Effective Fire Doors

A fire door plays a very important role in protecting a building from fire. Its role is a passive one, and is used mostly in commercial buildings, flats and offices. A good fire door will prevent fire from spreading and keep it contained.

Fire Doors are Made Up of Various Materials

There’s a collection of different materials used to make a fire door, each an essential component to make the fire door effective. Any wrongly used components in the making of the fire door can render it useless and a potential risk.

If you have an escape door as well as a fire door, it should be correctly fitted with the right materials for it to operate effectively. You’ll also find that appropriately used signage is essential and mandatory, so when there is a fire occupants can escape safely.

Check Your Fire Alarms and Extinguishers

You’ll find that your alarms and extinguishers must be checked periodically to make sure they are fit for purpose. These checks will be placed in the hands of the responsible person/health & safety/risk management officer.

Who is Responsible For Fire and Escape Doors?

A competent person is essential for making sure fire doors and escape doors are working as they should, this will normally be a fire inspector. He will provide a report on the condition of the doors and make recommendations for improvements and any repairs.

You can go online or contact your local fire department to find out who your Certificated Fire Door Inspector is for your area.

How Often Should You Have Your Fire Doors Inspected?

The answer is that it depends on what type of building you have and who occupies it. If you are responsible for a hospital or school, then you may have to have your doors inspected more frequently due to the increase in foot traffic.

British Standards BS9999 recommends an inspection every 6 months, however keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to make sure your doors are looked after and properly maintained on a regular basis.

Make sure your staff are trained on fire safety and make sure that only a Fire Door Inspector who’s been certified can check your fire and escape doors.

Two Types of Fire Door

There are two types of fire door. The FDKS and FDKL, the first is a keep shut door, the second is a keep locked. They both perform different jobs, with the FDKS allows people to leave quickly when there’s a fire, they’re usually found in offices and corridors. The FDKL is usually attached a store room or cupboard, this type of room must be kept locked when not in use and immediately on exit.

Replacement Door – Quality Fire Doors

If you wish to purchase a fire door, then get in touch with us here at Replacement Door and we’ll be glad to go through the choices and make suggestions on what’s right for you. We’d like you to be happy with your purchase, as fire doors are so important, so don’t leave it until you have a fire.