We have recently been appointed to undertake a comprehensive fire door survey programme across the South Western Railway network, covering 383 railway stations throughout the South of England.
The project involves carrying out detailed inspections of fire door sets across operational railway stations, producing individual compliance reports for each location, and subsequently delivering all required remedial works to ensure compliance with current fire safety legislation and fire door standards.
This programme represents one of the largest fire door inspection and compliance projects within the railway sector and demonstrates our capability to manage large-scale fire safety contracts across multiple sites and operational environments.
Pictures of some of the work at the end of this article!
What Work Is Being Carried Out
The project is being delivered in two phases.
Phase One – Fire Door Surveys
A detailed inspection is undertaken on every fire door set within each station, assessing the condition, compliance, and overall performance of the door assembly.
Each survey includes:
- Door leaf inspection
- Frame condition assessment
- Gap measurements
- Fire and smoke seal inspections
- Hinge inspections
- Door closer testing
- Lock and latch assessments
- Glazing inspections
- Signage inspections
- Ironmongery compliance checks
- Operational testing
- Photographic evidence collection
- Identification of non-compliant alterations or damage
All findings are recorded digitally and supported with photographic evidence to provide a complete audit trail.
Phase Two – Remedial Works
Following completion of the surveys, all identified failures and non-compliances are categorised and prioritised before remedial works are undertaken.
Typical remedial works include:
- Adjustment of door clearances
- Replacement of damaged fire seals
- Installation of smoke seals
- Replacement of fire-rated ironmongery
- Door closer upgrades and adjustments
- Frame repairs
- Glazing replacements
- Latch and lock repairs
- Signage installation
- Door leaf repairs
- Full fire door replacements where required
All works are completed using approved fire-rated products and in accordance with manufacturer requirements and current fire safety standards.
Detailed Reporting for Every Station
A full compliance report is produced for every station surveyed.
Each report includes:
- Station information
- Door schedules
- Unique door references
- Photographic records
- Compliance status
- Measured gap tolerances
- Defect identification
- Risk assessments
- Recommended actions
- Remedial requirements
- Compliance summaries
This provides South Western Railway with a complete record of fire door assets across the network and enables future maintenance planning and compliance management.
Challenges of Working Within Live Railway Environments
Unlike many commercial buildings, railway stations remain operational throughout the day and require careful planning to minimise disruption to passengers and railway operations.
Survey and remedial works are coordinated around:
- Passenger flow
- Station operations
- Security requirements
- Emergency escape routes
- Restricted access areas
- Operational railway safety procedures
Our team works closely with station management and project stakeholders to ensure all works are carried out safely and efficiently.
Typical Defects Identified During Surveys
The initial surveys have identified a range of common fire door compliance issues, including:
- Excessive perimeter gaps
- Missing or damaged intumescent seals
- Worn hinges and ironmongery
- Poorly functioning door closers
- Damaged door frames
- Historic alterations affecting fire performance
- Missing signage
- Non-compliant glazing installations
- Poor latch engagement
- General wear and damage caused by heavy public use
Each issue is assessed against current standards and categorised according to risk and urgency.
Compliance and Quality Assurance
Every inspection and remedial repair is carried out in accordance with current UK fire safety legislation and recognised industry guidance.
This includes ensuring:
- Fire door assemblies remain fit for purpose
- Smoke and fire compartmentation is maintained
- Escape routes remain protected
- Door hardware performs correctly
- Compliance records are fully documented
- Future maintenance requirements are identified
Our detailed approach provides clients with confidence that fire door assets remain compliant, safe, and fully operational.
Project Summary & Pictures
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Client | South Western Railway |
| Project Type | Network-Wide Fire Door Compliance Programme |
| Locations | 383 Railway Stations |
| Scope | Fire Door Surveys, Reporting & Remedial Works |
| Survey Deliverables | Full Compliance Reports & Asset Records |
| Remedial Works | Fire Door Repairs & Upgrades |
| Environment | Live Operational Railway Stations |
| Purpose | Fire Safety & Regulatory Compliance |
