Back to Archive The Legal Requirements of Fire Doors Within the UK it is a legal requirement to install fire doors in all non-domestic buildings. This includes businesses, public buildings and all commercial premises. Fire doors are labelled with identifiable details from the manufacturer which also provide installation details and instructions. What Makes a Fire Door? Designed to be kept closed, fire doors are given a fire-resistance rating and are generally supplied by TB Fit Out in a wood/timber material with all gaps around the wall and door needing to be filled with a fire-resistant sealant. The importance of a good and well installed fire door is paramount as well as a legal provision to meet the required performance in the event of a fire. How Long Does a Fire Door Last? With no legal rule for how long a fire door should last, it is worth bearing in mind the use of the door and the susceptibility to wear and tear. Regular inspections should be carried out to ensure your workspaces remain safe to use. Installation of a doorset is part of the objective but a test report, assessment report or an extended field of application report is also part of the fire resistance test too. Any alterations will also need to be tested by the same methods. What are the Fire Door Regulations for 2024? Generally speaking the two most common installations we provide are fire doors which must be certified to demonstrate their capacity to withstand a fire for a minimum amount of time, usually 30 mins, (FD30) or 60 minutes (FD60). Manufacturer specifications of products can also be to FD90 or FD120 standard dependent on the Fire Rating required. The performance of glass within doorset vision panels and glazed screens will vary dependent on the type and thickness of glass used. Do I Need a Certificate for a Fire Door? Yes, all new fire doors need to be certified and you’ll need to consider if new frames, hinges or self-closing devices are required. Which Rooms Need Fire Doors? Any rooms which essentially contain a compartment within specific areas of a building’s premises, that are constructed to be fire resistant, are required to contain fire doors. Do Fire Doors Need Intumescent Strips? In order for fire doors to ‘seal’ in the event of a fire, they need to be fitted with intumescent strips. The aim of the seals is to slow down the spread of a fire throughout a building. Enabling time for those within to escape safely. Who Can Install a Fire Door? It is always important to choose professional fitters and companies who understand the regulations and compliance standards when installing a fire door. We take safety, legislation and responsibility seriously as a professional fit out contractor. Our employees and contractors are trained using BRE Academy, Timber Fire Doors – Installation, Repair and Maintenance certification courses. Developed by BRE and the Door and Hardware Federation. We source our doors from an experienced production supplier called Forza whom provide, ‘The Forza product range satisfies the demands and standards required by the UK interior fit-out construction industry. More specifically, Forza Doors Ltd Global Fire Assessment (PAR/10321/01) produced by International Fire Consultants Ltd, certifies Forza FD30 doors in timber, aluminium and steel frames in supporting constructions of demountable steel stud plasterboard partitions, timber stud plasterboard partitions, brickwork or concrete walls.’ The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order is a risk-based approach to fire safety that applies to all workplaces and other non-domestic premises. The order is a risk assessment with responsibility of the occupants and premises who might be affected by a fire, to a defined ‘Responsible Person’. It applies across England and Wales and came into force on October 1st 2006 and can also be called ‘The Fire Safety Order’. You can see who it applies to, your responsibilities and further details on the London Fire Gov website here. Commercial Building Fire Doors As a preventative measure, continued maintenance and consistent checks should be carried out to ensure that your doorset operates and functions at all times. If in the event of a problem arising with your fire doors and their operation, taking timely action to implement corrections as a part of your scheduled safety system checks is vital to maintain safety and compliance. TB Fit Out (Trevor Blake Fit Out) Fire Safety Survey & Audits As professionals within the commercial fit out and office refurbishment sphere with over 25 years of industry expertise we work within all commercial buildings for businesses, organisations, companies as well as the education sector with state and private schools of all levels. Transforming workspaces that are tailored around your people and your workplace needs. We offer fire inspection surveys within Surrey, Sussex, Kent, London and the South-East where we can audit all existing doors and frames to assess compliance which includes a report of our findings and our recommendations. We can also organise fire door and door frame replacement with intumescent fire and smoke seals with certification installation. You can reach out and organise a fire inspection survey and audit by emailing us at sales@tbfitout.co.uk or by calling us 01293 775509 on or pop us a quick message by filling out our contact box here to learn more. 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