Fire Resisting Doors

Fire resisting and smoke-resisting doors are vital aspects of premsises in which individuals work or visit. They provide resistance to the fire spread. Moreover, they can also limit its effects. They are very relevant in the safe maintenance of escape routes. A responsible person, preferably the Fire Safety Managers, should be responsible for checking the different types of fire doors on a premises and monitoring their condition for effective operation. It is necessary to maintain a register of all the fire doors in a premises as well as an inspection sheet.

Inspection of fire doors
Fire doors should be inspected once a week and the results of the inspections recorded. Inspections of fire doors should include checking the following features:
• integrity of panel, frame, glazing, intumescent strip;
• door tightness;
• full closure, hatch operation, smoke seal, door closer operation;
• automatic door release;
• signs
• doors propped/wedged open

Fire doors should never be wedged or propped open. All staff should be alert to such a breach of fire safety, which should be reported to the Fire Safety Manager and recorded.