The UK’s leading manufacturer of engineered doors, Rhino Doors, is calling on architects and specifiers to consider the importance of installing higher performance fire door systems, following the introduction of the Building Safety Act.

In June of this year, the Government brought into force its new Building Safety Act, a piece of ground-breaking legislation which introduces crucial fire safety reforms to provide leaseholders with greater powers and protections. 

The new act makes changes to the way residential buildings are constructed following the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017 and holds builders and developers responsible for constructional safety, rather than residents. 

This overhauling of legislation will see fire safety take precedence in residential developments, with the introduction of a new Building Safety Regulator to secure the safety of people and increase building standards. 

While the new Building Safety Act makes specific reference to external cladding, which has dominated political and media discourse in the aftermath of Grenfell, Rhino Doors is urging architects and specifiers to install high-performance fire doors to enhance building safety standards. 

“It’s clear that changes are needed to ensure public safety in residential dwellings and public areas, particularly in high-rise developments, but greater attention needs to be paid to fire door systems,” said Jon Walter, Managing Director of Rhino Doors. 

“While it’s a legal requirement that fire doors achieve an integrity rating of 30 minutes, many of our high-performance products boast ratings of up to 2 hours, providing enhanced protection against the unforeseen. Of even greater value is the specification of doors with an insulation rating, as well as an integrity rating, providing even greater protection for residents. 

“Now, with new regulations in place, as well as a renewed understanding of the importance of fire safety in residential dwellings, architects and specifiers should be seeking out the very best fire door systems to safeguard residents.” 

Rhino Doors’ fire doors find applications within a number of commercial settings, including within key transport networks across the UK and around the world. 

Earlier this year, the company successfully completed testing on its range of premium-rated latched doors, which achieved impressive 2-hour ratings for integrity, as well as a 90-minute variant offering protection for both integrity and insulation, far exceeding expectation and legal requirement. 

Find out more about Rhino Doors and its range of fire doors here.