Fire doors will only prevent fire and smoke from spreading through a building if they are in good working order. According to a study by the Fire Protection Association, 76% of the 100,000 fire doors they inspected in 2019 failed to meet current standards. Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that it is a legal requirement to ensure that fire doors are adequately maintained so that they perform as intended if a fire breaks out.
The BWF Fire Door Alliance recommends checking fire doors at least once every 6 months. This should be done by the Responsible Person for the building or organisation. . Any fire door that is used more frequently in high traffic areas will require more regular checks.
Follow this 6-step check for each fire door in the building:
If you find any issues with your fire doors, our BRE certified inspectors and engineers offer a nationwide survey, measuring or installation service. Contact firedoors@safelincs.co.uk or call 01507 464185 for more information.
There are no set rules that detail how long a fire door lasts before it needs to be replaced. The condition of the door should be monitored and checked at least every 6 months to ensure it is in good working order. Fire doors should comply with the latest fire door regulations and so it important to keep up to date with any changes in regulations which may mean your doors are no longer fit for purpose.
Regulations state that fire doors should self-close completely and reliably. They do not however need to bang or slam shut. The reason for the slamming is usually due to the fire door closer having an incorrect closing speed or power size. Many self-closing devices can be adjusted so that the door will close correctly without slamming shut. Other issues including a loss of fluid or improper fitting could be causing the issue. It is also possible to fit self-closing devices with a latching action which close the door quickly at first and then stop it from slamming by closing the last few inches slowly. It is advisable to have your fire door closer maintained and altered by a competent person.
Fire doors should never be propped or wedged open as the fire door would not be able to close in the event of a fire. A safe and legal solution to holding open fire doors is to install a fire door holder also known as a retainer. Fire door retainers can be easily installed onto existing doors and allow the door to be held open at any angle. They comply with regulations because when the fire alarm sounds, the door retainer releases the fire door to close, preventing the spread of fire. Fire doors should never be propped or wedged open to improve ventilation.
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Article 17 states that the Responsible Person for a building must ensure that fire doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained.
Cutting the bottom off a fire door could threaten the integrity of your fire door and could put lives at risk. If you need to increase air circulation in your building the best option is to hold your fire door open with a fire door holder or free-swing door closer. These are legal solutions that enable a fire door to be left open but will activate the automatic closing of the fire door on the sounding of fire alarm, preventing the spread of smoke and fire.
Reviewed: 29/03/2022 (doc:566 V1.0). Our articles are reviewed regularly. However, any changes made to standards or legislation following the review date will not have been considered. Please note that we provide abridged, easy-to-understand guidance. To make detailed decisions about your fire safety provisions, you might require further advice or need to consult the full standards and legislation.