Fire doors

Fire Doors | Rules & Regulations In The UK 

Fire Doors are a very important feature in a building. They have been designed to withstand fire for up to 30 minutes, so are a literal lifesaver in many instances. Fire doors are designed to close automatically behind you if a fire occurs, serving to hold back the flame and stop the spread of the fire. 

Are you aware of the key UK rules and regulations? After all, property owners are required by law to make sure that all premises reach the required standards of fire safety.

 

Who is Responsible for Fire Doors? 

If you are responsible for a property then it is likely it is going to fall on you as being responsible for the people who occupy the said property. It is worth noting that the property manager’s responsibilities include shared areas in houses in multiple occupations, blocks of flats, and maisonettes.

 

Are Old Fire Doors Still Legal?

You might be wondering what the situation regarding buildings with an old-style fire door is. Well, even though they were made a long time ago they can still be valid legally, as long as they are fit for their purpose. They need to be in good condition and provide the service they were intended for.

 

Fire door/exit

 

Can You Have a Window on a Fire Door?

You can. Many fire doors are fitted with glazing and you can request one to be installed by an appropriate expert.

 

Hinges

Hinges are a point of note. A fire door will have at least 3 hinges that have a melting point above 800 degrees centigrade and apertures for glazing.

 

So, with all of this said, how often should we get fire doors checked?

It is advised in the BWF-CERTIFIED Best Practice Guide to have fire doors checked every 6 months.

Many, if not all of these will be well known to you already. But it does no harm to go over them.

 

Do’s  & Don’ts of Fire Doors

Do

  • Check your door’s certification, you need to look for British Standard (BS) Parts 22 and 31 or BS EN 1154.
  • Make sure the doors are installed by a professional (they should be accredited).
  • Make sure that all handles work correctly.
  • Check that all seals and other components are fire safe.
  • The door itself needs to have the right closure mechanisms if it is not closing the right way frames and hinges could be damaged. 

Don’t

  • Leave a door that needs to be repaired. You should get it repaired the moment you discover the fault.
  • Prop a fire door open, a fire door can save the lives of people if closed.
  • Remove the self-closing device that a fire door is fitted with.
  • Allow tenants to replace fire doors in a block of flats.

 

There is a lot of food for thought above, but when it comes to fire safety regulations nothing can be missed out. Some things are just crucial to know and they can not be skipped on and fire rules and regulations fall into that category.

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