Fire Door Installation and Maintenance

Fire Door installation, Maintenance & Remedial Works

Fire doors are a crucial element of passive fire protection in UK buildings, designed to limit the spread of fire and smoke by creating fire-resistant compartments. By restricting the movement of fire between different sections of a building, fire doors help to control fire hazards, slowing down the combustion rate and minimising the risk of widespread damage or greater risk to occupants.

Fire doors are categorised based on the duration they can withstand fire, with ratings such as FD30, FD60, FD90, and FD120. The FD marking signifies fire door, while the number indicates the minutes of fire resistance provided. Testing ensures that fire doors provide sufficient resistance to high temperatures, flames, and smoke for the specified period, allowing enough time for evacuation and fire containment.

Fully-compliant Fire Door Installation:

In the UK, the design, installation and maintenance of fire doors is governed by strict regulations to ensure their effectiveness.

Approved Document B:

Specifies requirements for where fire doors must be installed in residential and non-residential buildings, as well as their fire resistance rating and installation guidelines as part of a compartmentation strategy.

BS 476 and BS EN 1634:

Fire doors are tested according to BS 476 Part 22 and BS EN 1634-1 standards for fire resistance. These standards determine the duration the door can withstand fire while remaining intact and functional.

Third Party Certification:

Third-party certification ensures that fire doors have been manufactured, installed and maintained to meet rigorous standards.

Fire Door Inspection:

Regular inspections are vital to ensure the ongoing compliance and efficacy of fire doors. As a minimum, fire doors should be inspected at least once a year (or 6 months for hospitals, schools and high-rise apartments). Sharpfibre have rigorous inspection protocols, assessing the following components of every fire door:

• Door leaf
• Door frame
• Door closer (self-closing devices)
• Hinges
• Intumescent door strip and cold smoke seals
• Glazing (vision panels)
• Locks and levers/handles
• Fire safety signage
• Hold open devices
• Gaps around the doors and threshold gaps
• Panic hardware devices for external final fire exit doors

Following the conclusion of the inspection, we also provide a detailed report as part of a comprehensive fire safety audit trail. This will contain the following:

• A Unique Asset Number with a barcode on the door that links to the inspection report
• Information regarding the fire door’s location, measurements and fire ratings, with accompanying photographs.
• Any recommendations in terms of remedial actions and re-inspections (which would be conducted in line with BS 9999

Fire Door Maintenance, Repairs & Remediation:

Often following a Fire Risk Assessment or fire door inspection, remediations are recommended to ensure compliance with Approved Document B, British Standards and Fire Safety regulations.

Fire door remediation is the application of industry-accepted materials to restore the integrity of the fire door. We offer cost-effective repair services to remediate your fire doors, bringing them back to industry and building regulation standards. Where remediation is not possible, we provide clear substantiation and a cost-effective proposal for new fire door installations.