Fire doors are one of the most important fire safety measures installed in your building. When used correctly, they will delay the spread of fire and smoke whilst emergency services are responding to your building.
What do Fire Doors do?
Fire doors create a barrier from fire and toxic cold smoke and prevent it from travelling around a building, keeping the damage to a small area, allowing for evacuation, stay put and safe access for the emergency services.
Where will I see Fire Doors in my building?
- Fire and smoke control doors can be found on the stairwells, the corridors and on the flat front doors.
- They also protect areas where there’s a risk of combustion, such as bin storage or mains electricity service cupboard.
- On some occasions, fire doors will be found inside flats, but this depends on the specific design and layout of the individual flat.
How do I know it’s a Fire Door?
Fire doors in common areas of the building (corridors and stairwell and service rooms) will have blue signage on the door. Flat front door and those inside individual flats do not require signage.
Who’s responsible for inspecting and maintaining Fire Doors in my building?
Lumen Housing has legal responsibility for the fire doors in the common areas of the building. A Lumen Housing representative will regularly complete inspections of all Fire Doors.
This includes your flat front door if you are a tenant as it faces onto the critical Means of Escape route. It’s vital that it works properly when a fire breaks out, so it’s important that your flat front door is a fire door, it is fit for purpose and can be regularly inspected and maintained.
Do all Fire Doors have smoke seals?
The majority of fire doors, especially those on flat front doors, corridors and on stairwells will have cold smoke seals. You can see these seals because they are either separate from or combined with the intumescent seal; they look like a brush or a plastic fin.
They are located in either the door edge or the frame and they should completely fill the perimeter gap between the door and the frame when the door is closed.
Do all Fire Doors have door closers?
All fire doors in common areas of the building (corridors and stairwells) and flat front doors must have appropriate fire rated door closers fitted. These closers must be adjusted correctly to ensure the opening and closing forces are correct and that the door can be operated easily.
Door closers on flat front doors will only be fitted to the interior side of the door to prevent vandalism and to allow for the door to be correctly adjusted when the closer is fitted.
In order for a Fire Door to work properly, all the components play a critical role in fire performance. These components include: fire resistant glazing, overhead door closer, CE marked hinges, a securing device, door handle, lock and latch and smoke seals. 1 small change = 1 big impact on fire performance.
Your responsibility and basic checks you can carry out on Fire Doors
As a tenant in a Lumen Housing building we ask that you do not wedge open any Fire Doors and do not damage Fire Doors or disconnect any safety devices that are fitted to the door protect you and other residents and visitors.
Although it is the responsibility of Lumen Housing to inspect and maintain your Fire Doors, there are a number of checks you can complete to ensure your fire door continues to work correctly.
The main points you can check are:
- Does the door closer correctly into the frame?
- Are the seals in position in the door or the frame and are they in good condition?
- Does the doors closers work correctly?
- Are the gaps around the door less than 4mm? (a pound coin inserted into the gap is a good gauge for this as they are 3mm in thickness).
- Are the door hinges in good working order with no sign of damage or missing screws?
Should you find any defects whilst completing these checks, or if you see damage to a Fire Door in another part of your building, please report this immediately on 01253 477875 or 01253 477222
