Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Doors

Key Takeaways

• Fire doors from FIS can save lives by containing fire and smoke, providing safe evacuation routes.
• They are legally required and must comply with regulations like the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Fire doors can be painted but must not compromise fire seals; they should never be propped open unless fitted with automatic closers.
• Proper installation by a competent professional is crucial to ensure effectiveness and compliance with safety standards.

Whether you already have fire doors installed at your premises, are involved in upgrading a site or are constructing brand new premises, fire doors will always form an integral part of your structural fire safety.

At Fire Industry Specialists Ltd, we provide, install and maintain fire doors nationwide, which is why we’ve created this short guide on all the important things you need to know about them.

How do fire doors save lives?

Fire doors save lives by holding back fire and smoke. This forms a crucial part of fire safety in any building because they are designed, manufactured and tested to ensure they can prevent fire and smoke from easily spreading through the premises.

As part of your passive fire protection strategy, fire doors ensure that compartmentalisation is achieved. As a result, this gives anyone in the building a safe route out, with enough time to evacuate, saving lives and preventing injuries. An additional benefit is that fire and rescue services are given more time to attend the fire and extinguish it before it can spread further.

Fire doors offer different resistance levels, which come mainly from the solid core they’re built with, but you must ensure you have the right resistance level to suit the size and function of your building. FD30, FD60, FD90 and FD120 are all types of fire doors, with the number relating to how many minutes of resistance the door gives at a minimum.

Are fire doors a legal requirement?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that the responsible person for a building must take steps to reduce the risk of fire spreading — something fire doors are crucial for. The RRO covers existing buildings, but the provision of fire doors for new buildings is covered by Building Regulations Approved Document B. 

Fire risk assessments are also a crucial legal requirement. This in-depth review of fire safety within your building will take into account your fire doors — including where they should be positioned, the required fire rating and their use. 

Can fire doors be painted?

While all fire doors are subject to British Standards regarding their installation and the components they must have (fire-rated frames and hinges, for example), there is nothing to say you can’t paint your fire doors. However, you must ensure you do not compromise the fire rating of your door by painting over any intumescent seals, hinges or other important seals.

Can fire doors be left open?

Fire doors should never be propped open by boxes or wedged open with other items. Since they need to be fully closed in order to do their job in the event of a fire, you can only legally hold them open if you have automatic closers fitted.

With automatic closers, you can be sure that the door will be released to swing closed by itself if your fire alarm is triggered. 

Who can fit fire doors?

No matter what your building is used for – from residential flats to commercial office space – your fire doors must be installed by a competent professional. This is because there are certain guidelines that need to be adhered to, including BS 8214 which covers their installation. Improper installation can put your property and the lives of anyone within at risk. This is because smoke and fire could spread if a proper, adequate seal isn’t created when the doors are closed.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that only a competent person should install your fire doors, which is where our expert team of fire door technicians at Fire Industry Specialists Ltd can help.

We offer fire door installation across the country – including Lincoln, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield – as well as maintenance, replacement doors and fire door surveys to assess the status of your current fire doors. 

Call today for a quote on any of our fire door services for your building to help you protect lives and meet legal obligations.