The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has been working this week to make people more aware of how important fire doors are. Their Fire Door Safety Week campaign aims to share knowledge of the role of doors and how important it is to manage them properly and respond quickly to issues. We want to have a look here, then if you want to arrange fire door inspections in Hartlepool, you can trust us.
Raising awareness
Everyone will have seen fire doors in different kinds of buildings. You may have them in your own home, especially if you live in flats or co-living properties. They are also a must have in commercial properties and public buildings. While most people recognise them, many don’t realise just how important they are. Crucially, their job is to prevent the rapid spread of fire and smoke within properties. It can prevent them from escaping into evacuation routes or entering residential units.
The main issue is that, because a lot of people don’t fully appreciate how important fire doors are, they commit or ignore breaches to fire safety regulations. This includes things like propping them open, obstructions, and failing to ensure they work as intended. It can result in serious risks to the lives of occupants.
A massive part of the Fire Door Safety Week campaign is to ensure that property owners, managers, tenants, and other users do their bit to ensure fire doors work properly. The latter two groups are especially important. Stats show that a massive 57% of people could not spot a problem with a fire door. Just 46% of people discover issues with fire doors at work, but only 13% report them. Additionally, 35% of tenants notice problems in homes, and just 29% of them make reports.
What to do?
As a top provider of fire door inspections in Hartlepool, we know exactly what to look for to ensure the doors will do their job properly. As a result, we can provide effective solutions. We’re also proud to spread knowledge like the Fire Door Safety Week campaign to help people be more proactive in inspecting them.
While it takes a competent person to formally inspect a fire door and say it is fit for purpose, everyone can do various routine checks. For starters, it is easy to check if doors are wedged or propped open. They should be fully closed. Crucially, they should close automatically when you let go; try opening one and release it to make sure it doesn’t get stuck on the floor or frame. Check the hinges to make sure they are firmly in place with no loose or missing screws.
One of the most important things to check is any gaps around the door. Fire doors are so effective because they can create a strong barrier to block fire and smoke. As a result, there shouldn’t be significant gaps anywhere. At most they should be 4mm. If there are seals around the door, check to make sure they are in good condition. You want to be sure they will expand as intended if there is a fire.
Finally, everybody should make sure they know how to report problems and get in to the habit of speaking up. It is absolutely crucial for protecting lives in properties.
Talk to us about fire door inspections in Hartlepool
ABC Fire Safety & Security is a competent team with the knowledge and skills to inspect various buildings. Most importantly, we support our clients and all occupants. We can provide a wide range of services, including full risk assessments or focusing on fire doors. Whatever you need, we’ll provide a clear report and recommendations to help improve fire safety.
So, get in touch today if you want to arrange fire door inspections in Hartlepool or anything else. We’re flexible, able to work around any kind of schedule.
