrate that you’ve completed fire risk assessments

You’ll need to have proof that a competent person has carried out a thorough fire risk assessment. The risk assessment identifies potential fire hazards, assesses the risks to occupants, and suggests measures to prevent, manage, and control the risks associated with fire. Fire risk assessments should be dynamic documents that are reviewed and updated regularly, especially if the building undergoes any modification.

• Provide a detailed fire safety strategy

A fire strategy is a comprehensive technical document containing passive and active fire safety measures tailored to your specific building. You’ll need to provide one of these to your insurer. They should include details of fire detection and alarm systems, escape routes and muster points, passive fire safety measures like compartmentation and fire doors, active fire safety equipment like sprinklers and firefighting gear, and procedures for the evacuation of disabled individuals.

• Keep evidence of everything

Taking out insurance is a legally binding contract. So, it’s crucial to keep detailed evidence of everything you’re doing to mitigate the risk of fire. As well as ensuring that all fire safety measures comply with the relevant building regulations and standards, it’s important for you to prove the use of third-party certified fire protection products to assure insurers of their quality and performance.

Make sure that fire doors are installed correctly with all compatible fire-rated components to maintain their certification and effectiveness. Importantly, make sure you document these installations. Provide test reports and documentary evidence showing that fire doors and other fire safety components meet the required fire resistance standards. And highlight routine maintenance schedules and regular inspections for all fire safety equipment. In other words, if in doubt, document it.

In Conclusion

All buildings are unique so every building insurance policy will be different. However, if you can ensure your fire doors are correctly installed, compliant, regularly maintained and if you address the points above, you can be confident that your building’s fire safety measures meet insurer requirements, leading to better insurance terms, cheaper premiums and enhanced safety.

Here at UK Fire Door Training, we have five specially designed courses to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to install, maintain and inspect fire doors with confidence – as well as keep you up to date with industry or regulatory changes.

All our courses take place online, allowing you to learn at your own pace from wherever you’re based. We also go the extra mile to ensure our courses are user-friendly and cater to people with special educational needs, making sure every trainee gets the attention they deserve.

Browse our online fire door training courses here.