Why manufacturers’ information matters
Article Contributor: James Kerr, Director of Door Data Systems
Fire doors are among the most rigorously tested life safety products in any building, but their performance depends on more than how they are manufactured. It also depends on whether the information needed to inspect, maintain and repair them remains available throughout their service life.
With the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the increasing focus on the “golden thread” of information, manufacturers have an important role to play beyond supplying compliant products. They must ensure that the information supporting those products remains accessible to those responsible for maintaining them.
Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires fire safety measures to be maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and good repair. For fire doors, this means Responsible Persons and maintenance contractors need far more than a fire rating or certification label.
Essential information should include product identification, installation requirements, approved replacement components, inspection criteria, maintenance procedures and any limitations on repair. Without this information, building owners are often forced to make assumptions that may compromise compliance and, more importantly, life safety.
Unfortunately, many fire doors are still supplied with paper manuals that are lost shortly after installation or stored in filing cabinets or individual project files that become inaccessible over time. Years later, maintenance teams may struggle to identify the door, verify its certification or determine which replacement components are suitable.
As the industry moves towards digital information management, manufacturers have an opportunity to ensure that product information remains connected to the asset for its entire operational life.
This is where Door Data Systems is helping to bridge the information gap.
Rather than treating compliance documentation as paperwork handed over at completion, Door Data Systems creates a permanent digital record for every individual fire door all held on the National Fire Door Register. Manufacturers can associate installation instructions, certification, maintenance guidance, approved hardware schedules and other product- specific information directly with each identified door.
Using a unique digital identity, installers, inspectors, maintenance contractors and Responsible Persons can instantly access current manufacturer information whenever it is required. Inspection reports, maintenance records and repair histories are then added to the same digital record, creating a complete audit trail throughout the door’s lifecycle.
The fire safety industry has rightly focused on improving product testing, certification and manufacturing standards. The next step is ensuring that the information supporting those products is preserved with the same level of care.
A fire door can only continue to perform as tested if it is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. By keeping essential information permanently linked to every door, digital systems such as Door Data Systems support the principles of the golden thread and help manufacturers, building owners and Responsible Persons demonstrate that fire door performance has been protected throughout the life of the building.
In today’s regulatory environment, maintaining the digital identity of every fire door is no longer simply good practice—it is becoming an essential part of delivering safer, more accountable buildings.
