Are Your Fire Doors Working Properly?

What assurance do you have that your fire doors are working properly?

Here, Richard Sutton, General Manager at Horbury Property Services, looks at the issue of ensuring that fire doors are operating correctly.

“Most people know what a fire door looks like, but just because at first glance it may appear to be in working order, how can you have the assurance that it would perform correctly in the event of a fire?

Often it is the case that fire doors are not inspected in enough detail – or even at all! Over time, the elements that make up a fire door can start to wear and may eventually fail. The intumescent strip, for example, may come away from the door, the door closers may stop working effectively, or the glass may fail, or have been broken and replaced incorrectly.  

Here in the UK, Part B of Building Regulations sets out the minimum requirements for the fire protection that must be implemented in all dwellings - this includes the use of fire doors. All fire doors must be installed with the appropriate fire-resistant fittings, such as the frame and door hardware, for it to fully comply with any fire regulations. The door leaf is installed into a fire-rated frame, complete with the appropriate ironmongery’ to enable the door to perform correctly in the event of a fire. The manufacturer then tests the door as a complete door set and it can only work correctly if installed using the same compatible components as when it was tested.

What’s contained within a fire door?

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. ‘Non- essential’ ironmongery (such as viewers, letterplates in the case of multi occupancy building i.e. flats) may also be fitted – but they must be correctly installed, according to the door manufacturer’s instructions.  In the event of a fire, a fire door will not work unless all the correct components have been fitted correctly and maintained, as well as regularly inspected. 

It is important to ensure your fire doors within a building are checked on a regular basis. Here at Horbury Property Services, we provide fire door inspections and this includes checking the certification of each fire door, inspecting the gaps around the top and sides of the door are correct and not too large or smoke and fire could pass through the gaps.  We also thoroughly check the intumescent seals around the door or frame to make sure they are intact and there is no sign of damage - these seals are vital to the fire door’s performance.  These are just part of a comprehensive fire door inspection service to ensure the doors will operate correctly in the event of a fire.

How do you know if your fire doors are working correctly?

It is recommended that a thorough fire door inspection is carried out at least annually.  Once we’ve completed the work, we provide a building-wide schedule that clearly indicates the location and condition of each door.  If necessary, we can then organise repair work as part of the inspection process, giving you much greater reassurance that your building’s fire doors are operating correctly. Carrying out these annual inspections will minimise risks and protect occupants in the case of a fire.

Why is it so important to have thorough fire door inspections?

Even minor anomalies can be a big deal and things like glazing apertures, intumescent seals, door frames and ironmongery can significantly affect the performance of the fire door.  If the correct components are not fitted, or different ironmongery or components are used then the results could be catastrophic.

Don’t take the risk.  Have the assurance that your fire doors will work effectively always by having them properly and professionally inspected.  Contact our fire door inspection team on 01709 917555.