With Fire Door Safety Week (23rd-27th September) now here, as a leading manufacturer and supplier of fire doors to Local Authority building projects, we wanted to emphasise the vital role that fire doors play in protecting lives and property – and why proper fire door specification and installation is crucial.
Launched in 2013 by the British Woodworking Federation, this annual campaign aims to increase public awareness of the critical importance of fire doors and address the legacy of fire door neglect in the UK. It is supported by a number of partners that include the Home Office’s National Fire Safety campaign, the National Fire Chief’s Council and London Fire Brigade.
What Makes Fire Doors Essential for Building Safety?
Fire doors are not ordinary doors; they are carefully engineered fire safety devices that form a crucial part of a building’s passive fire protection system. In the event of a fire, these doors can be the difference between life and death for building occupants. They help contain the spread of fire and smoke, providing precious time for evacuation and emergency response.
The correct specification, installation, and maintenance of fire doors are paramount to their effectiveness. From manufacturers to installers, building owners, and users, everyone plays a part in ensuring that fire doors perform as intended. This shared responsibility is why the Fire Door Safety Week campaign is so important.
What Should Local Authorities Look for When Specifying Fire Doors?
When it comes to specifying fire doors for Local Authority building projects, several key factors must be considered:
Field of Application: This document collates all test evidence and officially states that door sets within specified size ranges are compliant. It’s a legal requirement for fire door manufacturers to provide this evidence, demonstrating their product’s ability to resist fire.
Third-Party Accreditation: Independent certification ensures that the tested fire and smoke door specification is consistently manufactured to the same standards as the original test specimen. This provides an additional level of assurance for building owners and occupants.
Compliance with Regulations: Fire doors must meet the performance requirements outlined in Building Regulations guidance for fire resistance and smoke control from both sides.
Quality Hardware: Door closers, intumescent seals, and other fire door hardware and ironmongery are crucial components that contribute to the door’s overall performance.
How Does Shelforce’s Fireshel Meet Fire Door Safety Standards?
Shelforce’s Fireshel fire door is designed to meet and exceed the stringent requirements for fire safety in Local Authority buildings. Key features include:
- Fully EN tested and 3rd Party Accredited, compliant with the latest 2020 MHCLG Annex A recommendations.
- Utilises the FireFrame® dual fire, smoke, and security compliant fire door set solution from Winkhaus.
- Achieves 30-minute fire resistance consistency, having been fire tested from both sides to EN1634-1, achieving 49 minutes of fire resistance.
- PAS 024 Security tested for security compliance.
- Q Mark 170 Scheme 3rd Party Accredited, ensuring consistent manufacturing to the tested specifications.
Why is Fire Door Maintenance and Inspection Crucial?
Regular maintenance and inspection of fire doors are essential to ensure their continued effectiveness. The Fire Door Inspection Scheme in the UK provides a framework for proper maintenance and helps building owners and managers keep track of the condition of their fire doors.
Proper maintenance includes checking for:
- Damaged or missing intumescent seals
- Proper functioning of door closers
- Correct installation and operation of fire door hardware
- Any modifications that might compromise the door’s integrity
Raising awareness during Fire Door Safety Week
Fire safety is a shared responsibility. From manufacturers producing high-quality products like the Fireshel and installers making sure poor installation is a thing of the past, to Local Authorities specifying the right doors and building users using them correctly, everyone has a part to play in fire safety.
By raising awareness of the critical role fire doors play in building safety, we can work together to reduce the risk of fire-related tragedies and ensure that our buildings are as safe as possible for all occupants.
Get in touch for all your fire door needs
At Shelforce, we have experience in what local authorities must look for when specifying the right fire doors for their next building project. To talk to us about anything you need, or any questions you might have around fire doors, contact us today. We’ll be happy to help. And for more information on Fire Door Safety Week, click here.
