WHY ARE FIRE DOORS IMPORTANT?
Effective fire doors are essential to ensure that occupants can evacuate a burning building swiftly and safely; avoiding potentially tragic consequences. Escape routes in buildings such as care homes, schools, hotels etc. require significant protection; fire doors are the single most important element in giving occupants time to safely evacuate the building. A fire door is not just the door leaf. It is a complete assembly comprising the frame, any glazing, intumescent fire and smoke seals and all the ironmongery that is used on the door, such as hinges, overhead door closers, latches and locks.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD INTERNAL FIRE DOORS BE CHECKED?
Fire doors should be checked at least every 6 months to remain compliant to the RRO order, we recommend in higher traffic areas and premises with vulnerable people checks should be carried out every 3 months or less.
INSPECTION, DO IT RIGHT!
The type of building you are responsible for and who occupies it will influence the frequency of fire door inspections required. Some buildings, such as schools and hospitals, are subject to heavy traffic and the doors have a hard time often being subject to repeated misuse. BS9999 recommends six monthly inspections and includes guidance on some of the main inspection criteria.
ARE MY FIRE DOORS SUITABLE FOR PURPOSE?
Just like other life safety devices, such as fire extinguishers and alarms, fire doors and final escape doors need periodic inspection and maintenance to ensure that they will perform as intended in a fire situation. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order places this obligation with the responsible person and for life safety devices it is prudent to seek advice from a competent person.
• Door leaf
• Door frame
• Door closer (self-closing devices)
• Hinges
• Glazing (vision panels)
• Fire safety signage• Hold open devices
• Panic hardware devices
• Gaps around doors and thresholds
• Intumescent door strips
• Cold smoke seals
Having your doors inspected by a qualified third-party assessed and certificated professional not only gives you peace of mind, it also reassures you that you take fire safety seriously.
Our fire door inspections look at your existing fire doors and determine if they are compliant and certified. A thorough survey is issued that details recommendations and improvements needed.
The condition of fire doors and their components is included as part of the fire risk survey. Building owners who fail to comply with the regulations can be prosecuted and fined or even sent to prison. Recent prosecutions have been severe, even for seemingly trivial issues such as failing to fit seals or closers, or wedging a fire door open.
