Understanding Fire Door Safety Regulations
An integral part of your fire safety plan, Fire Doors. But what are fire doors? and what makes them different to normal doors? Read our guide below to find out all you need to know about fire doors and it's different elements!
Fire doors are integral to preventing the spread of fire and smoke within buildings. Because of their importance, the Fire Safety Act 2021 declared that apartment entrance doors have to be considered in the Fire Risk Assessment, mandated by the Fire Safety Order. Fire doors are now also required to have regular checks to ensure that they are working as they should, and that the self-closing devices are in working order.
Fire Door Regulations UK
The fire door regulations in the UK are in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and declare that there need to be suitable precautions in a block of flats or a building that make sure that common parts are safe to use as an escape route in the event of a fire. The guidance on what should happen and the relation of fire doors in an event of a fire can be found on Approved Document B.
Fire doors are the most important part of being able to escape a fire. Before installing a fire door, a fire risk assessments should already have happened, where the door was identified and been declared as adequate to prevent the spread of fire and smoke into it.
As well as fire doors needing to be determined as appropriate for resisting the spread of fire and smoke, they need to be maintained as well. If the door is showing signs of wear and tear, then the fire door becomes weaker and won’t fulfil its purpose properly. Having a fire door checked regularly ensures that problems with the door won’t undermine the ability of the door preventing a fire and smoke spread.
Internal and External Fire Door Regulations
External
An external fire door is placed at the end of an escape route and doesn’t actually need to be fire resistant or kept closed at all times. As long as the external door has clear signage, a method of opening from the inside, and is never blocked, then UK fire door regulations class it as a fire door exit.
Internal
Contrastingly, fire door regulations state that an internal fire door has to have the purpose of splitting a building into compartments in the event of a fire, and therefore providing an escape route for the length of time stated by the FD rating.
Fire Door Regulations 2022
Due to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report, a change of law was required in the UK for the regulations of fire doors. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into place on the 18th May 2022, and declared that both building owners and other persons having control of the premises need to comply with the regulations of having fire doors and being responsible for getting them checked regularly if the building is over 11m high.
It’s also stated that any breach of the regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more people at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire. These people could be residents, staff, or visitors.
Fire door regulations also cover a wide range of health and safety legislation, including educating the occupants on fire safety and how important it is, by providing information for them on how fire doors should be used correctly.
Fire Door Regulations 2023
The new fire door regulations come into effect as of October 1st, 2023. The new previsions within section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) have introduced several modifications to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 with the goal of enhancing fire safety across all buildings governed by the FSO.
These enhancements represent Phase 3 of the Home Office’s fire safety reform programme, building upon the initial two phases, namely the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
What do the Fire Door Regulations 2023 Change?
Phase 3 seeks to improve fire safety by:
- improving cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons (RPs)
- increasing requirements in relation to the recording and sharing of fire safety information thus creating a continual record throughout a building’s lifespan
- making it easier for enforcement authorities to take action against non-compliance
- ensuring residents have access to comprehensive information about fire safety in their building
Regulations for Installing Fire Doors
The regulations for installing a fire door correctly involves installing the door so that it closes soundly against the frame firmly onto the latch from any type of angle. If there are any gaps that exist between the door frame and wall then this should be secured with mineral wool.
Fire door installation also requires that the doors are labelled. The International Building Code and International Residential Code state that fire doors and frames need to be given a fire-resistance rating that is labelled on the door after testing that has been certified by an approved agency.
They are also required to have at least 3 hinges with a melting point above 800 degrees centigrade.
Fire Door Frame Regulations
Fire door regulations state that there must be a gap between 2mm and 4mm around or between doors, so that it blocks the passage of smoke and flames in the event of a fire. When installing a fire door, a certified door frame should be used instead of a standard door frame, as it is an essential part of the door.
All hinges used within a fire door always must be fire-resistant, and it’s recommended that there are three hinges on each door. If any hinges are used that are insubstantial, then this can really affect the quality and use of the fire door, putting your safety at risk.
Fire Door Maintenance Regulations
Fire door regulations state that the doors should be checked at least once every six months. However, if a door if in a high-traffic area and used very frequently, then these can become damaged easier and will need to be checked monthly to ensure that they are working as they should and can prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
For buildings over 11m high, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 state that the building owner check any fire doors in communal areas of the building at least every three months, ensuring that the self-closing devices for the doors are working how they should.
