FIRE DOOR SERVICES
Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes it a legal requirement to ensure that fire resisting doors and escape doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained in order for them to be ‘fit for purpose’.
The authorities have the power to enforce the RRO/FSO and do prosecute or even close buildings down where breaches are discovered.
Building owners need ‘responsible persons’ as referenced in the RRO/FSO to help them comply with fire door regulations.
The full inspection and maintenance of a fire door can only be carried out by a trained and competent professional.
If you need to replace parts or components, you must use like for like and check that the correct, compatible components are listed on the installation instructions or fire certificate data sheet. Always check the manufacturer contact details on the label if you are unsure what replacement components are correct. If you fit incompatible and incorrect components the certification of the door will be invalidated.
Overview of Fire Door Services Offered
At Active fire safety solutions Ltd, we offer a full and certified system of maintenance and servicing contracts to suit the customers’ requirements across all fire door installations whether new or existing, we can attend site carry out a review and produce a detailed report for every fire door, not only do we inspect the doors we also advise on where in fact fire doors should be located, so we never oversell. From a full fire door survey carried out by our Fire Door Inspection Scheme diploma holders under the certifier FDIS scheme, but to the actual physical maintenance work required per door to leave you with fully compliance and current fire door standards, but also with a certificate of compliance to prove to any authority your doors meet current standards and that you are maintaining them.
Fire Door Register
Many buildings will have a fire door register that records information and the history about each individual fire door. The fire door register is important, as it provides a central hub for all the relevant information about the fire doors within a building.
It is a useful document for a building owner or ‘responsible person’ to prove to authorities that regular inspection and maintenance takes place. The type of information that the register will include:
- Location of the door with identity disc on door face of individual doors.
- Date of last inspection and by whom.
- Result of test and list of items checked per door set.
- Remedial actions where required
- Date of next inspection due
- Action plan of any unresolved defects or issues and action required
Note: *Indicates example of type of information recorded. This list is not definitive and should be further developed by the user for a particular need, building or location and in accordance with any Fire Risk Assessment.
Fire Door Inspection & Maintenance
Fire doors should be regularly inspected for damage that may prevent the door from performing in the event of a fire. This may form part of the risk assessment for the building. Any issues should be fixed as soon as possible using compatible, correct fire rated components. The selection of suitable components is supported by the Fire Certificate and door schedule. To check compatibility of components, always check the Fire Certificate data sheet or contact the fire door manufacturer. By not using compatible components as listed on the Fire Certificate, fire certification of the door will be invalidated.
All parts of the door assembly or door-set should be inspected by a ‘competent person’
*Door leaf, Frame, Closer, Signage, Glazing, Locks and latches, Air transfer grille (ATG), Intumescent and smoke seals and Hinges, All other ironmongery, Gap between the frame and the door.
Frequency of Inspection
- Periodic checks should be carried out at least once every six months according to BS 9999.
- Newly occupied buildings may require more frequent checks in the first year of use
Doors where traffic is high are likely to be more susceptible to damage and should be checked more frequently than other doors in the building. E.g. once per week/month (depending on usage).
Fire Door Inspection Checklist for Resident or Homeowner – Our Duty to You
Door Leaf and frame
Is the door and frame fitted securely, square and level?
There is no distortion between the stiles, top and frame. The gaps between door and leaf must not be greater than those specified in the manufacturer’s installation instructions or Fire Certificate data sheet
Damage to door leaf or frame
Intumescent fire and smoke seals
- Good condition
- Full length and secure in groove
- If seals are badly fitted, damaged, (or in the case of smoke seals) painted, they must be replaced with exactly the same size and intumescent material that was originally specified. (Some standard intumescent seals can perform once painted, but it is not best practice) and you should always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and installation guide.
If the smoke seals have to be replaced, then they should be fitted in one continuous length if possible
Locks and lever handles
- Lock levers fully return to the horizontal after use
- Latch-bolt is engaging smoothly and completely into the keep
- Wipe any metal dust deposits off the latch-bolt and keep
- Adjust, lubricate or replace as per manufacturers recommendation
Hinges
- No visible wear, dark marks or stains around the hinge knuckle could indicate wear and impending failure
Closing and opening devices
- Open the door fully and check it closes without binding on the floor.
- Open the door to approximately 5 degrees and again check that it closes fully, engaging any latch or seal.
- Check door closing speed to be approximately 10 seconds from 90 degrees and ensure that the door does not slam.
- Ensure that doors are not being wedged open
- Make sure that door hold-open devices are not straining the doors against their self- closing devices
- Ensure that doors on hold-open devices fully close when released – this should be checked daily
- Check that mechanical hold-open devices have not been fitted
- Hold-open devices on fire doors should be electro-magnetic and connected directly to the fire detection and alarm system and/or power failure so that they can be released automatically if there is a fire or power failure. This should be checked weekly
Mandatory safety signs
- Signs have not been damaged or removed
All ironmongery
- All fixings are secure and in good condition.
- Some hinges, closer arms and locks might require lubrication and/or adjustment – refer to manufacturer recommendations.
Apertures in the door leaf (glazed, air transfer grille, other ironmongery such as letter plates)
- Glass is not cracked or broken
- Glazing beads securely in place and undamaged
- Air transfer grille or other ironmongery fitted in apertures in the door -leaf is secure, fire rated and in good condition
Cleaning
Cleaning of Fire doors should be as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Check the label and check the gap between the door-leaf and the frame and the threshold gap
- Always check for the label
- Find it on top of the door, or just below the bottom hinge on a door-set.
- Never tamper with the label.
- Never paint over the label.
- A damaged or non-existent label invalidates certification.
- If the label is damaged contact the manufacturer directly and inform them so they can act accordingly.
Please get in touch if you have any questions or to book an audit of your fire doors. We are ready to help and resolve any issues you have with your fire doors. Call the experts, we have over 20 years in the business and can advise on all matter appertaining to your fire door provision.