A 5 Point Checklist for Maintaining Your Fire Doors

Of all the steel security doors we supply and install, fire doors are by far and away the most common. We undertake installations to protect new build properties, as well as replacing old or faulty doors and with doors available for commercial and industrial premises, warehouses, offices, retail units and public buildings, we can meet any requirements you may have.

As well as ensuring that your fire doors are correctly installed, it is imperative that you check any existing doors are working efficiently. As part of last year’s Fire Door Safety Week, businesses were advised to follow a five point checklist to ensure that fire doors were suitably maintained:

1. Certification: Your fire door should feature a label or plug, which can commonly be found on the top or side. This signifies that the door is a certified fire door. If you cannot see a label on your door, report it to the person in charge of your building.
   
2. Checking Gaps: When closed, the gap around the top and sides of your door should be no more than 4mm, with a gap of no more than 8mm under the door. As a general rule of thumb, if you can see light through any part of the frame it is likely to be big enough for smoke and fire to pass through. If that is the case, report it immediately.  
   
3. Checking Seals: The intumescent seals which surround your door are crucial to ensuring a good standard of performance. When they are exposed to severe heat they will expand to stop smoke and flames from passing through the cracks. Therefore if these seals are missing or appear damaged, be sure to report them immediately. 
   
4. Checking Hinges: All hinges on your fire doors should be firmly fixed, with no missing or broken screws. If the hinges on your door are not fitted correctly, they may not be capable of withstanding the intensity of a severe fire. 
   
5. Checking Closure: Your fire door will only work correctly when it is fully closed. To check that your door closes correctly, open it half way and let go. The door should close fully of its own accord, without sticking on the floor or door frame. Should it fail to do so, report it immediately.

In the event of a fire, a fire door will play a significant role in ensuring you have a safe passage from the building – but only if it is correctly installed and maintained. If you notice any of the faults listed above, do not ignore them. You never know when you may need that fire door to save your life.

If you would like more information about the fire doors in our range, do not hesitate to contact us. You can call us on 0800 0180304, drop us an email to sales@cooksdoors.co.uk or visit us at our showroom in Norwich.

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