Now in its 12th year, Fire Door Safety Week shines a spotlight on safety and awareness. Helen Hewitt of the British Woodworking Federation outlines this year’s key themes, and battery fires in particular.
This September, Fire Door Safety Week returns for its 12th year, continuing its mission to raise awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in protecting life, property, and peace of mind. The campaign has become a cornerstone of passive fire protection advocacy over the last decade. Yet today, new and intensifying fire risks, particularly the rise in lithium ion battery incidents, underscore why fire door safety cannot afford to slip down the agenda.
Fire doors remain one of the most effective and reliable means of preventing the spread of fire and smoke, providing occupants with time to leave the building while protecting escape routes to help emergency services access the building safely. Their performance relies on proper specification, installation and maintenance. Sadly, issues such as damage, misuse or poor repair standards remain widespread.
Evolving fire risks and upcoming changes to fire door testing standards are reshaping the fire safety landscape; meaning Fire Door Safety Week remains crucial for raising awareness. The UK Government has confirmed that from 2029, fire resistance testing for fire doors will move from the current British Standard (BS 476-22) to the European classification system (EN 13501-2), aligning with recommendations from the Hackitt Report and wider regulatory reforms following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Understandably, this transition raises important questions across housing stock managers and fire safety officers. What does this change mean for existing stock? Are doors tested to the current British Standard still compliant? The short answer is yes. Fire doors tested to BS 476 remain fully valid and effective throughout this transition period and beyond, provided they are maintained appropriately and demonstrate the required certification.
In fact, Government testing confirmed that timber fire doors performed consistently well under BS 476, with resistance times exceeding the 30 minute benchmark. For BWF members, test averages surpassed 46 minutes, providing strong evidence of the robustness and reliability of compliant timber doors.
The key for housing associations and councils is to be aware and prepare for the upcoming transition, while being confident that maintained and fit for purpose, certified fire doors tested to the current British Standard remain compliant. There is no requirement to replace doors that meet performance standards. However, engaging early with your supply chain and understanding the future standard now will help shape procurement strategies ready for 2029.
We continue to work with industry partners, regulators and testing bodies to ensure our members and the wider sector are prepared. Through continued guidance and content, we aim to demystify this regulatory shift while maintaining confidence in timber fire doors and the protection they provide.
Fire Door Safety Week this year will explore the modern fire risks around the home, following a sharp rise in lithium ion battery fires in UK properties. With millions of everyday devices powered by rechargeable batteries, from electric scooters and electric bikes to power banks, vapes, laptops, and cordless tools, the risk is no longer isolated to industrial sites or transport hubs. It’s in our homes.
In 2024, Scotland’s Fire and Rescue Service reported a staggering 766% increase in battery related fires since 2018. Average insurance claims involving lithium ion fires now exceed £50,000, and many originate from common residential behaviours: overcharging, using damaged batteries or relying on unregulated, counterfeit chargers.
For housing providers managing multi occupancy blocks or vulnerable residents, this emerging fire risk demands attention. The potential for rapid, intense combustion from battery failures, often occurring in hallways or near exits, poses significant threats to escape routes, smoke control systems and resident safety. This year’s campaign will explore where these risks exist in homes, how residents and responsible persons can help mitigate them, and the role fire doors play in delaying the spread of fire and smoke from lithium ion ignition points.
We’ll be releasing new research to understand public knowledge, device ownership, and safe storage practices across the UK. Our aim is to provide housing managers, fire safety officers and maintenance teams with the insight they need to inform both residents and retrofit strategies.
Whether tackling misinformation around fire door standards or raising awareness of new threats like lithium ion battery fires, our message this year is clear – fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.
As ever, fire doors can only do their job if they are fit for purpose and properly maintained. This year, as we embrace change and confront new challenges, we do so with a continued commitment to knowledge, responsibility, and prevention.
Helen Hewitt is CEO of the British Woodworking Federation