Fire Doors Can Only Work When Closed

When is a fire door not a fire door?  When it’s ajar!

The very existence of fire doors is for the protection of the occupants of a building. In the event of a fire, a closed and sealed door will prevent fire and smoke from spreading into corridors and stairs for a period of time (usually up to 30 minutes).  This will protect the vital areas which provide a way out for people.  However, they only serve their purpose if they are kept shut at all times.

Unfortunately, staff sometimes feel that fire escape doors restrict their movements around a building when they are performing their work duties, particularly when unloading or loading goods.  This is often the reason behind many doors being wedged open with a variety of items, even a fire extinguisher on occasion! This is clearly an error of judgement because occasionally these essential doors can be left propped open for longer periods of time, often to the extent of becoming a permanent feature, leaving both staff and members of the public vulnerable in the event of a fire.

However, there are plenty of reasons why we all need to be vigilant with maintaining that fire doors are kept shut, some of which we will highlight here and form part of the annual Fire Door Safety Week campaign which launched in 2013.

1. There are a number of instances where people have been prosecuted and fined or even in the worst case scenario imprisoned for wedging open fire doors, even when no fire occurs. Essentially, thoughtlessly wedging a fire door open is an action which has put lives at risk and/or caused death and there lies the illegality. It can make for easier access and movement of people but it is not a safety feature.

2. Fire doors are designed to inhibit the spread of fire and smoke, into corridors and stairwells, for a long enough period of time to enable people to leave the building safely.  The safety of inhabitants, staff and the public cannot be guaranteed in the event of a fire if safety procedures have not been followed.

3. Fire doors can also protect the building and its contents against damage from the spread of fire.  Compartmentation is a recognised way to keep vital areas safe until the emergency services arrive.

4. Open doors can create a tunnel effect, particularly in long corridors. This acts like a chimney essentially by drawing on the flames with the end result being a fire spreading rapidly and destroying whole buildings before any help can arrive.

5.  In the event of a fire, it is entirely possible that the insurers of the property would be unwilling to pay for damages if they can show that fire doors have been propped open.  Many businesses have failed because of this kind of negligence.  It is the responsibility of the owner or manager to maintain good fire safety standards.

It is true to state that fire doors often do get in the way when you are trying to carry unwieldy or heavy objects, using a wheelchair or pushing a child in a buggy.  They are heavy which can cause difficulty for less mobile people, particularly if the fire door closers feel like they are trapping you mid-transfer.   

However, this inconvenience is a small price to pay against the possibility of being the cause of the death of others simply because we chose to wedge fire doors open rather than having it serve its purpose and remaining firmly closed. If you need a compliant solution to hold open a fire door then an electromagnetic door closer can be installed, or an electromagnetic door holder.

Another potentially life saving measure is having effective and efficient fire drill procedures in place. You can read about this in another blog, The Importance of Fire Drills.