London Fire Brigade letter to Trusts to review your Fire Risk Assessments (17 February 2025)

Summary

This letter from the London Fire Brigade draws attention to two key issues that may have implications for fire safety within your hospital, and to request that you review your Fire Risk Assessments accordingly.

Content

1. Corridor use for additional bed capacity

Recent news reports and material circulating on social media indicate that some hospitals are increasingly using corridors for additional bed capacity. The use of corridors in this way can present significant challenges to fire safety, including:

• obstruction of fire escape routes
• increased fire load in circulation spaces.
• delayed evacuation times in the event of an emergency.

2. Fire Door Recall – Office for Product Safety and Standards

You will be aware that there has been a Product Recall concerning certain hospital fire doors installed across England and Wales, affecting approximately 70 sites, with a significant concentration in London and the Southeast. The manufacturer has identified the affected units and has been in contact with project managers at impacted locations.

Where correct fire doors are not used, properly fitted and maintained, and corridors are used to house patients, this can exacerbate the spread of smoke and fire, compromise escape routes, and significantly increasing the risk to life.

Given the above risks, we ask that you review your fire risk assessment to ensure that you are compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Safety and appropriate guidance, to safeguard your patients, staff and visitors in the event of a fire.