Fire Door Safety Week 2024 (23rd-27th September)


Updated: 09 July 2024

Fire doors are vital for the safety of those within a burning building. A properly installed and maintained fire door is capable of buying people between 30 to 60 minutes of protectiontime if a fire breaks out nearby; this could be the difference between life and death. 

Firedoor safety week logo

To reinforce this importance, Fire Door Safety Week (FDSW) is celebrated yearly in the UK, raising awareness about the regulations that surround fire doors. In this article, we’ll take a look at what’s in store for the latest iteration of this important safety event and how you can make a difference to protect yourself and others around you in the event of a fire.

The Origins of Fire Door Safety Week

British Woodworking Federation logo

Fire Door Safety Week was launched back in 2013 by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) in response to a legacy of fire door neglect. Supported by the BWF Fire Door Alliance, London Fire Brigade, National Fire Chief’s Council, and Home Office’s National Fire Safety Campaign, the FDSW campaign set out to increase the public’s understanding of the key role which fire doors play in protecting both property and life.

Each year, a particular focus point is given to combat negligence and neglect of safety measures within homes, schools, hospitals, care homes and more. Most recent campaigns have involved slogans such as “Make Time to Save Lives” (2021), “Close the Door on Fire” (2022) and “Recognise it, Report it” (2023). The public’s lack of awareness inspires each slogan, aiming to shock us and also teach us that day-to-day neglect of fire doors can have severe consequences.

The Importance of Fire Door Safety

Grenfell Tower

Fire doors play a vital role in our safety, especially in domestic and commercial high-rise blocks where escape routes are more limited. The tragic Grenfell Tower disaster (2017) in London demonstrated how improper fire doors can lead to terrible consequences. The fire doors, supplied by Manse Masterdor (who ceased trading in 2014), were proven to only last up to 15 minutes despite being marketed as meeting the “30-minute” requirement.

The 2023 campaign of FDSW provided an emphasis on recognising and reporting faulty fire doors, stating that a “lack of knowledge over faulty doors leads to underreporting”; almost 49% of people didn’t feel it was their responsibility and over half (57%) of the UK public couldn’t spot a problem with a fire door. However, only a fully functioning fire door can protect people and property from a fire. 

The critical need to close fire doors was demonstrated in the 2022 FDSW campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were guilty of propping open doorspropping open doorspropping open doors to increase airflow; by doing this, the fire door is practically rendered useless. The BWF created a memorable tagline of “When is a fire door, not a fire door? When you leave it open.”, accompanied by stating that 44% of people wouldn’t take action over a propped open fire door (for example, close it). To combat this, many new fire doors are “self-closing”, but unfortunately, people still wedge these open which prevents them from working.

Common Issues That Make Fire Doors Ineffective

  • Improper installation
  • Blocked or propped open doors
  • Missing or inadequate seals
  • Damage to the door frame
  • Non-compliance with standards
  • Faulty or incompatible hardware
  • Inadequate maintenance
  • Lack of signage

Punishments for Fire Door  Misuse or Negligence

  • Fines: Organisations and individuals can face substantial fines for failing to comply with fire safety regulations. Fines for non-compliance with fire safety regulations can reach up to £10,000 or more for serious breaches.
  • Prosecution: Serious cases of fire door neglect can result in criminal prosecution. For example, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the UK, those found guilty can face unlimited fines and up to two years in prison. 
  • Business Closure: Authorities have the power to close down buildings or facilities that are deemed unsafe due to fire door neglect. This can lead to significant financial losses and operational disruptions for businesses.
  • Insurance Implications: Neglecting fire door maintenance can lead to increased insurance premiums or even void insurance policies. In the event of a fire, insurance companies may refuse to pay out claims if fire doors are found to be non-compliant or neglected.

Key Objectives for 2024

For the 2024 campaign, FDSW aims to push further awareness and education for the correct specification, supply, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance required for a fire door. The BWF wants to ensure that all manufacturers and installers, building owners and users, understand their legal responsibilities when it comes to fire doors. This involves checking each door’s condition and their ability to operate, knowing when and who to report issues to, and understanding how failing to do so can affect their performance in the event of a fire. 

An action being pushed this year is the “Introduction to Fire Doors” e-learning module, certified by the CPD Certification Service. This aims to educate people about the basics of fire door safety, including component parts, how the doors are tested and certified, regulations covering the assembly of the doors and, ultimately, the overall importance of fire doors. Further training modules are available, through sites such as the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) where users can undertake the FDIS Diploma

The BWF is also pushing for fire door suppliers to achieve third-party certification on their doors, demonstrating compliance with relevant regulations. The BWF-CERTIFIRE Label and Fire Door Alliance Label provide traceability through the supply chain, ensuring that the manufacturer can be easily contacted if any information about the fire door is required. The presence of this label gives users confidence that this vital piece of safety equipment will operate as designed in the event of a fire. 

Fire door labels

The Five Step Fire Door Check

The BWF introduced the “Five Step Fire Door Check” toolkit back in 2021, as an actionable way that people can assess the quality of a fire door. This toolkit is being pushed again in 2024, helping to educate people and save lives. Below are the five steps to follow: 

5 things to check fire door safety

Fire Doors Don’t Need to Look Boring

At Complete Graphics, we offer a fire door wrapping service utilising high quality vinyl to provide your doors with a stylish makeover. Our vinyl wraps are fire and heat-resistant, providing an extra layer of protection in the event of a fire. When in direct contact with a flame, our wraps curl instead of melt, and they do not act as an ignition source. We comply with UK Fire Door Regulations, meaning we won’t affect the door’s operational capabilities. 

If you’re looking to wrap a fire door, please get in contact with us for a FREE consultation on how we can help you!

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