How to check if your fire doors are compliant
When it comes to fire door inspections, there are lots of different features that need to be checked regularly to ensure your building or property gets the required protection. When properly maintained, they can contain smoke and fire for a minimum of 30 minutes, giving occupants more time to evacuate.
Many clients contact us concerned about whether they have compliant fire doors, so here are some key things to know about checking them.
Who should check fire doors?
The Responsible Person/s for a premises should be completing visual fire door checks during routine inspections, looking for obvious signs of damage. However, a full fire door assessment should always be completed by a highly competent inspector.
Professional fire door assessors will have in-depth training and experience, spotting defects that may be missed during spot checks. They’ll inspect fire doors anywhere from residential flats, offices and schools to medical centres, restaurants and hotels.
What fire door features need to be checked?
There are lots of fire door components that need checking, including certification labels, gap clearances around doors (for consistency), intumescent seals, hinges, closers and glazing. For example, in the UK, the gap around a fire door should ideally be 2 to 4mm at the sides and top, and up to 8mm underneath unless additional smoke control is needed.
Your fire door inspector will even check for missing screws, signs of wear and tear, cracks and warping along the door frame and hardware. Fire-resistant glass should remain intact with suitable beading.
How do you know if your fire doors comply with the law?
In the UK, fire doors must be fit for purpose, including those in residential apartment buildings and HMOs. You must hire a component fire risk assessor to fully inspect your doors and act quickly on the risks identified.
Your professional fire risk assessor will guide you through your specific legal obligations for flat entrance doors, kitchen doors, doors to stairwells and lobby areas, doors within corridors, and doors to plant rooms and electrical equipment.
You should also provide fire door safety information for anyone occupying or working in the building, including keeping fire doors shut, not tampering with self-closing devices and how to report damage.
How often should you book a fire door inspection?
Fire doors need to be regularly checked as they are in frequent use, especially in areas of high footfall. Periodic checks can be at around the 6-to-12-month mark, but you may need to do this more often if you manage a high-risk building.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 also clarified this means regularly checking flat entrance doors. If any improvements are recommended, the Responsible Persons will need to determine how to implement these changes.
Book a new fire door risk assessment now
MD Fire is your fire door expert for the South East, coming out to London, Surrey and locations like Bedfordshire and Berkshire.
To enquire about booking a new fire door inspection, contact us now.
