Fire Door Maintenance opens bespoke Fire Door Training Academy

Comprising different types of fire doors and components from a range of manufacturers – among them the Harlow Timber Group, West Port, Latham’s Steel Doors, Unity Doors, Permadoor, Strongdor, The Sovereign Group, the NSG Group, DoorCo, Rutland, Mann McGowan, Lorient, PDS, Contactless Check Solutions, IG, GGF, Pilkingtons, Nordan, PWIDF and Specialist Door Solutions – the new facility realises a dedicated space for hands-on training in addition to classrooms for theory-based learning.

Accredited by GQA Qualifications, an awarding body for specialist and occupational roles, the Training Academy is offering a variety of courses. The first to launch will be a course for fire door inspector followed by a course centred on fire door maintenance and another concerning fire door installation. Subsequent to course completion, participants receive a GQA skills card.

As well as ensuring compliance with the latest fire safety regulations, the accredited training responds to the Hackitt Report’s recommendations following the Grenfell Tower fire. The Public Inquiry into the Jun 2017 tragedy revealed that fire doors didn’t perform as expected. Out of the 120 doors in the building, 106 had been replaced and comprised different hardware from the tested door.

A variety of fire safety awareness courses will also be on offer for anyone – including merchants, architects, facilities managers, locksmiths plus representatives from housing associations, local authorities and the Fire and Rescue Service – looking to learn more about the latest legislation and how to raise safety standards.

Owned by UAP, FDM is led by former business consultant Nicola John who harbours two decades of experience gained from operating in the door manufacturing and construction industries.

Golden thread

Commenting on the new Training Academy, John affirmed: “The Training Academy is the first to offer practical fire door training in what is the largest centre of its kind. The Hackitt Report underlined the importance of the golden thread and this is at the centre of our specialist training. Each course will underline how vital it is to source primary test evidence and outline the risks involved with changing or substituting components in a fire door.”

John continued: “Providing access to fire doors and components from a range of manufacturers is a key element of the training. All fire doors are made slightly differently, which means that they need to be inspected differently. Training participants will learn the nuances of each product and how to identify and fix any issues that might be present.”

The Training Academy was formally opened by Councillor Sandra Walmsley (Mayor of Bury) at a ribbon cutting ceremony event also attended by Bury Council’s leader, namely Councillor Eamonn O’Brien.

Timely introduction

Dan Brown, strategic relationship manager at GQA Qualifications, said: “The launch of FDM’s Training Academy is exceptionally timely, coinciding with a significant phase of introspection within the construction industry. This introspection, fuelled by the demands of the Building Safety Act 2022, aims to enhance overall quality, compliance and competence following a series of tragic events resulting in devastating loss of life.”

Brown added: “GQA Qualifications is proud to support FDM as the company embarks on its mission to deliver rigorous training and qualifications for the industry. These offerings, awarded by GQA, are designed with meticulous assessment and learning content in mind to address the life safety risks associated with fire doors in buildings. The Training Academy serves as a model of accomplishment, showcasing what’s possible with the appropriate determination, concentration and commitment to enhance training in a specific and most certainly vital sector.”

As part of FDM’s offer, the Training Academy will also be used to provide bespoke training for the company’s own operatives. This workforce is available to housing associations and local authorities seeking to outsource fire door inspection, maintenance and installation procedures.

Before any work begins, details of the manufacturers of the fire doors within a building are sourced. This information is then provided to FDM’s operatives at the Training Academy, ensuring they know exactly what to look out for during the inspection (including any potential risks).

A total of 400 operatives are available across the UK for this ‘boots on the ground’ service. With extensive experience of the door manufacturing industry, those operatives can also work alongside software providers, complementing their service and providing additional information (eg test evidence) for reporting purposes.

*Further information is available online at www.fdmltd.co.uk