The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has opened a consultation proposing the introduction of a self‑certification scheme for fire door installation, maintenance, and replacement across England and Wales.
Under the plans unveiled in late March, certain fire door works, in both higher‑risk or lower‑risk buildings, could be carried out without the need for formal building control approval, including exemption from the gateway process that currently applies to higher‑risk buildings.
The move aims to reduce delays and improve efficiency by allowing competent, authorised installers to sign off their own work within a strengthened oversight framework. This proposal sits within a broader review of the Conditions of Authorisation (CoA) for competent person schemes.
The consultation opened runs for three months, closing on the 3rd June. Stakeholders across the construction and fire safety sectors are encouraged to contribute, particularly as the proposals have potential to reshape how fire door compliance is managed in both routine and high‑risk settings.
Ths FIS will be feeding in on behalf of our community. Speaking on the launch of the consultation, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:
“It is good that this is now on the agenda. This consultation responds to one of the first challenges we raised with the Regulator prior to the Building Safety Act being implemented. Replacing Fire Doorsets is regulated works, but if happening in isolation, often goes below the radar of building control approval. It is vital that this work is controlled, but equally triggering a whole Gateway approach creates a potentially disproportionate amount of administration at the Building Safety Regulator. A more pragmatic approach will, I am sure, be welcomed. The devil is in always in the detail, so we will review this with members and respond as appropriate. It is encouraging that we are finally getting into these issues and can work together as a supply chain to reshape the process in a practical and proprtinate way for the better.”
The full consultation which incorporates the proposals related to fire doorsets is available on the Building Safety Regulator’s website here.