What are the fire door regulations in the UK?
There are several regulations that fire doors must be compliant with to meet the statutory legal requirements, including:
Fire doors must be fitted in blocks of flats, most commercial properties and sheltered housing in the UK.
See more detail on fire door regulations.
What is fire rated glass?
Fire rated glass is designed to provide reliable degree of protection by stopping smoke and flames from spreading within a building. Essentially it forms part of the fire compartmentation of the building. Fire rated glass also provides a protection from fire heat and it may be a vital part of the premises’ fire safety strategy. To be compliant with UK building regulations approved document B, the fire resistance levels of the glass must have been tested and proven.
What is fire safety?
Fire Safety involves design, infrastructure and planning mitigation to reduce the risk of fire that could result in death, injury or property damage. Fire resistant building materials are used in the construction of new buildings and must also t be carried out on existing buildings when non-compliant.
How do fire doors work?
Fire doors are vital as part of the building fire strategy because they provide compartmentation that prevents the spread of fire and smoke to other areas. Fire door safety features are designed to save lives and protect property by containing the fire and smoke according to a set time frame. Fire doors also provide protection for escape routes thus giving occupants time to leave the building safely in the event of a fire.
What is a fire safety plan?
A fire safety plan should provide all the information and procedures required that must be followed in the event of a fire. The plan should include emergency routes, types of fire extinguishers, alarm activation procedures and safe reporting areas. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – Fire Safety Arrangements state ‘The responsible person must make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, having regard to the size of his undertaking and the nature of its activities, for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures.’
Are door closers required on fire doors?
In several cases door closing is required by law for fire doors according to the Fire safety: Approved Document B
Some examples where door closers may be required include flats, residential care homes and commercial premises, however most houses will not require door closer to be compliant with the law.
Are you allowed to lock fire doors?
According to UK law regarding Emergency routes and exits ‘emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency.’ However, in some cases doors are locked for security purposes when the building is not in use, when the building is in use the fire doors should not be locked.
Are panic bars required on fire doors?
Panic bars are often fitted on fire exits as a requirement of BS EN 1125:2008 and they are used to facilitate easy opening if required. However, they are designed to be locked from the outside and kept closed for security purposes. Panic bars are used for doors that open outwards and are effective for use when high volumes of personnel require egress quickly in the event of an emergency.
What are fire doors made from?
Fire doors and fire door assembly (frames) are made from materials that have been fire rated to ensure that they can withstand fire and smoke for a set period. Fire doors are typically manufactured utilising a variety of materials including glass, steel, wood or aluminum. The materials will differ depending on the style of the door and the FD rating which states the protection time from fire in minutes.
