Fire, Security & Life Safety Systems
Fire Door Maintenance
Fire doors are an integral part of your fire safety system as they help to stop the spread of fire and smoke. As such, regular fire door maintenance and inspection is of utmost importance. Additionally, it is your legal responsibility under The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
For all your fire suppression needs, contact Robinsons Facilities Services. Our professional team are available across Yorkshire and the entire UK to perform regular fire door inspections and servicing for your business.
Call our Yorkshire head office today at 01423 226578 or send us an enquiry for a free quote.
Alternatively, find out more about fire door maintenance and our approach below.
What Is a Fire Door?
A fire door is a fire-resistant door that is used as part of the fire containment strategy within a building, often alongside fire shutters. Fire doors are usually made from solid materials, such as metal or timber. They are designed to stop the spread of fire and smoke for as long as possible. This gives occupants a chance to evacuate the building and fire fighting crews time to extinguish the fire before it spreads throughout the entire building.
What Are The Different Fire Doors Categories?
In the UK, fire doors are categorised by the number of minutes they can withstand fire.
- FD30 – 30 minutes of fire protection (44/45mm thick)
- FD60 – 60 minutes of fire protection (54mm thick)
- FD90 – 90 minutes of fire protection (64mm thick)
- FD120 – 120 minutes of fire protection (64mm thick)
The most commonly installed fire doors are FD30 and FD60, as 30-60 minutes is usually ample time for occupants to evacuate.
FD90 and FD120 fire doors would typically be installed in larger buildings like hospitals, universities, and government buildings.
What Are the Different Types of Fire Doors?
Depending on your business needs, there are several different types of fire doors available to choose from:
Self-closing fire doors
Self-closing fire doors have a fire door closer positioned at the top of the door. This forces the door to close firmly against the frame when released. These fire doors are required in most residential settings to comply with Building Regulations.
Automatic closing fire doors
Automatic closing fire doors are connected to your building’s fire alarm system. As soon as a fire is detected and the fire alarm is activated, the closer automatically shuts the door.
Power-operated fire doors
For doors that open electronically or pneumatically, power-operated fire doors are necessary. These doors have a releasing device that will safely close the door if there is a power failure.
How Often Do You Need Fire Door Maintenance?
Fire door maintenance should be carried out at least every 6 months by a competent professional. Monthly visual checks can also be performed by your own employees.
This involves:
- Checking the door has three or more fire-rated hinges in good working order.
- Checking that there is fire door signage to show that the door is a fire door.
- Ensuring that the self-closing device is in good working order.
- Checking that there are no gaps and no obvious structural damage.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 outlines the legal requirements, and that commercial property occupiers have to make sure that fire-resisting doors are properly maintained.
A fire door maintenance company is your best bet for upkeep and inspection. As part of a Planned Preventative Maintenance schedule, fire door maintenance companies will keep your building compliant and safe for occupants, visitors, and employees. While on-site, they can also check other fire suppression systems, such as fire dampers, fire sprinkler systems, fire shutters, and more.
What Does Fire Door Maintenance Involve?
When our professionals check your fire doors, they will carry out several tests and inspections, including
- Checking that they have been properly installed.
- Inspecting the doors and frames for any damage.
- Operational tests to check that the doors open, close, and latch correctly.
- Tests on fire and smoke seals.
- Checking that there have been no alterations that could impact the operation of the doors.
- Ensuring vision light frames and glazing beads are properly installed and operational.
- Fire door remedial works if necessary.
It’s important to get professional help with fire door maintenance to make sure that your doors are up to scratch and legal requirements are met.
Robinsons Facilities Services Fire Door Maintenance Yorkshire
At Robinsons Facilities Services, our team of highly trained and certified technicians have decades of experience in all aspects of fire safety and security systems.
Fire Door Maintenance
We’ll work with your business to create a bespoke Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) schedule to suit your needs. Our engineers will conduct frequent inspections and tests to ensure your entire fire suppression system is in good working order. Let us worry about fire door testing frequency so you can focus on your core business.
Learn more about our PPM package →
Fire Door Repairs
As well as our PPM package, we also offer a more “as and when” service for when you need us most. Whether you need fire door repair or fire door replacement, our team is on hand to perform the necessary repairs and keep you legally compliant.
Consult our Reactive-Only Service →
Need emergency fire door repairs? Our 24/7/365 emergency call-out service is ideal for urgent situations.
Get in Touch
Robinsons Facilities Services offers a full range of fire suppression and fire protection services for your commercial property, as well as a variety of maintenance services. Trust our expert team to keep your business safe and compliant with UK legislation.
Call 01423 226578 or send us an enquiry today for a free, no-obligation quote.
Fire Door Maintenance FAQs
Fire doors are different from regular doors as they are flush with the frame, fitted with fire-resistant sealant and materials and can have strips attached to prevent smoke from getting through. They are also made of thick, fire-resistant materials.
You should only install a fire door yourself if you are professionally trained to do so. These cannot be installed by just anyone and you must be “competent” in fire safety and fire door systems to do so.
Yes, fire doors must have three hinges, all of which need to be fire-rated and certified. They should also carry a CE mark and a fire identification stamp.
Fire doors are designed to last a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes in a fire. Well-maintained fire doors made from quality materials can last 20 to 30 years before needing replacement, as long as they undergo routine inspection and service.
While all fire doors are designed to close shut, there are ways of stopping them from slamming. You can adjust the door closers to reduce closing power or install friction stays and other dampening accessories. Installing smoke seals can also create more resistance so the door doesn’t slam shut.
No. Open fire doors should never be wedged, chained, or propped open, even temporarily. Doing so negates the fire safety function of the door and is illegal. Consider installing hold-open devices linked to fire alarms if needed.
Fire doors typically need replacement every 20 to 30 years or anytime the door becomes damaged, defective, or fails a fire rating test. Regular maintenance helps maximise the fire door’s longevity.
Yes. All fire doors are required to have effective self-closing mechanisms. They should be kept closed when not in use to ensure they fully close in the event of a fire to prevent it from spreading.
The cost of fire door maintenance typically ranges from around £100+VAT to over £300+VAT depending on the number of fire doors you have on site. Contact our customer service team for a free, no-obligation quote.
Call our Yorkshire Head Office about Fire Door Maintenance
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