In a significant shift precipitated by updated safety regulations, Hackney Council in London has adjusted its ambitious plan to replace fire doors across its housing stock. Originally aiming to replace 17,000 front doors with fire-resistant models following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, the council has revised its target. This change is a response to new regulations enacted in 2022 which only require high-rise buildings (seven storeys and above) to replace their fire doors, resulting in a narrower focus on approximately 5,973 doors within 137 council blocks.
The urgency behind this door replacement initiative stemmed from the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, where improper fire safety measures had catastrophic consequences. With a budget of £1.2 million allocated for similar replacements in 10 local schools, the council has made some progress, having installed 3,398 new fire doors at a cost of £15.5 million. However, the council's spokesperson also noted that the costs have spiraled from an initial estimate of £1,500 to around £4,000 per door due to inflation and regulatory fees.
The expected timeline for replacing the remaining doors has now extended to approximately three years, with a focus on completing around 6,000 installations in the highest-risk buildings within a year. Controversially, fire safety tests have raised concerns, with the Metropolitan Police revealing that some doors in Grenfell Tower failed to meet their fire-resistance specifications, only standing up to 15 minutes instead of the required 30. Such findings underscore the challenges and heightened scrutiny faced by Hackney Council as it endeavors to comply with evolving fire safety standards while ensuring the utmost safety for its residents.
