To put it simply, fire doors save lives.
These specialist doors are tested against the elements and purpose-built to withstand roaring fires for as long as possible. They enable buildings to compartmentalise and delay the spread of fire from one area to another.
Fire doors have a few vital safety features and really can be the difference between life and death. Two of the most important functions fire doors have are:
- When closed, they form a barrier to stop the spread of fire
- When opened, they provide a means of escape
Because of their importance in protecting lives, it is imperative that fire doors receive regular inspections – frequency is likely to depend on many factors, including the age and condition of the door. It has been suggested that a minimum quarterly inspection rule may be applied when the new Fire Safety Bill is implemented, recommended in Phase One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Worryingly, the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) recently highlighted that three quarters of all fire doors inspected in 2019 were condemned as not fit for purpose.
If you own a commercial or non-domestic property, there are strict regulations and guidelines to follow, ensuring the doors can withstand certain heats. Fire doors should always be fitted correctly by a competent installer, as they’re a carefully engineered fire safety device.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), landlords have a responsibility to ensure their properties and tenants are safe. The ‘responsible person’ has a legal responsibility under the FSO and can be criminally prosecuted if they do not fulfill their duties. The responsibility extends to the requirement for a fire risk assessment in all non-domestic buildings, including the common parts of flats or houses with multiple occupation.
Features of fire doors
Here are some of the key features to look out for in terms of both domestic and commercial use:
- Fire doors are made up of various components. The door itself is usually made from a solid timber frame, but they can sometimes be covered again in fire-resistant glass. This glass should be able to withstand exposure to the heat condition in a fire test for at least 60 minutes before it reaches a temperature high enough to soften it.
- Around the edges of the door will be the intumescent seal, which is designed to expand when temperatures reach beyond 200°C to seal the gaps between the door and frame.
- For a private premises, it is advised to install fire doors where the risk is most imminent, for example the kitchen, or rooms which house lots of electrical devices. If your property is a new build, it should have been subject to regulations ensuring certain doors are fire doors – check this with the developer. As it currently stands, fire doors are only legally required in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
- For commercial or non-domestic properties, liability lies with whoever is deemed the ‘responsible person’ for that property or the employer. For example, the owner of the property, or the person in control of the property for trade reasons would be responsible.
- Thorough risk assessments must be carried out and it is advisable to get professional help with all fire-safety-related regulations. There is more to passive fire protection and fire safety than just fire doors; escape routes, lighting, warning systems and equipment checks are also required.
- When you’re choosing a door it’s important to know what the different specifications mean. The FD code shows how many minutes of fire a door can withstand, for example an FD30 has been tested to withstand 30 minutes. The most common two codes are generally considered to be FD30 and FD60. The test procedures manufacturers use are specified in BS 476-22:1987 or BS EN 1634-1:2014.
- Many deaths during fires are not from direct contact with the flames, but the consumption of smoke. With this in mind, keep an eye out for a doorset with cold smoke seals. These should be within the intumescent seal. Exceptions may apply where the leakage of the smoke is essential for detecting a fire early.
More on certification testing of timber fire doors can be found from Firesafe.
There is more information on fire resistant glazing and glass available from the Glass and Glazing Federation.
5 step fire door checklist
Here are five areas to check when investigating fire doors (read full article here):
Check out IFSEC Global’s interactive visualisation of what an effective fire door needs to comply with relevant standards and regulations.
I note you have rebated fire & smoke seals, but no mention of surfacece mounted fire & smoke seals, perhaps you could explain why they are not listed.
[…] درب ضد حریق یا همان درب مقاوم در برابر حریق، قسمتی از سیستم های محافظت در برابر حریق در ساختمان است. و از آن به منظور مهار حریق، دود و خروج اضطراری در زمان حریق استفاده می شود. رشد بسیار چشمگیر کنترل دسترسی، موضوعی غیر قابل انکار است. می بایست درب ضد حریق با توجه به این رشد پاسخگوی نیاز ها باشند. موضوع عملکرد و مقاومت در برابر حریق یک محصول زمانی نمایان می شود که روزانه با آن سر و کار داریم. در دنیا درب ضد حریق بر اساس دو استاندارد کلی تولید می گردد: آمریکایی: (National… Read more »
I’ve been wanting to learn more about fire doors, so I appreciated your article. I thought it was really cool to learn that fire doors have a seal around the edges that expands and seals a door when temperatures reach over 200 degrees Celsius. Does the sealing of a door make it harder for the fire to spread? Or does it do more for keeping the fire from receiving the oxygen it needs to thrive? https://allthingsinspector.com/product/ada-door-pressure-gauge-push-pull-0-35lbs/
Great post, to install fire doors where the risk is most imminent (SLS Dubai), for example, the kitchen, or rooms which house lots of electrical devices.
We live in Sheltered housing apartments in Hoole Chester The building three floor 36 apartments house high & is 7 yrs old Our floor is top floor residents on this floor age aged with disabilities. The communal fire doors have automatic self closing system. What if these doors fail to close in sleeping hours . This would probably cussed the death of any residents less mobile. Less time to evacuate in time . I have had to fight for the right to be allowed to close our communal fire door at night . We have new residents younger couple &insists… Read more »
I like how you explain that fire doors are usually made from a solid timber frame, but they can sometimes be covered again in fire-resistant glass. My boss told me that he would like to make sure that our building is safe so that we can feel more comfortable during our shift. I will share this article with him so he can be aware of the benefits of installing fire doors since our office is located in a fire risk zone.
Thank you so much for this great post on fire doors, especially in explaining its features. I like how you explained that fire doors are made from solid timber frames that are sometimes covered by fire-resistant glass. My sister just moved to a condominium in Sydney and I will ask her to check the fire safety measures that her building has stipulated. As a matter of fact, I will share this article with her to ensure that the condominium is well-equipped in preventing fires.
thanks
[…] of shutting doors in the event of a fire, or when the premises are unoccupied. Self-closers on the fire doors won’t function if they’re propped […]
[…] doors, shutters and building hardware. If you own a commercial or non-domestic property, there are strict regulations and guidelines to follow, ensuring the doors can withstand certain […]
Hi. We have purchased a 6 bedroom guesthouse. The entrance portal is a double door. i.e A normal front door leading into a very small little hallway which has another door into a passage. We would like to remove this “middle” door and are wondering if this door was ever a requirement under fire regulations etc? Doubt it as it is an external door but maybe there is something we are not aware of? Thanks
[…] Homeowners can also install a fire door, especially in key areas like the kitchen. They have high fire-resistant ratings, and they may slow down the spread of the fire by as long as 30 to 60 minutes. […]
[…] Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, and regular inspections are essential to fully ensure health and safety measures are met. Healthcare buildings can present highly specific requirements for fire doorsets, with particularly varied legislation and building regulations surrounding fire doors in hospitals. […]
[…] of more flexible working, which has placed differing requirements on access control management, fire doors and occupant life safety in commercial […]
[…] are prevalent in all forms of rented accommodation. A third (33%) of all renters have experienced fire doors being damaged or propped open in the last 12 months, a quarter (25%) have been living with a broken […]