Fire doors are essential for stopping the spread of fire, safeguarding occupants, and guaranteeing compliance with fire safety laws. However, their usefulness is entirely dependent on their correct maintenance and operation. This is why fire door inspections are not just suggested, but required to ensure that fire doors function properly in an emergency. Regular fire door inspections can make the difference between a confined fire and a disastrous event.
In this post, we will look at the importance of fire door inspections, the legal requirements for them, and why routine checks should be a key component of any fire safety strategy.
What Are Fire Doors, and Why Do They Matter?
Fire doors are specifically built doors that can withstand fire and smoke for a set time, usually 30 or 60 minutes. Their objective is to compartmentalise fires, restricting their spread and allowing critical time for evacuation and firefighting operations. Without properly maintained fire doors, flames and toxic smoke can swiftly spread throughout a structure, endangering lives and causing substantial structural damage.
While fire doors are designed to fulfil strict safety regulations, their effectiveness decreases if they are not examined and maintained on a regular basis. This is where fire door inspections come into play, ensuring that these important safety measures are in top condition.
Legal Requirements for Fire Door Inspection
In the United Kingdom, fire safety standards compel responsible individuals—such as building owners, landlords, and facility managers—to ensure that fire doors are suitable for purpose. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) makes these individuals legally obligated to maintain fire safety measures on their premises.
This includes completing fire door inspections at regular periods. The British Standard BS 9999 gives guidelines on fire safety in buildings and highlights the importance of routinely inspecting fire doors. Furthermore, BS 8214 defines the proper installation and maintenance of fire doors, emphasising the importance of periodical evaluations.
Failure to complete proper fire door inspections can result in legal penalties, fines, or even criminal prosecution in circumstances where negligence causes death or serious harm.
How Often Should Fire Door Inspections Be Performed?
Fire doors should be inspected at least once every six months, while some high-risk environments—such as hospitals, schools, and high-rise buildings—may necessitate more frequent inspections. Newly installed fire doors should be checked more frequently during their first year of operation to detect any early symptoms of wear or faulty installation.
Fire doors in high-traffic buildings may sustain frequent damage, so monthly visual checks are recommended in addition to formal biennial fire door inspections.
What Does a Fire Door Inspection Involve?
A complete fire door examination evaluates several areas of the fire door’s integrity and performance. Key features include:
- Door Certification.
A fire door should have a visible certification label or plug that indicates it meets fire safety standards. If something is missing, it should be researched further.
- Door Frame and Leaf Condition
The door frame and leaf should be free of any damage, warping, or changes that could impair fire resistance. A fire door might become useless if it is split, cracked, or has too many gaps.
- Gaps and Seals
When a fire door is closed, the gap around it should not exceed 4mm, and the threshold gap should not be more than 10mm. Intumescent and smoke seals must remain intact because they expand when exposed to heat, obstructing smoke and fire.
- Hinges & Closures
A fire door must have a minimum of three CE-marked hinges that are free of corrosion or deterioration. Furthermore, the self-closing mechanism must be completely working, allowing the door to close automatically from any open position without interference.
- Locks, latches, and handles.
All ironmongery, including locks and latches, should work properly and not block the door’s closing mechanism. Non-compliant hardware has a severe impact on the door’s fire resistance.
- Glazing and Vision Panels
If a fire door has glazing, it must be fireproof and unbroken, with the proper beading and seals intact. Any shattered or non-fire-rated glass must be replaced promptly.
- Signage and accessibility.
Fire doors must be adequately identified with relevant signage, such as “Fire Door – Keep Shut” or “Fire Exit – Keep Clear.” Fire doors in accessible buildings should be compliant with the Equality Act of 2010, allowing all inhabitants, including those with impairments, to utilise them.
The consequences of ignoring fire door inspections
Neglecting fire door inspections might have serious implications. Fire doors that are obstructed, propped open, or damaged may fail in an emergency, allowing fire and smoke to spread quickly. Some of history’s most terrible fire occurrences, including those in residential and commercial structures, have demonstrated the devastation caused by improperly maintained fire doors.
Without frequent fire door inspections, faults can go undetected until it is too late. A malfunctioning fire door could be the weakest link in a building’s fire safety system, endangering lives and even leading to legal consequences for those responsible.
Best Practices in Fire Door Maintenance
To guarantee that fire doors continue to function properly, a routine inspection and maintenance schedule must be implemented. Key recommended practices include:
Regular Inspections: Schedule expert fire door inspections at least twice a year.
Staff Awareness – Train employees to detect and report any fire door problems.
Immediate Repairs – To avoid safety hazards, address any issues as soon as possible.
Documentation: Keep thorough records of all fire door inspections, repairs, and maintenance activities.
Conclusion
Fire doors are an important part of a building’s fire safety system, but they are only effective if properly installed, maintained, and inspected. Regular fire door inspections are required to ensure that these life-saving doors operate correctly in the case of a fire.
Building owners and managers can comply with legal duties, preserve lives, and maintain fire safety standards by conducting rigorous fire door inspections. Ignoring this critical responsibility can have disastrous implications, but with regular inspections and timely maintenance, fire doors will continue to perform their vital goal of keeping people safe.