Fire Door Safety Week 2018: What you need to know

Next week (24-30 September) sees the return of Fire Door Safety Week as the industry tries to raise awareness of the critical role the doors play in fire safety.

Now in its sixth year, the campaign exists to ensure building occupants and managers understand exactly how fire safety doors work.

The first line of defence

More than three million new fire doors are installed every year in the UK and they’re often the first line of defence when it comes to fire safety. That’s why it’s vital that they’re maintained and managed properly. Fire Door Safety Week was introduced to demonstrate just how important it is that these doors don’t get neglected, mismanaged or poorly maintained throughout their service life. A well-maintained fire door could be the difference between life and death.

But fire door safety shouldn’t be considered for only one week of the year – building owners should regularly check the operation and condition of the doors and report any considered unsatisfactory. However, the annual campaign serves to educate the building industry and property owners in what’s required in terms of specification, supply, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance of the doors.

Fire safety door basics

How much do you know about the fire safety doors installed in your building? We’ve listed out below just some of the questions you need to consider when assessing whether your fire doors are fit for purpose:

• Is your fire door certificated?
• Does it close properly and securely around all parts of the frame?
• Are hinges CE marked and in good condition (fixed firmly with no missing screws, for example)?
• Are the seals around the door intact and undamaged?
• Are any doors frequently propped open?
• Is the correct signage clearly on display?

At CheckFire, we fully back the campaign and urge people to pledge their support.

For more information about the campaign visit Fire Door Safety Week or keep up the conversation by following @FDSafetyWeek on Twitter.