Shut The Door On Fire and Smoke With A 5 Step Fire Door Check
It’s Fire Door Safety Week in the UK, which is held the last week in September, and is aimed at educating the importance of the proper use of fire doors. Unfortunately, for many people, fire doors are just another entrance from one room to the next. But they are so much more than that! Fire doors are an essential part of a building’s passive fire protection system that are specifically designed to help save lives and prevent further property damage during a fire emergency. They are often the first line of defense in a fire, so the maintenance and management of each door can be the difference between life and death for building occupants.
Fire door codes have been in place for many years, yet we still seem to see a neglect with the proper maintenance of fire doors. If remained in the closed position, fire doors divide a building into individual fire compartments to contain the fire to its point of origin. However, we still see fire doors being propped open with wedges or the assembly of the door being altered to serve some other purpose. These problems, and other deficiencies, negatively impact the ability of the fire door to perform properly during a fire.
Here are some tips for a 5 Step Fire Door Check that anyone can do:
- Check for Certification – You can use the selfie function on your camera phone or a mirror to check. If there is, that’s good news, otherwise report it to whoever is in charge of your building.
- Check the Gaps – The clearance between the door and frame as well as the meeting edges for a pair of doors is 1/8 Inch. The clearance under the door can be slightly larger (up to 3/4 Inch is not uncommon), but it does depend on the door – as a rule of thumb, if you can see light under the door, the gap is likely to be too big. It’s good news if the door fits the frame and it’s not damaged. If not, report it. If the gaps are too big smoke and fire could travel through the cracks.
- Check the Gasket and Edge Seals – These seals are usually vital to the fire door’s performance, expanding if in contact with heat to ensure fire (and in some cases smoke) can’t move through the cracks. If not, report it – the door may not be properly maintained and in the intensity of a fire may not protect you long enough.
- Check the Hinges – If you see problems, report it – the door is obviously not properly maintained and in the intensity of a fire may not perform and hold back the fire for long enough.
- Check the Door Closes Properly – Open the door about halfway, let go and allow it to close by itself. Does it close firmly onto the latch without sticking on the floor or the frame? If not, report it. A fire door only works when it’s closed. A fire door is completely useless if it’s wedged open or can’t close fully.
Fire doors are an important piece in a building’s overall fire protection system. By helping to contain fire and smoke to a remote location, fire doors also provide a safe evacuation for occupants with an easy egress out of the building. If a fire door is kept open or has been tampered with, then it will be worthless in the event of a fire. Don’t let fire door safety be overlooked. Spread the word about the importance of a properly maintained fire door and how it could help save lives when it matters most!
