Fire doors in business premises

About 3 million new fire doors are bought and installed every year in the UK. But to save lives, fire doors must work correctly.

Fire doors are part of a building’s passive fire protection system and are fundamental to most fire strategies for buildings. They provide critical protection within a building such as escape routes (stairs and corridors) and places of relative safety, and in separating different fire hazards in a building

Importance of fire doors

To save lives, fire doors must work correctly
Fire doors must be tested and third-party certificated to BS 476 Part 22 or BS EN 1634 Part 1
Fire doors must be fitted with the correct and compatible components suited to the door leaf and its purpose
Like any fire safety device, fire doors should be installed and maintained by competent people
A fire door’s performance should never be compromised
Correct glazing and ironmongery must be used on fire doors
You must never alter or adapt the door leaf on site
Correct frames must be used
Intumescent seals must be used
Ensure good installation and maintenance
Never prop a fire door open

Fire doors - what to do

Specify and use third-party certificated fire doors and components
Buy fire doors, frames and components from certificated companies
Check the certificate matches the door
Make sure you have the correct certification for the door’s intended use
Install and maintain fire doors using competent personnel
Make sure that ironmongery components are CE marked

Fire doors - don't

Fit a fire door like any other door – it’s not, it’s an engineered safety device
Cut vision panels and other holes on site
Patch up a fire door
Take risks by reducing the specification
Disconnect a fire door closer
Prop or wedge open a fire door