City of London Corporation has updated safety aspects in 2,300 homes: this is how it was done

“[The doorsets] provide security while contributing to thermal efficiency. They also enable us to address accessibility [as part of the regulations], by [making it possible for us] to adapt the doors for those who may be less physically able or require wider door openings in the building,” he adds.

Special consideration was given to residents in Whitby Court and Fairweather House on the organisation’s Holloway Estate who required automatic entry systems because of disabilities. Specific door closers were installed along with rubber neat-edge slopes to help wheelchair users access the buildings with ease.

Minimising disruption to residents was a key challenge during the project, says Mr Hayes. The City of London Corporation was initially “anxious” about gaining access to properties, or residents’ willingness to have their doorsets changed.

This is why Gerda Security Products carried out the work in phases. Residents were informed of installation before work started, through letters and collaboration with the City of London Corporation’s estate team.

A resident liaison officer visited each installation after completion, and any problems they discovered were addressed the same day. The installation of the communal doorsets was done from the top floor down, to minimise disruption. All doorsets were tailored to entrances and carry a unique ‘G-Smart’ code, which stores the full history of the product to ensure maximum security, traceability and fire safety.

The programme was received positively by residents, says Mr Hayes. “It turned out we had very few access issues at all. Residents seem to have really taken the doorsets on board and, across our housing estates,
we got a very high customer satisfaction rating of between 97% and 99%.”

With the focus on fire safety across all high-rise residential buildings following the Grenfell tragedy, there is a pressing need to address the deficiencies that contributed to one of the greatest modern UK disasters. The inadequate performance of fire doors, as revealed in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, underscores the urgency of implementing new regulations.

In January, regulations were introduced to ensure the regular inspection of identified fire doors in specific buildings in England, on a tri-monthly or annual basis.

To ensure fire doorsets perform as intended when they are most needed, manufacturer primary test evidence is crucial. Primary test evidence [a test conducted by a qualified test engineer to produce a report with the exact specification of the fire doorset and how it was tested] assures residents and landlords that the doorsets will function effectively during emergencies, while compliance with the new legislation means the doorsets should be maintained continuously.

Social housing stock varies in age, type and condition. Fire doorset replacement schemes often uncover unusual scenarios or structures that require compliant solutions. Manufacturer primary test evidence, which has been built up over a long period of time and often incorporates innovative design, provides the versatility to achieve this. Social housing clients, which prioritise safety, seek the assurance of fire doorsets specified with such evidence. They understand that primary testing offers certainty of performance, protecting the lives of people in the building. Clients now regularly employ fire doorset professionals to review test evidence to ensure compliance with all areas of building regulations, not just fire-related aspects. The emphasis on this manufacturer primary test evidence, rather than cascaded evidence, conducted by a third-party and not the manufacturer, signifies the industry’s dedication to uncompromising safety standards.

The City of London Corporation has rewarded our commitment to fire safety by entrusting us with manufacturing and installing 692 new 60-minute flat entrance and communal doorsets across its historic York Way and Holloway estates. The corporation’s decision to surpass the mandatory 30-minute requirement and opt for 60-minute doors reflects its unwavering commitment to prioritising safety above all else.