Context
An Education Trust appointed Capital Fire Doors to carry out a full inspection and upgrade of all fire doors at one of its London primary schools. Some doors had been in place for several years and showed visible signs of wear; others lacked clear certification. With pupils and staff on site every day, the Trust needed a swift, expert review across the entire site - followed by targeted repairs and replacements to bring every door up to the required standard and ensure full compliance with current UK fire safety regulations.
Challenge
Delivering a fire door upgrade across a live primary school required a clear-eyed approach to compliance, efficiency, and the practicalities of working around an occupied school:
Inconsistent condition and certification across the estate: The existing fire door provision varied considerably across the site, with some doors showing wear and deterioration, and others lacking the certification needed to demonstrate compliance. A thorough, door-by-door inspection was needed before any decisions about repair or replacement could be made.
Safety and compliance as non-negotiable priorities: With hundreds of young pupils in the building each day, there was no tolerance for anything other than full compliance. Every door on the site needed to meet FD30’s standard -whether through targeted repair or full replacement - and all works needed to be certified accordingly.
Minimal disruption to the school day: Works had to be planned and delivered around the routines of a busy primary school, with clear coordination with site staff to manage access and avoid any unnecessary impact on pupils, teachers, or school operations.
Solution
Capital Fire Doors, part of Complii, took a methodical, inspection-first approach, ensuring every decision about repair or replacement was based on a clear and evidence-based assessment of each door:
Full site fire door inspection: A comprehensive inspection of every fire door across the school was carried out, assessing each one for condition, certification, and proper function. This gave the Trust a complete picture of the estate and formed the basis for a structured, prioritised programme of works.
Targeted repair and full replacement to FD30s standard: Where doors could be brought up to standard through repair, works were carried out to achieve FD30s compliance. Where replacement was the right course of action, doors and frames were removed and replaced with new, fully certified fire door sets. All works followed BM TRADA Q-Mark procedures throughout.
Efficient delivery with clear communication: The team worked efficiently to minimise time on site, with close coordination with school staff throughout to manage access and keep the school running smoothly. The approach was always respectful of the environment, conscious that a primary school was in full operation around them.
Results
The school now has a complete, compliant fire door estate in place - with every door certified, fit for purpose, and meeting current UK fire safety standards:
Full compliance achieved across every door: Every fire door on the site has been brought into compliance with current regulations - repaired or replaced as required and certified under the BM TRADA Q-Mark scheme. The Trust can be confident that the building is properly protected.
Works completed with minimal disruption: The programme was delivered efficiently and without significant impact on the school day, with clear communication and careful coordination with site staff throughout.
Improved safety outcomes for pupils and staff: With a fully certified fire-door estate now in place, the school is better protected in the event of a fire, providing genuine peace of mind for the Trust, the school leadership, and everyone who uses the building each day.