15/04/2025
The tragedy at Grenfell Tower and the two subsequent independent reviews exposed significant failures in the construction products regulatory system and revealed institutional failures that ...
Kevin Hulin, a fire safety specialist who has been involved in the industry throughout his career, has been appointed as the new manager of the UK’s Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS). He replaces Neil Ashdown who is still involved with the scheme in an ambassadorial role.
Kevin (pictured left) takes the helm at a pivotal time. The demand for FDIS certificated inspectors to help property managers meet their legal obligations under the Fire Safety Order is at its highest rate ever, having doubled over the past year.
In addition, for the first time fire door inspection expertise is being offered online so that anyone can now locate their local specialist through the FDIS website at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector.
Kevin Hulin says:
“The correct specification, maintenance and management of fire doors can be the difference between life and death for building occupants. Unfortunately they remain a significant area of neglect, too often mismanaged throughout their service life, propped open, damaged and badly maintained. Fire door breaches are still one of the most common fines implemented under the Fire Safety Order, 10 years since this law was introduced.
“I am very excited to be taking over the reins from Neil Ashdown (pictured on the right with Kevin). He has done a fantastic job in raising the fire door management agenda with property and health and safety managers and I am looking forward to building on what he has achieved.”
Kevin will also remain chairman of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Fire Resisting Glazing Group, a member of the BWF-CERTIFIRE Management Committee and an active participant in the Institute of Architectural Ironmongers London group.
The Fire Door Inspection Scheme was established by leading fire door authorities BWF-CERTIFIRE and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers to provide a comprehensive source of information and learning about fire doors and how to manage them, backed by an online education programme and test that leads to a recognised Diploma. Diploma holders can also choose, subject to successful assessment of their knowledge and skills, to become Certificated Fire Door Inspectors.
