The Importance of Fire Door Maintenance

Fire Door ComplianceFire Risk Assessment
Written By Rob Whitcomb

Fire doors are engineered products that provide life and property saving functions in the event of fire. It is important that they are regularly inspected and maintained to permit them to perform at their best on the one and only occasion when they are called upon to do so.

Door-sets fitted with hold open devices or swing free type closers should be closed daily, particularly overnight when there is likely to be low building occupancy. For busy 24/7 buildings (e.g. hospitals) fire doors should be closed at least weekly. All fire doors should close effectively from any angle of opening, using only the door closer.

 

30 Second Fire Door Checklist (Top 10 checklist)

  1. Does the door close soundly against the frame?

  2. Are intumescent strips and/or smoke seals present and in good condition?

  3. Is the edge of the door or frame damaged?

  4. Does the latch engage properly?

  5. Are there any gaps larger than 3mm between the frame and the door?

  6. Is the gap at the bottom of the door greater than 10mm or 3mm on a smoke control door?

  7. Are there a minimum of three hinges and do they look in good condition?

  8. Does the door have the correct signage on it?

  9. If there is glazing in the door, does it look in good condition?

  10. Does the door closer (if fitted) close the door properly from all angles?

  11. Is the door wedged or stuck open?

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There are a number of reasons why doors may fail to close:

  • Foreign bodies or other objects may be obstructing the door.

  • The smoke seals may be incorrectly fitted or damaged.

  • If a latch is fitted, it may be malfunctioning or require lubrication.

  • The closing device may need adjustment but this must only be done as a last resort and very carefully, to ensure that the door can be opened without undue force.

 

On-going Fire Door maintenance includes:

  • Intumescent seals should be checked regularly, at intervals not greater than 6 months, and damaged or missing ones replaced. To maintain the designated performance potential, replacement seals should be of the same brand, size and type as the original. Any intumescent seal of the same size as the original, however, is better than none.

  • Mechanical items such as hinges, locks, latches, closers, floor springs etc are likely to wear over time. Maintenance provisions should comply with the hardware supplier’s recommendations where these are known. Otherwise, locks and latches may require occasional light lubrication.

  • Some hinges use self-lubricating bearings that will not need additional lubrication.

  • Where it is necessary to replace worn hardware on a fire door, the essential items should be replaced with products to the same specification as the original where possible. Otherwise, hinges, latches, locks, flush bolts, closers and other items of load-bearing or securing hardware should be of the same type and size as the original items and should have been proven for use in timber fire rated door-sets of the required performance. Hardware that has been successfully tested in metal door-sets may not be suitable for use with timber door-sets. Intumescent gaskets may have been used under hinge blades, locks/latches for end plates, strike plates, and/or with closer fittings and in flush bolt recesses. These gaskets should ideally be replaced if possible with gaskets of the same material; alternatively, if undamaged, they should be retained and reused with the new fittings. Intumescent gaskets or mastics used for these applications are usually the low-pressure type.

  • Redundant hardware should be carefully removed.

Rob Whitcomb
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Fire Doors – What You Need to Know