Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to remember the difference that an effective fire door can make.
Fire doors are often the first line of defence in a blaze so their correct specification, installation, maintenance and management can help save the lives of building occupants.
Yet fire door breaches remain one of the most common fines implemented under the Fire Safety Order.
Common problems range from doors being wedged open, missing or damaged or even non-fire doors being installed instead.
As part of the Fire Kills campaign, HWFRS is supporting Fire Door Safety Week 2024 (September 23-29).
Building managers, landlords, tenants and all building users are encouraged to check the operation and condition of their fire doors and repair, if possible, or report those that aren’t satisfactory.
Deb Davies, HWFRS Group Commander for Protection, said: “It cannot be underestimated the difference that an effective fire door can make.
“A fire door is not always a fire exit door and is typically identified by a blue ‘FIRE DOOR KEEP SHUT’ sign often at eye level.
“Fire doors are an essential part of our fire protection.
“They help to compartmentalise a building, such as a block of flats, keeping fire and smoke trapped for a while in one area so that the fire can be tackled and people can be safely evacuated.
“If you’ve seen a damaged fire door or know of a flat entrance door that hasn’t been checked for fire performance, report it to your landlord or building manager straight away and if you see a fire door propped open, make sure you shut it – a fire door cannot work when open.”
New legislation for fire doors has been introduced following the Grenfell tragedy. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require that fire doors in all buildings that contain two or more domestic premises and that contain common parts to ensure that:
- fire doors should be kept shut when not in use
- residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices
- residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the Responsible Person
- fire doors should undergo regular checks to ensure compliance
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Fire Door Safety Week is giving these checklist tips from www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk that anyone can do which lets you know whether it’s time to call in the professionals at fdis.co.uk.
- Check for certification – is there a label or plug on top, or occasionally on the side, of the door to show it is a certificated fire door?
- Check the gaps – check the gaps around the top and sides of the door are consistently less than 4mm when closed.
- Check the seals’ condition – are there any intumescent seals around the door or frame and are they intact with no sign of damage?
- Check the hinges – are the hinges firmly fixed (three or more of them) with no missing or broken screws?
- Check the door closes properly – open the door about halfway, let go and allow it to close by itself. Does it close firmly onto the latch without sticking on the floor or the frame?