/// Passive fire protection in Bexley
Bexley sits on London's south-east edge, next to Dartford. Most of its homes are inter-war and post-war houses, with purpose-built flats in Bexleyheath, Sidcup and Welling, and more recent apartment buildings in Erith, Belvedere and around Bexleyheath town centre. Along the river at Erith and Belvedere there are industrial and commercial sites.
Low and mid-rise blocks are the bulk of the work here, along with new developments. We cover the whole borough, and can link visits with neighbouring Dartford and Bromley.
Fire doors in Bexley
In two- and three-storey blocks we often see flat entrance doors swapped for non-rated doors, closers disconnected, and communal doors that no longer latch. In newer schemes, it's checking that doorsets were installed to their certification. We inspect, repair and adjust, and replace doors as needed, with a report for your records.
Fire stopping and compartmentation in Bexley
Low-rise blocks rely on the floors and walls between flats, and the roof void above, to stop fire spreading. Holes left by rewiring, new boilers and broadband cables are common, and loft spaces often lack fire barriers between flats. We seal service openings with tested fire stopping, check cavity and loft barriers, and enclose meters on stairs.
What we check in Bexley buildings
- Flat entrance doors replaced with non-fire-rated doors
- Communal stair doors that no longer close and latch
- Loft spaces over low-rise blocks: barriers between flats
- Holes from rewiring, boiler and broadband work
- Door sets and fire stopping in newer Erith and Belvedere blocks
Rules that apply to Bexley buildings
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Requires a fire risk assessment for the common parts of blocks of flats and all non-domestic buildings, including flat entrance doors since the Fire Safety Act 2021.
Approved Document B
Requirement B3: compartment walls and floors, with every service opening through them fire-stopped.
Tested fire stopping (BS EN 1366-3)
Penetration seals must be tested for the actual service, construction and opening size.