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Defect library

Fire safety defects in new builds

Fire safety entries apply mostly to flats, communal areas and commercial buildings, where fire doors, alarms, compartment walls and escape routes have to work together. Anything listed here as critical needs reporting straight away and shouldn’t wait for the final report.

Updated 19 October 2026

SiteSnag’s library has 17 entries under fire safety, and 13 of them are marked as safety or critical items. They’re listed below with the most serious first. Each one gives the wording an inspector would put in a report and the trade that would fix it, and each carries a reference to the standard or guidance it relates to. The references help you look up the relevant section and aren’t a statement that a particular home does or doesn’t comply.

All 17 entries

  1. Fire stopping incomplete at penetrations

    Critical

    Service penetrations through compartment walls/floors not fire stopped. Seal with a tested system and label.

    Trade
    Fire stopping
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  2. Compartment wall / floor breached

    Critical

    Opening in a compartment wall or floor. Reinstate fire resistance.

    Trade
    Fire stopping
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  3. Cavity barriers missing

    Critical

    Cavity barriers missing or incomplete. Install to design.

    Trade
    Fire stopping
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  4. Escape route obstructed

    Critical

    Escape route or exit obstructed. Clear immediately.

    Trade
    Facilities
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  5. Final exit not openable without a key

    Critical

    Final exit door cannot be opened from inside without a key. Fit escape hardware.

    Trade
    Carpenter / Joiner
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  6. Fire door not closing / latching

    Safety

    Fire door does not self-close and latch from any angle. Adjust closer or latch.

    Trade
    Carpenter / Joiner
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  7. Fire door wedged / unapproved hold-open

    Safety

    Fire door held open without an approved hold-open device. Remove wedge or fit device linked to the alarm.

    Trade
    Fire alarm engineer
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  8. Fire alarm call point missing / obstructed

    Safety

    Manual call point missing or obstructed. Fit or clear.

    Trade
    Fire alarm engineer
    Reference
    BS 5839-1

  9. Detector / sounder missing or covered

    Safety

    Smoke/heat detector or sounder missing or still covered. Fit or uncover and test.

    Trade
    Fire alarm engineer
    Reference
    BS 5839-1

  10. Emergency lighting not working

    Safety

    Emergency luminaire does not illuminate on test. Repair and retest.

    Trade
    Electrician
    Reference
    BS 5266-1

  11. Exit sign missing / not illuminated

    Safety

    Exit/escape route sign missing or not illuminated. Fit or repair.

    Trade
    Electrician
    Reference
    BS 5266-1

  12. Sprinkler head obstructed / damaged

    Safety

    Sprinkler head obstructed, painted or damaged. Clear or replace.

    Trade
    Sprinkler contractor
    Reference
    BS EN 12845

  13. Dry riser inlet / outlet defective

    Safety

    Dry riser inlet or landing valve damaged, missing cap or obstructed. Repair.

    Trade
    Sprinkler contractor
    Reference
    BS 9990

  14. Fire alarm certificate outstanding

    Moderate

    Fire alarm commissioning certificate not provided. Provide certificate.

    Trade
    Fire alarm engineer
    Reference
    BS 5839-1

  15. Fire extinguisher missing / out of date

    Moderate

    Extinguisher missing, unmounted or service overdue. Provide and service.

    Trade
    Facilities
    Reference
    BS 5306-8

  16. Fire damper access panel missing

    Moderate

    No access panel to fire damper for testing. Provide access.

    Trade
    M&E contractor
    Reference
    Approved Document B

  17. Fire door signage missing

    Minor

    Fire door "Keep shut" / "Keep locked" signage missing. Fit signage.

    Trade
    Signage
    Reference
    BS ISO 7010

Using these in a report

In the SiteSnag app, starting to type a defect title in the camera brings up these entries. Picking one fills in the description, severity, trade and reference, and you can edit the wording or add your own defects to the library. Every snag then goes into the branded PDF report with its photos and a numbered pin on the floor plan.

For a room-by-room walk-round, use the new build snagging checklist, or go back to all defect categories.

Other categories

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