Liverpool building firm Frank Rogers invests in skills its fire safety division – FR Fire Protection – as Government ushers in a ‘new era of fire safety’ following the Grenfell disaster. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool building firm Frank Rogers says its long-established fire protection division, FR Fire Protection, is now better equipped than ever to take on an expected surge in new work.
Fire protection is a key area of growth for the business, contributing around £11m of its £25m revenues in the last financial year. Now Frank Rogers expects this upward trajectory to continue as the building industry adapts to the post-Grenfell environment.
In June 2017 a fire in the Grenfell tower block in West London claimed 72 lives. A subsequent public inquiry identified what Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has described as “shocking industry behaviour and wider failures”.
Now the Government is set to introduce “sweeping construction, building and fire safety reforms”. Jay Sefton, head of fire door compliance at Frank Rogers, told LBN the construction industry now had a responsibility to ensure fire safety standards are the highest they can possibly be.
“We are entering a new era of fire safety in the UK,” said Jay. “None of us want to see a repeat of what happened at Grenfell and at Frank Rogers we are being pro-active and investing heavily into upskilling our fire protection team.
“We’ve been putting a lot of focus on providing targeted training, not just for those who install fire doors, but for everyone involved in the process. The aim is to boost skills and knowledge at every level.”
“What we need to do is make sure we are all on the same page when it comes to the best practices in fire door delivery.
This includes the co-ordination team, site managers, supervisors, contract managers, surveyors, technicians, operations managers, and the purchasing team—ensuring each role is backed by the right expertise.
FR Fire Protection, a trusted FIRAS-approved contractor, is committed to upholding the highest standards in passive fire protection. As a leading accreditation body for passive fire systems, FIRAS ensures that contractors maintain strict compliance with safety regulations.
Over the past three months, FR Fire Protection has undergone three thorough audits, all of which resulted in zero recommendations or non-conformities.
The company says this demonstrates its “unwavering dedication to excellence and its proactive approach in maintaining the highest levels of quality and compliance within the fire protection industry”.
Additionally, two site managers and two contract managers have been successfully assessed for Timber Door Supervisor status, while six joiners have been fully assessed in timber door installations, ensuring competence at every level.
And in a major training initiative, Frank Rogers has enrolled more than 20 team members in multiple fire safety programmes. The team also had the opportunity to visit Warrington Fire’s new testing facility pre-opening, where they witnessed fire door burn tests first hand.
To further enhance their expertise, they recently took a guided tour of Pendle Doors’ manufacturing site, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the entire production process.
Jay Sefton himself is one of only three officially certified fire door inspectors within a 50-mile radius of its headquarters under the Fire Door Inspection Scheme. He also holds membership status within the Institute of Fire Safety Managers.
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Frank Rogers aims to ensure robust evidence and documentation are easily accessible for all passive fire safety works. It has implemented digital technologies, including Onetrace and Eworks, to enhance compliance and project efficiency.
These platforms enable seamless tracking and management of every project stage, from purchasing and site delivery to invoicing, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every step.
“In the coming months, Frank Rogers will be installing more than 1,000 fire doors across projects in England and Wales,” added Jay. “With our streamlined digital platforms and thorough quality approval process, we’re committed to delivering the highest standards for our clients.
“Developers and landlords are becoming more aware than ever of the critical importance of passive fire protection. Skills and processes we are putting in place put us in a strong position to become the go-to contractor for fire protection.”