Fire Safety in High-Rise Homes - Compliance Fact or Compliance Theatre?
I’m really pleased to share this guest blog from Mel Little, who also joined me on this week’s Housing Sector podcast. Mel is both a Birmingham high-rise resident and a health & safety professional — a rare combination that gives her a unique and powerful perspective.
In our conversation, she laid bare how fire safety in high-rise housing often looks robust on paper but fails in practice. She spoke about failed fire doors being passed as safe, redacted risk assessments, and the way “compliance theatre” is masking the real dangers residents still live with eight years after Grenfell.
In this blog, Mel goes deeper into those issues, breaking down what a safe fire door should look like, how to spot problems, and the rights residents have to demand transparency under the Building Safety Act.
It’s practical, clear, and vital reading — because as Mel reminds us, safety isn’t about ticking boxes or percentages on a spreadsheet. It’s about whether the systems in place will actually work when they’re needed most.
Compliance Fact or Compliance Theatre?
By Mel Little
On paper, high-rise safety can look impressive — tick-box audits, polished reports, and percentage scores that seem reassuring.
But what matters isn’t just compliance on paper. It’s whether the measures in place will actually work when they’re needed most.
That’s where the idea of compliance theatre comes in: safety measures that look good to regulators, but don’t deliver in real life.
Lessons from Recent Inspections
At a Birmingham sheltered high-rise, recent communal fire door inspections gave some doors high “pass” scores. Yet the notes still recorded:
Gaps too large between the door and the frame
Missing or damaged intumescent seals (the strips that swell in heat to block smoke)
Two hinges instead of three, or loose fixings
No door closers on riser or cupboard doors
No evidence of fire-rated glazing in some vision panels
These are not cosmetic faults. They undermine the door’s ability to hold back fire and smoke.
Calling them “minor” because a spreadsheet says “96%” is exactly the problem: compliance fact, or compliance theatre?
What a Safe Fire Door Should Have
A compliant fire door should:
Fit snugly in the frame with even gaps of 4 mm or less at the top and sides (bottom gap up to 8 mm)
Have continuous intumescent seals in good condition
Be hung on three secure hinges with all screws in place
Close fully and firmly on its own from any open position
Display clear “Fire Door – Keep Shut” signage where required
If these aren’t in place, the fire door isn’t doing its job — no matter what the inspection score says.
What Residents Can Do
You don’t need specialist tools or training to spot obvious problems. Look out for:
Gaps – use a £1 coin as a guide (about 3 mm thick)
Seals – make sure they’re clean, intact, and not painted over
Hinges – look for three per door, all secure
Closers – test that the door shuts fully by itself
Damage – report cracks, holes, or loose parts
Know Your Rights
Don’t let anyone fob you off.
If you live in a high-rise, you have the legal right to see certain building safety information, including a summary of the Safety Case Report.
Your building should display how to request this — often via a contact email, phone number, or QR code.
If it’s missing, ask in writing and keep a copy of your request.
Why This Matters
A high inspection score doesn’t stop fire and smoke.
Real safety comes from the condition of the systems in place — not the paperwork.
The challenge for all of us is to push past “compliance theatre” and insist on compliance that works.
Final Word
Fire doors are a silent but vital line of defence.
Knowing what to look for, acting when something’s wrong, and insisting on your right to meaningful safety information makes all the difference.
If you have concerns or need advice, you can contact me at stayputandpray27@gmail.com.