How To Check Fire Doors For Safety

Fire doors provide an essential barrier against the spread of both fire and smoke and are, therefore, an essential safety feature in any building where people work or visit and in buildings where there is shared occupancy in multiple living units, i.e. apartment buildings. They are a particularly important feature on escape routes.

However, fire doors are only effective if they are functioning efficiently so they must be checked frequently in close detail to ensure that they remain in good working order.

Read on for an easy to follow checklist telling you what to look out for:

1. A physical printed checklist is a great idea for the key person checking all the doors

   Using a printed guide will ensure that no items are missed or passed over accidentally – there should be a section allocated to show action taken to rectify faults. You could use this checklist to make your own printed guide.

2. Checks should be done on a regular basis 

   In a work environment it is always advisable to appoint a fire safety officer who is able to take responsibility for doing the checks. They should know exactly what their function is and who to report any anomalies to.

3. Check the door for certification

   There should be a label on the side or top of the door to show that it is a certified fire door.  If you cannot find the label always report it to the person responsible for the building.

4.  Signs

        There should be a sign, on both sides and at eye level, to indicate that the door is a fire door and stating that the door must not be wedged open or locked shut. There may also be signage indicating the direction of escape, which is key for the effectiveness and safety during fire drills. Final exit fire escape doors will also have signage fitted indicating how to operate the escape hardware.

5. Gaps

      Make sure that the gaps around the door are consistent: 

• Less than 4mm when closed is perfect – a good tip is to use a £1 coin as a guide because they are around 3mm in depth.
• A slightly larger gap under the bottom of the door is ok but if you can see daylight easily then it is probably too large.
• If the gaps appear too large always report the fact to your superior or the owner of the building.

6. Seals 

       The next step is to check the seals on the sides and top of the door or frame:

• Intumescent seals are essential to the performance of the door because they expand when in contact with heat and ensure that fire and much of the smoke can’t escape through the gaps around the door.
• They should be completely intact with no breaks or damage - Broken or damaged seals must be replaced immediately.

7. Hinges and Handles

       The hinges and handle on the door should be next on your list:

• The handle should be firmly fixed with no loose screws which could prevent it opening quickly in a fire.
• Check screws in all hinges – they should all be present and tightened up sufficiently.  Loose screws could allow the door to drop and stop it closing correctly.
• There should be no key required in order to open the door – in the event of a fire, speed of exit is essential.

8. Door Closers

       Check the door closer:

• Is it fixed securely to both the door and the frame?
• If you hold the door back and then release, does it close smoothly and quickly enough without slamming? 
• When the door is fully closed it should fit snuggly against the seals with no gaps.
• If the door sticks at any point, catches on the frame as it closes or does not fit snuggly then the fire door closer should be adjusted or replaced.

9. Glass panels

• If the door has a glass panel the glass should be reinforced with metal strands.
• The glass should be intact with no breaks or cracks.
• It should also be checked to ensure that it is fitted securely and has no gaps around the edges.
• The glass should not be covered over or obscured in any way. 

10. Keep Fire Doors shut

    Fire doors are designed to be closed at all times but not locked unless there is a quick release bar.  If the door is wedged open it has no purpose, therefore it is wise to check regularly that nobody in the building has got into the bad habit of propping the door open for convenience. 

If you think the building you're living in, working in or visiting has a faulty fire door, don't ignore it because it could be that no-one is taking responsibility for doing regular checks. Always report any faults that you notice to whoever manages or owns the building. It’s also worth checking again a short time later to ensure that any faults have actually been rectified. It could be your actions that save lives in the event of a fire!

If you would lke to read more on this topic then head over to another blog which we published for Fire Door Safety Week that happens each September.