You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Article<br />
Is it safe, is it legal?<br />
Following on from Fire Door Safety Week in September, Allegion UK Commercial Leader Pete Hancox offers some valuable tips<br />
on how to keep your fire doors working as they should – and keep you on the right side of the law.<br />
Pete Hancox<br />
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy,<br />
fire safety is now at the forefront of our<br />
minds. Worryingly, safety checks<br />
currently underway on numerous multio<strong>cc</strong>upancy<br />
buildings throughout the UK<br />
have revealed that many fire doors are in a<br />
poor state of repair, and that in some<br />
instances fire doors are missing from<br />
compartments altogether.<br />
It’s vital for anyone responsible for the safety<br />
of o<strong>cc</strong>upants to ensure that fire doors are<br />
regularly inspected and maintained in safe<br />
working order. These simple checks can assist<br />
you in determining whether your fire doors<br />
are in a good state of repair and will perform<br />
as required or whether you need to take<br />
action to correct any defects. If in<br />
any doubt, seek professional<br />
advice from an<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>redited fire door<br />
inspector or fire door<br />
manufacturer.<br />
Door Leaf &<br />
Frame<br />
Firstly, it’s<br />
important to<br />
determine<br />
whether the door<br />
in question is<br />
actually a certified<br />
fire door. Check the<br />
door for a BWF-<br />
CERTIFIRE Fire Door and<br />
Doorset Scheme label - visit<br />
bwfcertifire.org.uk to find out what to look<br />
out for. If not present, assume that the door is<br />
not a certified fire door and seek professional<br />
advice.<br />
Once you can be sure that the doorset is<br />
properly certified as a fire door, it’s important<br />
to check that the door leaf and frame are free<br />
from damage to ensure that the door set<br />
functions correctly in the event of fire. Look<br />
for dents, holes or chips, particularly at the<br />
edges of the door and frame. If a door stop is<br />
present, make sure that it is properly<br />
fixed in place and that the door<br />
leaf is free from distortion as<br />
its rests against the stop.<br />
The frame should be<br />
securely fixed to<br />
surrounding structure<br />
and the gap between<br />
the door leaf and<br />
frame should be no<br />
more than 3mm.<br />
Threshold<br />
There should be a<br />
consistent gap<br />
under the door that<br />
allows it to swing<br />
without touching the<br />
floorcovering. The gap should be<br />
in a<strong>cc</strong>ordance with the door<br />
manufacturer’s installation<br />
instructions for the particular<br />
16