Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05-03 forms part of the NHS Firecode suite of guidance and provides recommendations on the operational management of fire safety within healthcare premises. While it is not legislation, HTM 05-03 supports compliance with fire safety law and reflects recognised good practice for NHS organisations and other healthcare providers.
In 2024, NHS England published a new HTM 05-03 Part K – Guidance on Fire Risk Assessments in Complex Healthcare Premises, replacing the 2013 edition. The revised document also incorporates and updates much of the fire prevention and general fire precautions guidance previously contained within Part A.
Greater Emphasis on Fire Risk Assessment
The updated Part K provides comprehensive guidance on carrying out fire risk assessments in complex healthcare buildings. It includes structured methodologies, assessment templates and advice on evaluating fire prevention, fire protection measures, fire safety management and maintenance within hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The guidance recognises the unique fire safety challenges presented by healthcare environments, including patient dependency, progressive horizontal evacuation and the need to maintain clinical services during an emergency.
Fire Doors in Focus
The revised guidance expands on the assessment of existing fire doors as part of a fire risk assessment. Rather than assuming older fire doors must always be replaced, it advises that competent assessors should evaluate each door in the context of the building’s fire strategy and intended function.
Where existing doors do not fully meet current standards, the guidance identifies a range of possible outcomes. Depending on the findings of the assessment, this may include accepting a notional fire door, upgrading the door using suitable compatible components, or replacing it where the required level of performance cannot be achieved.
The guidance makes clear that these decisions should be based on a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment rather than applying a single solution in every case.
Fire Doors Within the Overall Fire Strategy
HTM 05-03 reinforces that fire doors should be considered as part of the building’s overall fire strategy. Their performance should be assessed alongside compartmentation, patient dependency, evacuation procedures, fire load and expected evacuation times.
Healthcare premises often rely on progressive horizontal evacuation, where patients are moved to adjoining fire compartments rather than immediately leaving the building. Maintaining the integrity of fire doors is therefore an important element of this approach.
Supporting Competent Decision-Making
The guidance places significant emphasis on competent fire risk assessment and the use of documented evidence to support decisions. It also includes practical assessment templates to help healthcare organisations record and maintain consistent fire risk assessments across their estates.
Looking Ahead
The revised HTM 05-03 Part K provides updated guidance for assessing fire safety in complex healthcare premises, including expanded advice on evaluating existing fire doors. By promoting a risk-based approach supported by competent assessment and documented evidence, the guidance helps healthcare organisations maintain effective fire safety management across their buildings.
