Fire Door Safety Week 2017, which runs from 25th September to 1st October, aims to raise awareness of just how crucial fire doors are, encourages owners and users to check their fire doors, and needs your help to spread the word. We’re doing our bit to help by making sure fire door regulations for businesses are explained!
There are roughly 3 million new fire doors purchased and installed every year in the UK; they’re a vital line of defence when it comes to fire safety. If fire doors aren’t made correctly, nor maintained and managed properly, then it could literally be the difference between life and death.
Fire doors compartmentalise buildings to delay the reach and spread of a fire, and they have two main functions when a fire strikes: stop fire spreading when closed, and provide a means of escape when open.
Fire Door Regulations explained
New Buildings
New buildings, or older buildings with alterations or extensions, are subject to the appropriate Building Regulations. Otherwise known as Approved Documents, Building Regulations change depending on the country in the UK, but all help habitants meet the minimum standards required for construction.
Fire doors are necessary in every building and structure, and they’re required to meet a whole host of regulations to work effectively. This includes sound, ventilation, accessibility, thermal efficiency, safety glazing, and fire safety.
Existing Buildings
Existing buildings are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which superseded numerous fire safety laws and came into play in 2006. Every non-domestic building requires a fire risk assessment by the responsible person. Be sure to follow every guideline laid out in the RRO.
A fire risk assessment is a necessity, allowing the responsible person to implement a functioning and tailor-made fire management plan, in which fire doors require proper inspection and maintenance to comply with the RRO. Inefficient assessments and planning risks property and lives, with prosecution being a usual consequence.
