|
damaged or poorly maintained , fire doors are a regular sticking point when it comes to fire safety incidents - yet characteristically , they are fundamental in keeping people safe in fire situations .
Available in ratings ranging from FD30 to FD120 , fire doors and their equipment will provide between 30 to 120 minutes of protection against fire and smoke - but only when fitted , maintained and working correctly . The overhauled regulations have now put an increased pressure on building managers to comprehensively inspect the certification , gaps , seals , hinges and the closing elements of their fire doors - whether main or individual flat entrance doors - to ensure all is functioning suitably . All dedicated fire doors require a fitted fire door closer ( a minimum size 3 is recommended
|
), and when it comes to their maintenance , it ’ s good practice to perform weekly checks . To ensure the closer ( and door ) is working as intended , it ’ s key to release a fire door from a fully open position to ensure it closes into the frame at an appropriate speed . Furthermore , by opening and releasing the door from a 5 degree angle , checks can also confirm the closer is shutting the door onto the latch effectively . Should an internal inspection highlight an operational issue - perhaps from damage to the door and its furniture - building managers must ensure maintenance is carried out quickly and professionally in a conscious effort to keep their doors operating as intended .
Additionally , with certified and compatible ironmongery playing a key role in the operation
|
of fire doors , all hardware and furniture - including the door closer , hinges , intumescent seals , wall sealing , latches , locks and the door leaf - must meet their respective EN classification codes and health and safety standards . With safety inspectors , fire and rescue teams and residents all permitted to raise concerns , the approach to fire safety should always be done to code - from the planning and installation stage |
right through to maintenance periods . If not , building managers risk falling foul to what the BSB now references as the ‘ golden thread of information ’, a live digital documentation of a high-risk residential building ’ s lifecycle , designed to increase transparency and accountability .
It ’ s clear then that we ’ re approaching a new age of fire safety for high-rise residential settings , with the newly reformed
|
FSA and BSB - alongside accelerated government spending - paving the way to a brighter , safer future . With this renewed focus , building managers must take the next steps and strive to understand their responsibilities while revisiting the basics of fire safety before taking action of their own .
www . allegion . com
|