Fire doors in homes

Fire doors save lives and property.

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

A fire door in the annexe of a house in Chester prevented a fire taking hold of the whole property. This case is a perfect example of how important fire doors are when a fire breaks out both in the home and the workplace. Fire doors play a critical element in saving lives and property.

View more about this incident, where the Fire door prevented the house fire spreading.

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 - 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