Understanding the Importance of Fire Door Maintenance
When it comes to fire safety, it can be easy to focus on alarms, extinguishers and sprinkler systems. However one critical element that can be overlooked is the fire door. As a passive fire protection specialist in the UK here at BSML we understand that maintaining fire doors correctly can ultimately protect lives and property. We are going to explore why fire door maintenance is vital and how you can ensure your doors correctly functioning.
What Makes Fire Doors Important?
Fire doors are specially designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different parts of a building. When they are correctly installed to standard and maintained, they provide a barrier that allows occupants time to evacuate safely and firefighters to put out the fire. The fire door's ability to withstand fire, for instance its integrity and insulation, both depend on the door components such as the door leaf, door frame, seals and hardware working together. If one part fails the whole door’s performance can be compromised. This is why routine maintenance is essential.
What Happens If You Don’t Upkeep Fire Doors?
If a fire door doesn’t close properly, has damaged seals or other faults it can lead to a range of consequences:
- Reduced fire resistance allows flames and smoke to spread quickly in escape routes
- Increased risk to people as smoke inhalation can be life threatening
- Legal and insurance issues if the fire door is found non-compliant in inspections
Not ensuring regular and thorough fire door maintenance could prove catastrophic in a fire incident.
Key Areas of Fire Door Maintenance
Servicing and looking after fire doors requires expert knowledge with scheduled checks. When you enlist a fire door maintenance company here is what they should monitor regularly:
- Making sure the door closes fully and latches securely with no resistance
- Check for damage - cracks, holes or missing seals
- Inspect hinges, locks and handles for wear and function
- Confirm intumescent strips and smoke seals are intact and well positioned
- Look out for any unauthorised alterations like extra holes or fitted items
Carrying out checks in regular intervals is a good starting point, but high use environments may call for more frequent reviews, speak to a specialist to find out the recommended timescales for your particular set up.
Maintaining Compliance with UK Fire Safety Standards
In the UK fire door maintenance is a part of regulations such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS 8214:2016. These set out clear responsibilities for building owners and managers to ensure passive fire measures are functional.
Documenting all maintenance activities gives evidence of compliance during fire safety audits and professional servicing by qualified passive fire protection specialists is also important in spotting hidden defects and addressing them quickly.
Simple Steps To Take
Even if you’re not a fire protection expert, there are small but important things you can action:
- Don't prop open fire doors
- Keep doors clean and free of dust around seals and hardware
- Report damage or malfunction immediately to the right person
- Give training so staff know how to use the doors
Why Choose BSML For Fire Door Maintenance
As a specialist in passive fire protection, the team at BSML knows that every organisation and premises is different. We work closely with our clients to develop bespoke fire door maintenance that suit their premises and budget. From initial inspections to supply and installation of replacement components, our team makes the process straightforward.
If you are looking for a new fire door or would like a service for your doors, get in touch with us today.
The information provided in this article is for general guidance only and is not legal or professional advice.