BWF reacts to the news that fire doors in Grenfell Tower did not meet test standards

British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Chief Executive Iain McIlwee has commented on the news that fire doors in Grenfell Tower did not meet test standards: “It is concerning to hear about the door at Grenfell, but sadly it is not a surprise.

"Through our Fire Door Scheme (BWF Certifire), Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) and the Fire Door Safety Week campaign, we have been raising awareness about the critical role that fire doors play in protecting occupants, buildings and fire fighters and to draw attention to the legacy of neglect. Too many people don’t give fire doors a second thought, and forget that their real job is to provide a barrier to fire, prevent it spreading throughout a building and keep escape and access routes clear.”

"The fire door is a system of components that all must be tested and work together to prevent failure. Getting just one small detail wrong can have an enormous impact. We regularly see fire doors that have been compromised by the use of uncertificated, incompatible and non-fire-resistant components, poor fitting and inadequate maintenance, and of course if a fire door is wedged open it’s no use whatsoever.

"It is vital the door is installed by competent people and there is full traceability of the products so that those who hold legal and moral responsibility for managing fire safety can ensure specification is not broken, and the doors can be managed properly to remain safe throughout their life span. Grenfell is a tragic event and we and our members stand resolute in our commitment to supporting this review process and ensuring that this kind of event can never happen again.”

Further information

More BWF research is available on the Fire Door Safety Week website.

The organisation also produces a best practice guide with more detailed info.

Story as reported in the Evening Standard

See our full list of documents and articles relating to the Hackitt Report and building regulations since the Grenfell Tower tragedy