HTM 05-02: Firecode Requirements Explained

Fire safety within healthcare environments is subject to some of the most stringent standards in the UK. HTM 05-02, part of the Firecode suite, sets out specific requirements for fire safety in hospitals and healthcare premises, with a strong focus on fire doors, compartmentation, and ongoing compliance.

Understanding HTM 05-02 is essential for NHS Trusts, private healthcare providers, estates teams, facilities managers, and duty holders responsible for maintaining safe, compliant buildings.

What Is HTM 05-02?

HTM 05-02 (Health Technical Memorandum) provides detailed guidance on fire safety design, management, and maintenance within healthcare premises. It complements the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) but goes further by addressing the unique risks found in hospitals, care settings, and specialist clinical environments.

HTM 05-02 applies to:

• NHS hospitals and trusts

• Private hospitals and clinics

• Mental health facilities

• Specialist care and treatment centres

Why HTM 05-02 Is Different from Standard Fire Safety Guidance

Healthcare buildings often contain:

• Vulnerable occupants

• Reduced evacuation capability

• Complex layouts and service penetrations

• Continuous operation environments

Because of this, HTM 05-02 places increased emphasis on passive fire protection, particularly fire doors and compartmentation, to support progressive horizontal evacuation rather than immediate full evacuation.

Key Fire Door Requirements Under HTM 05-02

Fire doors play a critical role in healthcare fire safety. Under HTM 05-02, fire doors must:

• Be correctly specified and certified for their location

• Be maintained to perform as tested

• Support compartmentation and sub-compartmentation strategies

• Remain effective despite heavy use and high traffic

Common compliance issues identified during inspections include:

• Excessive door gaps

• Damaged or missing intumescent and smoke seals

• Inadequate or non-compliant ironmongery

• Door closers not functioning correctly

• Alterations affecting door performance

Regular inspection and timely remedial works are essential to maintaining compliance.

Compartmentation and Fire Stopping Under HTM 05-02

HTM 05-02 places significant importance on maintaining fire-resisting compartments, particularly where evacuation relies on movement within the building.

This includes:

• Walls, floors, and ceilings forming fire compartments

• Fire stopping around service penetrations

• Fire-resisting enclosures to shafts and risers

• Integrity of compartment lines over time

Even small breaches can compromise the effectiveness of compartmentation, increasing risk to patients and staff.

Inspection, Maintenance, and Ongoing Compliance

HTM 05-02 makes it clear that compliance is not achieved through design alone. Buildings must be:

• Regularly inspected

• Properly maintained

• Supported by evidence-based documentation

Fire door inspections, compartmentation surveys, and planned maintenance programmes are key tools for demonstrating compliance and managing risk.

For many healthcare providers, inspection findings directly inform FRA actions, which must then be addressed through compliant remedial works.

How Keepshut London Supports HTM 05-02 Compliance

Keepshut London supports healthcare clients with:

• Fire door inspections aligned with HTM 05-02 principles

• Fire door remedial works and maintenance

• Compartmentation surveys and fire stopping works

• Evidence-led reporting to support audits and compliance reviews

• Planned maintenance programmes to reduce repeat failures

We understand the operational demands of live healthcare environments and deliver works with minimal disruption while maintaining full compliance.

Final Thoughts

HTM 05-02 exists to protect some of the most vulnerable occupants in the built environment. Achieving compliance requires more than box-ticking; it demands competent inspection, quality remedial works, and ongoing maintenance of fire doors and compartmentation systems.

For healthcare providers, proactive compliance under HTM 05-02 is not only a regulatory requirement but a critical part of patient and staff safety.