In the realm of building safety, there are few components that are as crucial as fire doors. The purpose of these doors is to be the first line of defence against fires; safeguarding people, property, and other premises. In the instance of creating secure environments, the importance of fire doors cannot be overstated.
Since the devastating tragedy of the Grenfell Tower, the Government has increased efforts to ensure that all safety measures within buildings are regularly inspected and maintained. During the inspection, it was reported that the doors did not act for the purpose that they were designed for because they were damaged and required repairs. As a result of this, the fire doors did not stop the smoke and gases from quickly spreading throughout the building.
According to a gov.uk report, the Fire Safety Act 2022 stated that an accountable person for fire doors must consider:
It is essential that you know and understand all safety requirements when it comes to fitting fire doors in order to ensure that they comply with the regulations. This is also relevant if you are refurbishing doors, as the same regulations apply.
In this article, we will cover:
Internal fire doors are specialised doors that are designed and constructed to resist the spread of fire and smoke within a building, as well as provide a clear route for escape. They are generally rated at a grade of FD30 and FD60 and are tested to withstand fire for a duration of time. An FD30-graded door can withstand a fire for up to 30 minutes; an FD60 door can withstand for 60 minutes.
FD30 fire doors are 45mm thick and are used for low-rise residential buildings and offices.
FD60 fire doors have a thickness of 54mm and are installed for high-rise and commercial buildings. If a building is fitted with this grade, it is usually designed to protect the building’s assets as well as the people.
For a commercial building, the fire doors should be placed to allow for either a vertical or horizontal escape route within the building. A vertical escape route is usually the most common way to exit a building in the event of an emergency, for example, using the stairs to get everyone down to the ground and out swiftly. A horizontal escape route directs people to a space within a floor that is fireproof and in this case, the route must be lined with fire doors.
With domestic buildings that are above two levels, every door that leads to the stairwell must be a fire door, where the door leads on to a habitable room. Any rooms that have been converted into a loft must also be installed as fire doors.
For more information on fire resistance in properties, refer to Approved Document B, page 131 for building regulations in various purpose groups.
Fire doors are crucial for intercepting fire and smoke in buildings. From January 2023, the Fire Safety Regulations 2022 concluded that the new fire door regulations must go through “quarterly checks” for all multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres in height. These preventative measures can be lifesaving because regular maintenance will help stop the risk of a fire from spreading.
It is also required that fire doors are built with the following:
There are different elements of regulations that must be compliant when it comes to installing a fire door.
These include:
Fire door signs |
Green and white fire exit signs must be used to direct the person(s) following the escape route. They must be used along the evacuation route, but not specifically on doors. A blue and white “Fire Door Keep Shut” sign must be placed on both sides of the door. |
Fire door height | There are currently no specific height restrictions for fire doors, but instead should be measured by width, depending on the building size and capacity. |
Retainer regulations | Fire doors must always remain shut, as doors are designed to close for safety measures. However, if it is fitted with an electromagnetic fire door; it can be left open, and will automatically close when a fire is detected. |
Vision Panel |
Small (fire-resistant) glass windows are acceptable in a wooden or steel fire door, as long as it is approved as fire safe |
Gap Width | There must be a gap between the door and frames, which need to be between 2mm and 4mm to block any smoke or gases from intruding. |
Frame |
A fire door will often be installed with a frame, but it must be certified fire-resistant. |
Lock
|
Fire doors should never be locked if a building is in use, because it can block a person’s escape route. Any hinge or lock must pass the regulations. |
Hinges |
Hinges on fire doors must be fire-resistant and work properly in order to open and close effectively. |
Fitting regulations |
Fire doors must be installed by a qualified, Fire Door Inspection Scheme professional. The regulation checks should take place once every six months. |
As long as the fire door is regularly maintained, a typical lifespan is 10-15 years. However, knowing when to replace a fire door is critically important as if it is not compliant, peoples’ lives are at risk. Fire doors can become worn due to:
Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 made it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:
The legislation states that "responsible persons" are responsible for maintaining, inspecting and assessing the suitability of a fire door to perform its purpose, but that raises the question - who is class as a "responsible person"?
Confusingly, the term is a bit of a misnomer as, as explained in this guideance on the UK Government website:
"Sometimes, confusion arises from the term “Person”, because it might be expected that the “Responsible Person” is an individual living person (or what, in law, is described as a “natural person”). However, commonly, the Responsible Person will be an organisation, such as a property company or firm of managing agents (or what, in law, is described as a “legal person”)."
It also says:
"For all practical purposes, in the case of a block of flats, the Responsible Person will be the person who has control of the premises in connection with carrying on a business. This will, typically, be the freeholder or the managing agents for the block, or, for example, a residents’ management company."
However, as with all legal considerations we would recommend you review the full documentation and seek legal advice if you are unsure.
Whether you are inspecting a fire door in a home, hotel, or office, you must look out for the following signs that demonstrate the need for a replacement. These include:
You can find more detailed information on fire door maintenance in this download from the UK Government website
Despite their life-saving importance, fire doors are often taken for granted and this subsequently means they can remain in place without proper maintenance for years. Even with correct maintenance and routine inspections, fire doors can become either damaged, or tired looking which can leave a property looking old and run-down.
If the door or frame is structurally damaged, then it must be replaced. Not doing so, is quite simply, false economy and could put lives or property at risk. However, if it's only minor surface damage then this can be repaired.
Thankfully, as long as they still meet the latest regulations, you can rejuvinate a door quickly and easily with a vinyl door wrap.
Most people see fire doors as being purely functional, but in doing so, you can often be missing out on a great opportunity to enhance your brand or user experience. With creative thinking, you could even make your fire doors fun!
Vinyl wrapping fire doors will not make a door that doesn’t meet fire safety regulation standards compliant. However, a vinyl-wrapped fire door has the following benefits:
At Complete Graphics, we are trusted by industry-leading suppliers with all aspects of vinyl installation. Could vinyl wrapping your fire doors be the answer to your concerns? Check out our fire door wrapping services page for more information.
To find out more about how we can refurbish the interior of your property and vinyl wrap your fire doors, contact us today.
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