Neil Ashdown discusses key takeaways from The Fire Safety Event, highlighting the value of collaboration, conversation and practical guidance on fire door compliance.
Following a busy and rewarding three days at The Fire Safety Event, I wanted to share some thoughts and highlights from what was a truly positive experience for Fire Doors Complete.
We were proud to be there as part of Five Guys on Fire, a group of independent fire safety consultants who, together, bring more than 160 years of combined knowledge, skill and practical experience to the sector. Each of us has a different specialism but we share a common goal: to help improve fire door safety across the built environment through clear, independent guidance.
Over the course of the event, held at Birmingham’s NEC, I caught up with many individuals from a variety of organisations. It was a real pleasure to reconnect and to hear how others in the sector are tackling the ongoing challenges around compliance, installation standards and maintenance. I also spoke with many professionals from the wider construction and fire safety industries, including contractors, manufacturers and facilities managers. The conversations were constructive, and it was clear there’s a real appetite for practical advice, especially when it comes to making sense of fire door regulations and certification.
What stood out for me was the genuine interest in collaboration. Visitors to our stand appreciated that Five Guys on Fire represents a shared commitment to getting things right. Whether someone wanted help understanding product certification, advice on maintaining heritage doors or clarity around the sign-off process for new installations, we were able to give honest, practical answers based on hands-on experience.
At Fire Doors Complete, we support clients in a number of ways – from inspecting fire doors in existing buildings to advising on repair methods and training those responsible for fitting, maintaining and signing off fire doors. It was reassuring to see so many people actively seeking this kind of support, recognising that it’s not just about compliance for its own sake, but about ensuring fire doors actually perform as they’re meant to in the event of an emergency.
The Fire Safety Event also reminded me of how important knowledge-sharing is within our industry. No one person or organisation has all the answers, but by working together and being open about challenges, we can raise standards and improve outcomes across the board. That’s very much the ethos behind Five Guys on Fire, and it’s what drives the work we do day in, day out.
I’d like to thank everyone who stopped by for a chat. Your questions, insights and feedback were invaluable. If we didn’t manage to connect at the event but you’d like to learn more about how Fire Doors Complete can support your work, please do get in touch.