Client: Fat Face
Location: Norwich
Service: Fire Door Survey & Installation
Scope: Replacement of 13 fire doors
Overview
Layn Developments Ltd was appointed by Fat Face to replace 13 fire doors at their Norwich store after a routine fire door inspection identified multiple faults caused by age and general wear and tear. The project restored full compliance across the site while minimising disruption to trading.
The Challenge
Fire doors don’t last forever. Even when properly specified and installed, seals compress, hinges wear, frames warp, and hardware loosens over years of daily use, and any one of these issues can be enough to compromise a door’s fire-resistance rating. At Fat Face’s Norwich store, a fire door inspection flagged exactly this: 13 doors with various age-related faults that meant they no longer met the required standard.
This is a useful reminder for any commercial property owner: fire doors have a lifespan, they’re not a permanent fixture. Regular inspection is essential, because it’s not a question of if a fire door will eventually need remedial work or replacement, it’s a question of when, and catching it early avoids the door becoming a genuine safety and compliance risk.
Our Approach
Following the inspection findings, our accredited team assessed each of the 13 doors and installed replacements to the latest specifications, in line with UK Building Regulations and recognised fire safety standards including BS 476-22 and BS EN 1634-1.
As an Approved Installer, Approved Maintainer, and Approved Inspector, Layn Developments manages the full lifecycle of fire door compliance: survey, remedial work or replacement, and ongoing maintenance, so clients have one accredited partner handling the whole process rather than a one-off reactive fix.
The Result
Fat Face’s Norwich store now has 13 fully compliant fire doors, correctly installed and up to current regulations and specifications. The project brought the site’s fire protection back up to standard and gives Fat Face a clear maintenance baseline going forward.
Why It Matters
This project is a good example of why periodic fire door inspection matters: doors that pass on day one will, over time, develop the kind of faults that took these 13 out of compliance. Building owners and facility managers who schedule regular inspections catch these issues while they’re a simple repair, rather than an emergency replacement, keeping staff and customers protected and the building compliant.
Layn Developments is SafeContractor and SSIP accredited, and holds Pronett approval for fire door works.