How to check fire door SKEB before appointment

What is SKEB?

SKEB stands for Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours.

SKEB is a practical framework used in UK construction and fire safety competence discussions. It helps buyers ask structured questions about whether someone is competent for a specific task.

For fire door work, SKEB might cover whether an installer can fit a particular door system, whether an inspector understands what to look for in your building, or whether a remedial contractor documents compatible components correctly.

Key takeaway: SKEB is a questioning framework — not a certificate and not proof of compliance.

Why SKEB matters

Fire door appointments are safety-critical — competence should match the task.

UK fire safety law and guidance expect relevant fire safety measures to be carried out by competent people. For buyers and duty-holders, that often means asking clear questions before appointing installers, inspectors or remedial contractors.

SKEB helps you move beyond vague assurances and compare what different suppliers can actually demonstrate for your specific doors and scope.

Key takeaway: Better competence questions may support clearer appointment decisions — but they do not remove your legal duties or guarantee outcomes.

How SKEB differs from simply seeing a badge or certificate

Certification can be useful supporting evidence — it is not the whole answer.

A certificate, scheme logo or product label may show that part of a competence or product case has been assessed by a third party. That can be helpful.

However, buyers should still ask whether the certified person will attend site, whether the certification covers the specific task and products in scope, who supervises the work, and what records will be provided.

SKEB questions fill the gap between a badge on a website and evidence about the actual work on your doors.

• Does the certificate cover this specific task?
• Does it cover the products and door types in my scope?
• Who holds it — the company or the person on site?
• What evidence exists beyond the certificate?
• What limitations does the supplier acknowledge?

Key takeaway: Use certification as supporting evidence — alongside SKEB questions about people, supervision and records.

What evidence a buyer can reasonably ask for

Ask for practical evidence you can record — not marketing slogans.

Reasonable evidence might include examples of similar work, training records relevant to the task, manufacturer authorisations where applicable, inspection methodology for survey work, and written scope explaining products and limitations.

You may not receive everything you ask for. Missing or vague answers are information too — record them before deciding.

• Named person who will attend site and their role
• Examples of similar fire door work (type of building, door, scope)
• Training or qualifications relevant to the task
• Manufacturer or product-system familiarity
• Written method or scope for inspection or remedial work
• References to product evidence to be relied on
• Supervision arrangements
• Sample report or completion record (redacted if needed)

Key takeaway: Ask for evidence you can file — and note what is refused or unclear.

How to record the answer

Write down what was asked, what was supplied, and what was missing.

Use the printable competence evidence record, the question sheet on this site, or your own document system. Record date, supplier name, scope, SKEB answers and any limitations stated.

Keep records with quotes and appointment decisions in building or project files where appropriate.

Key takeaway: Records help show what was considered at the time — they do not prove compliance by themselves.

Why supervision matters

Competence on paper does not always equal competent delivery on site.

Ask who supervises work, how often they attend, and how completion is checked. For inspection work, ask who carries out the survey and whether the report is reviewed before issue.

Subcontractors and labour-only operatives should be covered by your questions too — not only the company name on the quote.

• Who supervises work on site?
• How often is supervision attended?
• Who checks work before handover?
• How are subcontractors supervised?
• Who signs off the report or completion record?

Key takeaway: Supervision questions help you understand accountability — not just marketing claims.

Why behaviour matters

Professional behaviour includes honesty about limitations and willingness to document work.

Behaviours include how a supplier responds to difficult questions, whether they document scope and exclusions clearly, and whether they acknowledge when something needs further investigation or a specialist.

Warning behaviours include pressure to skip documentation, dismissiveness about product evidence, or promises that sound too absolute for the scope described.

• Do they answer questions clearly and in writing when asked?
• Do they acknowledge limitations and exclusions?
• Do they explain when something needs further investigation?
• Do they avoid absolute promises that cannot be supported?
• Do they provide records after work as agreed?

Key takeaway: Behaviours are part of competence — note how suppliers communicate, not only what certificates they show.

Why you should not appoint on price alone

The lowest quote may exclude scope, supervision, documentation or compatible components.

Two quotes can differ sharply in what is included. SKEB and scope questions help you understand whether a lower price reflects efficient delivery or missing work, records and responsibility.

Compare scope, evidence, exclusions and handover records before comparing headline price.

Key takeaway: Price is one factor — scope, SKEB evidence and records should come first.