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Fire Door Safety Week is upon us, and The British Woodworking Federation is urging the public to play their part in ensuring a fire door performs as it should in the event of a fire. Whether you’re a manufacturer, building contractor, facilities manager or general building user, knowing what to look out for and what to do if you spot an issue with a fire door could mean the difference between life and death. 

Since the Grenfell Tower Fire, there has been a spotlight on fire safety in buildings, and strict regulations and guidelines govern the installation and performance of fire doors. It’s unsurprising when you consider that of all the passive fire protection measures in a building, fire doors receive the most use daily.

Committing to regular checks is a must to keep fire door safety front of mind, not just this week but every week. This will help maintain their upkeep, keep buildings and their occupants safe, and ensure you remain on the right side of the law.

So, how safe are your doors? Use our simple six-point checklist to guide you – but remember, only trained and certified professionals should be used to conduct official inspections, maintenance or repairs. 

1. Frame, seal, clearance and gaps

Take a good look at the doors’ frames and seals. Is there any damage or signs of wear with the door sitting in the frame? 

The intumescent seals must be securely attached to the groove that runs along the door frame and continuously around the entire door set, as these play a vital role in the door’s effectiveness. These seals expand when subjected to heat, so clearance needs to be consistent around the door leaf and frame to ensure a tight seal in the event of a fire.

2. Latches and locks

All the latches, locks, and hinges must be in complete working order and show no apparent signs of wear or anything that may hinder their operation during a fire.

3.  Hold open devices

Wedging a fire door open is dangerous, but specialist fire door ‘hold open’ devices exist to secure the door open during normal day-to-day operations, improving ventilation and accessibility. Confirm that they function by releasing and closing the door in response to the alarm or any power loss.

4.  Glazing

Glazing and vision panels should be fully intact and show no signs of defects. This is crucial for effectively containing smoke and fire.

5.  Smooth operation

Check that the door swings in the proper direction and is not hindered by any obstruction that would stop it from closing correctly. Doors should open and close smoothly without catching or binding to remain compliant.

6.  Clear and present signage

Signage is essential in guiding staff, visitors, and residents during emergencies. Can it be seen and read easily? Check that it’s in good condition, prominently displayed, and not covered by anything.

According to research by the British Woodworking Federation, over half (57%) of the UK public couldn’t spot a problem with a fire door, so it pays to be clued up. Keep our checklist in mind, share the information with colleagues and neighbours, and prioritise fire safety all year round. 

To speak to an expert about fire door inspections, get in touch today call 0161 480 8722.

As Fire Door Safety Week 2024 approaches (23–27 September), here are some of the most compelling stats that those with fire safety responsibilities can’t ignore.

Research conducted by The British Woodworking Federation in 2022 and 2023 has revealed five startling truths about fire doors and the public’s perception of them.

More than half (57%)of those surveyed can’t spot issues with fire doors, such as damage to the door’s integrity, cracks in the glass or gaps in the frame.

Three-quarters[1] of those surveyed know that propping open a fire safety door prevents its effectiveness—yet almost half[2] of people wouldn’t report that issue, and just over a fifth[3] wouldn’t report a problem as they don’t think anything would be done to remedy it.

Ryan Quinn, Operations Director at doorassure – RW Joinery’s maintenance, repair, and inspection division, said: “Following the fire tragedies of recent years, the public has become savvier about the issues affecting their safety, but these figures show that even when people know there’s a problem, it doesn’t mean they’ll act or know who to contact.” 

Important lessons

For those with fire door safety responsibilities, the figures reiterate the importance of creating a culture of openness and action to encourage building users to report issues. They also show why regular inspection of fire doors is crucial.

Ryan added: “It’s not just the public that can’t spot issues with fire doors; we see it among building, estate and facilities managers, too.  On average, 85% of the fire doors we inspect fail to meet British standards, and in some settings, such as healthcare, failure rates have been as high as 100%.  

“Fire doors aren’t something to install and forget about. They need regular maintenance and inspection every six months to keep them performing at the highest levels.  Many clients don’t know they are responsible for the integrity and performance of the doorsets and, crucially, the risk associated with their non-performance and compliance. Greater education of those with fire door safety responsibilities is needed urgently.”  

Fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties, including commercial premises, public buildings, blocks of flats, and houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs). Under the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Regulations 2022, formal regulations now govern the installation and performance of fire doors and require responsible parties to undertake more regular inspections and maintenance.

As many as 75% of failed fire doors could be repaired, and almost all failures could have been avoided if a regular maintenance programme had been in place.  

Ryan concluded:  “It’s only through regular maintenance, repair and inspection that the responsible person can be sure they’re fulfilling their obligations and keeping their building users as safe as possible.    

“While it’s certainly not realistic for busy FMs and estate managers to know the state of every door all the time, they should have the assurance of a BM Trada accredited partner who regularly inspects, maintains, and tests their doors. They will be able to identify potential issues, carry out repairs and replacement as necessary and ensure all aspects of compliance are achieved.  The support and the peace of mind that secures is invaluable.”

1 Source: Data from The British Woodworking Federation’s 2022 survey as quoted here
2 Source: Data from The British Woodworking Federation’s 2022 survey as quoted here
3 Source: Data from The British Woodworking Federation’s Recognise It Report It research from 2023 here
4 Source: Data from The British Woodworking Federation’s Recognise It Report It research from 2023 here
5 Source: Data from The British Woodworking Federation’s 2022 survey as quoted here

Just like a half open door, there are no half measures when it comes to fire door safety. Since the introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2021, worryingly many of those accountable for fire door safety still don’t fully understand their responsibilities under the Act.

At RW Maintain, we don’t want you to be one of those people.

Regular, routine checks of fire doors ensure their correct upkeep and keeps you the right side of the law. Of all the passive fire protection measures in a building, fire doors receive the most use on a day-to-day basis making regular checks a must. To help, we’ve pulled together a simple list of six checks to aid you in this. However, do remember that full inspections and maintenance should be carried out by trained individuals to ensure your doors remain fully compliant and safe.

#check one: Frame, seal, clearance and gaps

Focus on the frame and seals of the doors. Check for any damage or signs of wear with the door sitting in the frame. It is vital the intumescent seals are securely attached to the groove that runs along the door frame and continuously around the entire door set as these play an integral part to the effectiveness of the door. These seals expand when subjected to heat so clearance needs to be consistent around the door leaf and frame to ensure a tight seal in the event of a fire.

#check two: Latches and locks

Check all the latches, locks and hinges are fully working and show no obvious signs of wear or anything which may hinder their working in the event of a fire.

#check three: Hold open devices

Confirm that any hold open devices, typically in a healthcare environment, function as intended. Check they release and close the door in response to the alarm or any power loss.

#check four: Glazing

Ensure any glazing and vision panels are fully intact and show no signs of any defects. The integrity of glazing is hugely important in containing smoke and fire effectively.

#check five: Smooth operation

Check that the door swings in the proper direction and is not hindered by any obstruction which would stop them from closing properly. Doors should operate smoothly without catching or binding to maintain compliance.

#check six – Clear and present signage

Signage is essential in guiding staff, visitors and residents during emergencies – can it be seen and read easily? Check it’s in good condition and is prominently displayed and not covered by anything.

This simple, six-point checklist should aid you to monitor your fire doors between regular maintenance inspections by certified experts such as RW Maintain. Remain safe with a dedicated maintenance programme which can expertly repair when required and only replace when absolutely necessary to keep your doors certified compliant in accordance with British standards.

Contact an expert at RW Maintain today to discuss a bespoke package that Really Works for you from a company you can trust.

Getting a good fit with the right external team will pay dividends. Without a robust maintenance plan in place for your fire doors, remember, they can quickly become ineffective when most needed – namely in the event of a fire – leaving you open to legal repercussions.

With so many regulations and legislation around fire door maintenance, whoever you partner with in the safe upkeep of your doors needs to be competent, specialist and systematic in their approach. We’re pleased to say that, with multiple years of experience, our teams here at RW Maintain can offer this service.

Looking at the situation objectively, there are several advantages to partnering with a trusted external team when it comes to the safe and correct maintenance of your fire doors including:

1. Relieving estates and building managers of the difficulties in staying right up-to-date with the ever-evolving fire regulations. They do have many other pulls on their time!
2. Experts in their field have a far better chance of spotting early the subtlest signs of wear or damage, which can lead to non-compliance.
3. A pre-planned approach, with a structured maintenance schedule, will ensure compliance of your fire doors and thus the safety of your staff and visitors.
4. By spotting potential issues early, expert repairs can be made to ensure safety isn’t compromised and the lifespan of your doors is maintained, meaning potential replacements don’t become necessary and overall providing a cost saving.
5. All inspections are logged, providing traceability and accurate records of maintenance showing compliance isn’t sporadic but an ongoing commitment.
6. Identifying when fire doors will ultimately need replacing and providing a plan and timescales for budget planning. Don’t be the recipient of unwelcome and unexpected large bills due to lack of foresight!

Collaborating with fire door experts, such as ourselves at RW Maintain, will release your estate or building managers’ time for wider maintenance issues ensuring the ongoing safety of all. We will deliver a personalised plan which fits in with your team’s requirements and which is designed around industry-specific legislation to meet current British Standards.

Don’t leave yourself or your managers open to prosecution for non-compliance, contact an expert at RW Maintain today to discuss a bespoke package that Really Works for you from a company you can really trust.