Fire Door Safety Week 2024: Emphasising the Importance of Fire Door Compliance
Fire Door Safety Week is an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness about the critical role fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property.
Since its inception in 2013, the initiative has grown substantially, engaging professionals across the fire protection industry, building owners, and the general public.
Fire doors are a fundamental part of a building’s passive fire protection system, designed to compartmentalise fire and smoke, providing essential time for occupants to evacuate safely.
Despite their importance, fire doors are often overlooked, misused, or improperly maintained, which can significantly reduce their effectiveness during a fire emergency.
Common issues include damaged doors, incorrect installation, and the use of non-compliant components.
Fire Door Safety Week serves as a reminder of the responsibilities shared by building owners, facility managers, and occupants to ensure that fire doors are correctly specified, installed, and maintained.
The 2024 campaign continues to highlight these critical issues, promoting education and best practices within the industry and among the public.
By focusing on compliance and the proper use of fire doors, Fire Door Safety Week seeks to enhance fire safety standards and reduce the risks associated with fire incidents.
Ensuring Fire Door Safety: Insights from Howarth Timber
Emily Green of Howarth Timber has compiled a comprehensive Fire Door Safety Guide to address the essential need for properly specified, fitted, and maintained fire doors.
The guide highlights common faults that can compromise the effectiveness of fire doors, potentially endangering lives in the event of a fire.
Common Fire Door Faults
Some of the most common door faults include missing or incorrectly installed fire or smoke seals, which are designed to prevent hot gases and smoke from spreading.
Excessive gaps between the door and its frame can also allow smoke and fire to pass through, accelerating the spread of fire.
The use of unsuitable hinges is another prevalent issue; according to the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), one in five fire doors has unsuitable hinges, which can prevent the door from closing properly.
Incorrect glazing is a critical concern, as non-fire-rated glass can crack and shatter when exposed to high temperatures, allowing fire to spread quickly.
Damage to the door leaf and voids created by ironmongery, such as locks, can weaken the door’s structure and compromise its fire resistance.
Human Error and Fire Door Misuse
Human error is also a major concern, particularly when fire doors are propped open or obstructed.
While there may be times when doors need to be held open temporarily, it is vital for safety that fire doors are not left open for extended periods, especially overnight when occupants are most vulnerable.
Understanding FD Fire Ratings
Understanding FD fire ratings is crucial when selecting fire doors.
An FD rating indicates the amount of time a door can guard against the spread of smoke and fire.
The most common ratings are FD30, providing up to 30 minutes of protection, and FD60, offering 60 minutes.
Specialised classifications like FD30S are specifically designed for smoke resistance.
Installation of Fire Doors in Residential Buildings
The guide outlines where fire doors should be installed in residential buildings:
- Two Levels and Extensions: In properties with more than two levels, including loft conversions, FD30-rated doors must be installed between habitable rooms and stairwells.
- Garages: Fire doors are required between dwellings and integrated garages.
- Any entry that leads indoors from an external facility must have a fire-rated fixture.
- Apartment Entrances: Flat entrances are legally required to have fire-rated components to slow the spread of fire and smoke between units.
Fire Doors in Commercial Properties
In commercial properties, fire doors are essential for safe evacuation routes.
- Commercial Escapes: Multi-storey buildings must have adequate stairs and alternative escape routes, with fire exits that are suitably large and well-marked.
- Public Passageways: Any rooms that connect to an evacuation route are required by law to have fire-rated door sets to prevent fire and smoke from obstructing escape paths.
- Entrance Widths and Resistance: Entrances must meet specific width requirements, and all doorway components and connecting walls must have a minimum rating of FD60.
Tips for Buying Fire Doors
When purchasing fire doors, it is important to consider components such as:
- Frames, Casings, and Linings: These must be fire-rated and match the FD rating of the door.
- Fire-Rated Hinges: A minimum of three fire-rated hinges capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 800 degrees Celsius are required.
- Door Closers and Locks: Fire-rated door closers ensure doors close automatically, and locks must meet BS EN 12209 standards.
- Intumescent Strips and Foams: These materials expand when heated to form a tight seal, limiting the spread of smoke and fire.
- Fire-Rated Packs and Alarms: Ensure all necessary components are included for a secure installation, and consider installing smoke detectors and alarms.
With over 45,000 fires occurring in homes and businesses each year, ensuring that fire doors are up to code is critical.
Howarth Timber encourages everyone to inspect their fire doors for any faults or weaknesses, contributing to improved safety and compliance during Fire Door Safety Week 2024.
Abloy UK’s Educational Initiative for Fire Door Compliance
To mark Fire Door Safety Week 2024, Abloy UK has launched an educational initiative to promote greater awareness and understanding of fire door compliance.
Highlighting the need for proper installation, regular maintenance, and adherence to legal standards, the company aims to improve safety outcomes by educating building owners and the general public on how to assess and maintain compliant fire doors.
Rising Fire Incidents in England
Recent statistics reveal an upward trend in fire-related incidents across England.
In the year ending March 2024, Fire and Rescue Services attended 600,324 incidents, marking a 4.1% increase compared to five years prior.
This included 138,977 fires, with 61,970 classified as primary fires involving substantial property damage or personal risk.
During the same period, there were 251 fire-related fatalities and 6,339 non-fatal casualties, with 2,743 individuals requiring hospital treatment—a 5.8% increase from the previous year.
The Importance of Compliance
These figures underscore the importance of maintaining fully compliant fire doors, which play a critical role in containing the spread of fire and smoke, protecting lives, and limiting property damage.
Doors must be installed, maintained, and regularly checked to meet compliance standards, as a faulty or non-compliant door can significantly compromise safety.
Pat Jefferies, Commercial Director at Abloy UK, explains: “The recent statistics surrounding fires in England is a reminder of the importance of proactive fire safety measures.
“A compliant fire door is a critical line of defence in the event of a fire, but only works when properly installed and maintained.
“Our aim for Fire Door Safety Week this year is to educate people on how to ensure their fire doors meet safety standards.”
Abloy Academy’s Free Educational Courses
To support this goal, the Abloy Academy has been educating delegates on fire door compliance for over a decade, offering a free-of-charge Electrical Locking Fire and Escape Doors CPD course.
This RIBA-approved course covers the fundamental requirements when incorporating access control systems in commercial buildings, including the electric locking options available and how to design standard-compliant access control systems.
The course explains how to ensure that electric locking specifications meet the requirements of both fire door and escape door legislation, including BS EN 179 (Emergency Escape for buildings where occupants are familiar with the environment), BS EN 1125 (Panic Escape for public buildings), and BS EN 13637 (Electronically Controlled Escape Systems for use on escape routes).
These standards stipulate that even if a door is electronically controlled for access, there must be a compliant mechanical means of escape in an emergency.
Compliant Security Products for Panic and Escape Doors
In addition to providing free educational courses, Abloy UK offers a range of compliant security product packages specifically designed for panic and escape doors.
Their range of electric locks includes motor and solenoid locks, which are effective forms of electric locking and adhere to mandatory fire and escape standards.
Pat Jefferies concluded: “Compliance must be taken very seriously—the shocking increase in fires over the last five years in England makes this an even more pertinent issue.
“With the free courses available at the Abloy Academy, specifiers of access control solutions for emergency escape and fire doors can ensure that systems adhere to the latest regulations.”
Abloy UK’s commitment to education and compliance serves as an important reminder during Fire Door Safety Week of the critical role that proper installation and maintenance of fire doors play in safeguarding lives and property.
The Importance of Proactive Fire Door Safety: Insights from Allegion UK
Kirk Smith of Allegion UK has highlighted the need for a more proactive approach to fire door safety in public-facing buildings.
Drawing attention to attitudes towards passive fire protection, Smith emphasises that being more vigilant with fire door safety can help save lives.
Public Attitudes Towards Fire Door Safety
Research conducted by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) in 2022 revealed concerning attitudes among the British public.
A third of respondents stated they would not report a problem with a fire door, despite three-quarters acknowledging that a propped open fire door would not function properly in the event of a fire.
Additionally, the Fire Door Inspection Scheme found that 75% of inspected fire doors in the UK failed to meet required safety standards in 2021.
The Role of Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection systems, such as fire doors and their hardware, are essential components in safeguarding occupants of public-facing buildings, including schools, shops, workplaces, and shared accommodation.
Fire doors are often the first line of defence against fire and smoke, compartmentalising spaces to protect property and provide occupants with time to escape.
Regulatory Responsibilities
Under the recently updated Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, designated Responsible Persons (RPs) in buildings must perform regular duties to review the condition of fire door systems and provide residents with comprehensive fire safety information.
Fire doors and their hardware must be correctly specified, installed, and maintained to perform effectively.
A fire door must be capable of closing fully from an open position, relying on components such as hinges, locks, latches, and door closing devices—all of which must function without fail in the event of a fire.
Shared Responsibilities and Communication
Improving fire door safety requires shared responsibility.
While Responsible Persons have legal duties to maintain and inspect fire doors, building occupants and visitors must also be encouraged to report any issues they observe.
The BWF research indicated that many people do not report problems because they are unsure whom to inform or believe it is not their role.
Enhancing awareness and communication can help mitigate risks and raise safety standards.
Kirk Smith emphasises: “There is a chain of responsible parties, and everyone must recognise what their role is—we all must do better.”
Responsible Persons should perform quarterly checks on fire doors, assessing certification, gaps, seals, hinges, and closing elements.
Over time, even durable hardware can become worn, necessitating repair or replacement to ensure doors operate as intended.
If a fire door is not functioning correctly, professional advice should be sought promptly to carry out maintenance or replacement.
By improving collaboration and communication, and by changing perceptions associated with passive fire protection methods, the devastation caused by fire can be significantly reduced.
Fire Door Safety Week 2024 Summary
Fire Door Safety Week 2024 serves as a vital reminder of the importance of proper fire door specification, installation, and maintenance.
Insights from industry experts like Howarth Timber, Abloy UK, and Allegion UK highlight common faults, the need for education on compliance, and the shared responsibility in ensuring fire door safety.
By addressing these issues, raising awareness, and promoting proactive measures, we can improve safety standards, reduce fire-related incidents, and ultimately save lives.
It is imperative that all stakeholders—from manufacturers and building owners to occupants—recognise their roles in maintaining effective fire door safety practices.