Check Your Fire Doors Are Compliant
Fire can have a detrimental impact on both businesses and people’s lives. As your first line of defence fire doors play an essential and potentially lifesaving role.
Don’t let your fire doors suffer legacy neglect. The issues don’t just exist in high-rise buildings and failing to comply with the regulations could lead to a criminal prosecution.
Supporting Fire Door Safety Week #FDSW
To support Fire Door Safety Week, a topic which resonates across our entire business, we are raising awareness of why fire doors fail. On top of this we will guide you towards some simple checks which can resolve the issues.
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With further incoming legislation updates, we are looking to raise the bar and make this fire door safety week even more impactful than before.
1. Gaps in Your Fire Doors
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Potential issue
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Look for excessive gaps between the side of the door and the frame. If the gap is too large it will not prevent cold smoke coming through which is toxic on inhalation. Common faults across the UK identified that more than 34% had excessive gaps between the door and its frame.
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Solution
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Check the gaps around the top and side of the door and ensure they are consistently less than 4mm when the door is closed. The gap under the door can be slightly larger to open and close effectively and this can be up to 8mm.
2. Failed Closing Device
Potential Issue
A fire door that does not close will, in short, not perform its duty in the event of a fire. Misalignment on closing could be your issue.
Solution
Open the door to around halfway and see if it closes by itself. Check for object which may be obstructing such as a door wedge. Alternatively fit an auto fire door closer.
3. Failed Seals
Potential Issue
Look around the frame of the door for potentially missing intumescent and smoke seals. These are both vital to the fire doors safety performance as they fill the gap between the door and the frame when it is closed. In the event of a fire the seals will expand as they come into contact with heat. Common faults across the UK identified that 61% of premises had smoke seals either missing or they were installed incorrectly.
Solution
Check around the edges of the door and the frame to see whether intumescent and smoke seals are in place and are showing no signs of damage.
4. Hinges
Potential Issue
The door is secured but with only 2 non-fire rated, standard hinges. This combination in the event of could lead to the fire door warping and becoming ineffective when you really need it. Common faults across the UK show 1/5 had unsuitable hinges.
Solution
Check all hinges are firmly fixed in place. You should have 3 or more with no missing or broken screws.
5. Check For Damage
Potential Issue
You’ve found a bit of poor workmanship on your door following maintenance work.
Solution
Check whether the door is fit for purpose. Common faults across the UK found that 15% had damage to the door leaf include holes as an example.
6. Is It Even a Fire Door?
Potential Issue
You are unsure whether the door is actually a fire door.
Solution
Certification can be found in the form of a label or plug which tends to be found on the top or occasionally the side of a door. You can use the selfie function on your camera phone as a mirror to check this.
Hydro-X Air Innovation Day 29/11/2022 (9am-2pm)
Coming up at the end of November we will be hosting a face-to-face event which will be touching upon fire doors and fire dampers with live practical demonstrations from our expert team. Register for this free event hosted in Sheffield at our Hydro-X training centre.
Is Your Maintenance Team Trained to Inspect Your Doors?
Get hands on with Hydro-X Training who provide a 1-day City & Guilds accredited Fire Door Inspection course allowing you to roleplay common fault-finding scenarios with the support of an expert tutor.
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