The role of fire doors
Fire doors are a requirement for many residential, commercial and industrial properties, and tend to feature in most fire safety strategies. As stated by the Fire Protection Association, fire doors serve three main functions:
- maintain the integrity of fire compartmentalisation whilst enabling access from one space to another.
- protect escape routes from the effects of fire (smoke, gases, and flames) for a stated period of time.
- contain the developing fire within the compartment to slow or stop the spread of fire to other compartments.
Whenever a fire door is included in a fire safety strategy, it’s important every installation follows manufacturer instructions and includes the correct ironmongery and other fittings originally subject to fire testing.
Materials used to manufacture a fire door
Fire doors are made from fire-resisting materials which typically contain the spread of fire for a minimum of 30 minutes. In some instances, a fire door can be made from steel. But most commonly, it’s manufactured from treated solid wood coated with a fire-resisting sealant.
Depending on budget an aesthetic preference, it’s also possible to install glazed fire doors which feature fire-resisting glass. With any option, it’s important the correct fittings (such as armatures, metal-edge covers, and intumescent strips) are installed to ensure the correct fire ratings are preserved.
What are fire door regulations?
Building owners, property managers, operators, and occupiers are often responsible for ensuring properties are safe. As part of that responsibility, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 state:
- The responsible person, in relation to a building which contains two or more sets of domestic premises and which is above 11 metres in height, must use best endeavours to undertake checks of fire doors at the entrances of individual domestic premises in the building at least every 12 months.
- The responsible person must keep a record of the steps taken to comply with the [above] obligation including in any case where access to the domestic premises was not granted during any 12 month period, the steps taken by the responsible person to try and gain access.
- The responsible person in relation to a building which contains two or more sets of domestic premises and which is above 11 metres in height, must undertake checks of any fire doors in communal areas of the building at least every 3 months.
- The checks required must include ensuring that the self-closing devices for the doors are working.
If you haven’t checked your fire doors or don’t know where to start, you can explore the option of having a qualified fire safety specialist inspect your property. By making sure your fire doors are fit for purpose, you could prevent a future catastrophe.
How are fire doors rated?
Every fire door is tested at an independent lab using simulated flames and smoke exposure to ascertain how long it can withstand conditions before it is breached. Depending on results, a rating will typically range between 30 to 180 minutes which is used by architects and safety specialists to select the right fire door for any given property.
Book a site inspection
If you’d like to explore your fire door options or want to book a site inspection, call our team on 0330 043 8244. We’d be glad to help.
