FIRE DOORS

What is a Fire Door?

 A fire door is a highly sophisticated and purpose-built component designed to restrict the spread of fire and smoke within a building.

Unlike standard doors, fire doors are specifically constructed to withstand exposure to flames and harmful smoke for a certified duration, typically ranging from 30 to 120 minutes, as determined by their fire resistance rating.

These doors serve as critical protective barriers, preserving designated evacuation routes and providing occupants with essential time to exit safely. Additionally, fire doors aid firefighting personnel by confining the fire and limiting its spread.

Fire doors are an integral part of comprehensive fire safety measures that effectively delays the progression of fire and smoke.

This functionality is vital in safeguarding both human lives and property.

All communal fire doors, which hold a pivotal role in containing fire outbreaks, are subject to rigorous and detailed inspections.

These evaluations include assessments of door gaps, hinges, seals, signage, and overall structural integrity. Similarly, individual apartment doors undergo annual inspections conducted with the same level of scrutiny.

What are the regulations around Fire Doors?

In accordance with The Fire Regulations England 2022, which came into effect in January 2023, all residential buildings exceeding 11 meters in height are mandated to undergo QUARTERLY fire safety inspections.

These regulations underscore the criticality of maintaining stringent fire safety standards to ensure the well-being of residents.

For residential buildings under 11 meters in height, as well as those that house multiple occupants, regulations stipulate that fire door inspections must be conducted by a qualified and certified professional at a minimum frequency of twice per year.

The Fire Safety Order (FSO) further mandates that fire doors must be maintained and inspected in alignment with prescribed standards. Additionally, regular fire safety compliance inspections are required for residential buildings. It is essential to recognize that adherence to these regulations is a legal obligation and a fundamental aspect of ensuring occupant safety.

What frequency do fire doors need to be inspected?

  • Buildings Over 11 Meters require checks quarterly.
  • Buildings under 11 meters require 6 Month inspections
  • Apartment doors require annual checks regardless of the building height.

Types of Fire Doors

Buildings feature various types of fire doors, each serving a specific purpose.

Here are the main types:

  • Cross-corridor doors: These doors separate different sections of landings to help contain fire and smoke.
  • Stairwell doors: Installed between stairways and hallways, these doors provide essential fire separation and safe escape routes.
  • Plant room doors: Typically used to enclose areas housing equipment like water tanks or machinery.
  • Riser cupboard doors: Found in spaces containing utility meters, pipework, and other essential building services.
  • Apartment doors: residents doors.

 

Other doors like front main doors, rear exit doors, doors leading to fire escapes and car parks are not fire doors, but we check these doors for functionality, condition, signage where required, fixtures and fittings.

Communal Doors

Communal doors are vital in the compartmentalisation of a fire outbreak. 

These doors are splint into 2 types, High traffic doors and Riser/general doors.

 

High Traffic doors:

  • Cross corridor 
  • Stairwell 
  • Bin stores
  • Plant room
  • Apartment 

 

  • The doors must be a minimum of an FD30 rating, (44mm thick).
  • Ideally need to have both heat and smoke seals, and the correct size seal for the door.
  • There must be 3 completed hinges with screws in place.
  • Signage must be in place 1.5 meter from the floor.
  • The gaps must not exceed 4mm hinge side, latch side and top - and not exceed 10m at the base.
  • If a drop down seal is fitted, the gap must not exceed 3mm
  • Privacy glass must be CE Stamp marked.
  • Door closers must be in good condition and not loose
  • The door must be able to close fully into the frame from a 45* position and close within 15-25 seconds, not slam shut.

 

  • Riser cupboards
  • Bike storage 
  • Main 
  • Final exit 

They still require the above checks but are not required to have a door closer fitted.

Note:

Main doors and final exit doors do not require heat and smoke seals.

The privacy glass if fitted is not required to be CE stamped and heat proof.

There is no requirement on gaps.

 

Apartment Doors

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require regular checks to ensure that self-closing devices are working and the fire doors, including flat entrance doors, are in efficient working order and in good repair. These checks are to ensure that the existing door standard is maintained.

 

  • Similar to the evaluations conducted on communal doors, a rigorous inspection is performed using our custom-designed software, ensuring precision and thoroughness.
  • Apartment doors are required to meet fire resistance standards, with specifications of either FD30 (44mm thickness) or FD60 (54mm thickness), depending on the designated rating of the door.
  • They must be equipped with specialized smoke and heat seals, which can be integrated into either the door or the frame. It is imperative that the door is capable of closing fully and freely within 25 seconds when positioned at a 45-degree angle.
  • Additionally, all apartment doors must display clearly visible door numbers to comply with identification requirements.
  • Residents should be encouraged to allow responsible persons access to check their flat entrance doors.  If access cannot be achieved, the responsible person should gather evidence of the steps they have taken to discharge this duty. This could include correspondence between the responsible person and resident seeking permission to gain access.