Fire Doors are a life saving device and therefore it’s important to ensure they are maintained and working correctly. Regular visual inspections by a competatnt person are a necessity, and where necessary, a competent contractor should carry out a full survey.
As a result of legislation changes, Fire Doors are now required to be checked annually by a competent person and Fire Door Surveys are in-depth analysis reports of your life-saving device, ensuring its compliance and capability to withstand a fire during an unforeseen event.
Are you unsure whether your door is compliant or not? The first step you should take is to bring in a competent contractor to conduct a Fire Door Report. This report will then show you any defects that are hindering your Fire Doors compliance – these issues will have to be rectified and should be a top priority. In extreme cases where your door cannot be repaired, a full replacement would be required in order for you to comply with regulations.
Certifications like BM Trada are a great indication that you’re in safe hands. In fact, BM Trada is the only Government-approved certification, meaning that only certified companies can work on government buildings such as schools, council buildings, and Ministry of Defence sites.
The good news is that you’ve come across Next Doors Ltd! We have the expertise to carry out in-depth professional fire door surveys and complete fire door remedial work and installations to BM Trada standards.
Key UK Fire Door Regulations include the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Regulations. These regulations have been put in place to ensure the protection of people and property in the event of a fire. Highlighting the importance of Fire Doors and their crucial role in buildings, it’s important to understand these regulations and learn the role you play in fire protection within your company.
Inspection: During our inspections, we ensure that your Fire Door, Door Frame and Hardware are compliant with up-to-date regulations to certify compliance. Our Fire Door Surveys are carried out to BM Trada Standard which is the leading Fire Regulation Certification Body and is the only accreditation service accepted by the Government and MOD.
After Inspection: After our thorough in-depth assessment of each individual door, a detailed and comprehensive report is written that outlines the condition of each door and provides a summary of what is required to ensure everything is compliant.
We will then provide a quote to rectify any identified issues. Quite often your fire risk assessment for the building will need to be referred back to so it’s a great help if you can send that to us in advance.
It’s important to remember that Fire Door Regulations and Standards remain the same in all situations however, your responsibilities may vary depending on the specific building and it’s intended use which can be found in your Fire Risk Assessment for your building. Therefore, we recommend that you consult a qualified Fire Safety professional to ensure that your Fire Doors comply with the latest guidance and governance set forth by the Government.
Fire Resistance
Fire Doors must be able to resist fire and smoke for a specific period of time. This is usually 30 or 60 minutes long and the level of fire resistance required will depend on the location and use of the building.
Fire Certification
Your Fire Doors may be required to be Fire Certified which means they have come from a manufacturer that has carried out a full burn test under laboratory conditions and can certify that the doorset which includes the door, frame and associated hardware has been proven to withstand a fire for specified amount of time. Alternatively, it may be accepted for a Fire Rated door, frame and hardware but this would have to be checked with your fire risk assessment and possibly the insurance requirements for your building.
Materials
Suitable materials must be used when manufacturing Fire Doors such as timber or steel, and must be fitted with appropriate seals to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
Installation
When installing Fire Doors, they must be installed correctly and with suitable fire tested hardware. These include hinges and closers, to ensure they work and coinside with the level of fire resistance the door and frame can withstand.
Maintenance
Fire Doors must be maintained in good condition and be checked reguarly to ensure they continue to provide the required level of fire resistance. Any damage or defects must be repaired promptly. Recommended servicing schedules include quartly or every 6 months although annual inspections are not uncommon.
1. It is recommended that Fire Doors have 3 sets of hinges for each door leaf to maintain the integrity of the door due to its weight. These door hinges must be Fire Rated.
2. Glazing within a Fire Door must be Fire Resistant.
3. The gap between the door and frame should be 2 – 4mm.
4. Fire Doors should be fitted with signs on both sides of the door, especially if they are a set of two doors.
5. Fire Doors should all be fitted with an automatic Fire Door closing device.
6. The Fire Door frame should have the same rating as the Fire Door, ideally they would be purchased together as a set to ensure this.
7. Intumescent strups and cold smoke seals should be fitted to the top and sides of all door leafs to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
8. A Fire Door retainer such as Dorgard can be fitted to legally ‘hold’ open to Fire Door.
Fire Door Surveys are crucial to ensure that your building complies with UK Fire Safety Standards. A well-maintained Fire Door can help prevent the spread of fire and smoke, giving occupants more time to escape and protecting property.
We recommend conducting a Fire Door Survey at least annually, but for buildings with high foot traffic or high-risk environments, more frequent inspections may be necessary.
In the UK, building owners, managers, or designated ‘responsible persons’ under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 are responsible for ensuring that Fire Doors are regularly surveyed and maintained.
Failure to maintain Fire Doors can result in fines, legal penalties, and increased liability in the event of a fire. It can also lead to the spread of fire and smoke, putting lives and property at greater risk.
Yes, we offer comprehensive remedial services to repair or replace any Fire Doors that fail to meet the required safety standards following the survey.
The cost depends on the number of doors and size of the building, but generally our BM Trada Standard Fire Door Surveys start from £300.
New legislation in the UK states that all Fire Doors must be annually inspected and maintained.
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To arrange a survey or obtain a free quote, call us on 01322 663 106 or fill in the form below.
