Fire Door Safety Week is an annual event which aims to focus on issues around fire doors and fire safety ...

smoke usually kills long before fire - powerful short film for Fire Door Safety Week 2018

... the current 2018  campaign runs 24 - 30 September ... 

... the British Woodworking Foundation (BWF) has published an excellent article answering 15 common myths around fire doors ...

Download a PDF copy of the BWF article HERE

Myth #1

Standard doors can be made into fire doors by fitting larger doorstops to the existing frame.

Truth

Additional doorstops do not turn a standard door into a fire door. A fire door requires all items to meet the specification stated on the fire door certificate.

Want to know more about fire door frames? Take a look at this BWF-Certifire guide

Myth #2

Painting a door with fire retardant paint makes it a fire door.

Truth

BWF Certifire would not recognise this as a fire door. A fire door is made up of many compatible and fire tested materials and components, all listed on the fire door certificate. A lick of paint will not turn a standard door into a fire door.

Use this BWF-Certifire maintenance guide to make sure your fire door components are up to scratch.

Myth #3

Any lock can be fitted onto a fire door because it’s made of metal, and metal doesn’t burn in a fire.

Truth

You can only fit a fire tested and compatible lock as listed on the fire door certificate as excessive removal of material from the door leaf can impact performance in a fire. Metal gets hot in a fire, so don’t forget the intumescent protection if needed.

Want to know what ironmongery you can use on fire doors? Take a look at this BWF-Certifire fact card.

Myth #4

If a fire door is too big, it can be cut down to fit.

Truth

A fire door can only be trimmed by the amount permitted on the manufacturers fitting instructions and fire door certificate. Resizing doors outside of the limitations set on the fire door certificate invalidates certification.

Find a BWF-Certifire member that can give you some fire door advice.

Myth #5

The gap between the fire door and the frame doesn’t matter.

Truth

The dimension of the gap around the entire perimeter of the door is critical to preventing the passage of toxic fumes and smoke in the event of a fire. On a fire door with smoke seals this gap is commonly 3mm but always check the fitting instructions or the fire door certificate.

Check the gap on your fire doors - get your free gap tester here.

Myth #6

People can fit their own glazed panels in fire doors.

Truth

To manufacture a fire door with a glazed panel requires a number of correct components and should only be carried out by someone who is licensed and trained to do so. Cutting holes in doors for vision panels on site invalidates fire door certification.

Want to know more about glazed panels? Take a look at this BWF-Certifire fact card.

Myth #7

When fitting a fire door, you don’t need the little packers that come with hinges and other ironmongery. You can throw them away.

Truth

The ‘hinge packers’ are actually intumescent pads. They protect the metal hinge from heat in a fire. If the fire door certificate specifies that these intumescent pads are needed, they must be fitted.

Find out more about the ironmongery designed for use with fire doors.

Myth #8

Fire doors don’t come with any documentation.

Truth

Every fire door must have a current independently accredited test certificate. This proves the door’s fire rating, test criteria, and manufacturing compliance.

It also shows that the door’s components meet strict performance and compliance standards.

It also gives critical information about installation.

Download this free BWF-Certifire fact card.

Myth #9

Fire doors have to be assessed by the fire brigade.

Truth

Since October 2006, it is the responsible person’s duty to carry out fire risk assessments. The fire service does not carry out fire risk assessments of commercial or industrial premises.

Do you know the regulations that affect fire doors?

Myth #10

I’m just a landlord so I’m not expected to know much about fire doors.

Truth

If you are the building owner or landlord and the ‘responsible person’ under the Fire Safety Order it is your responsibility ensure fire safety for the occupants of your building. If you do not have the knowledge or skills, you must appoint a ‘competent person’ to carry this out for you.

Need further information? Take a look at this free fact card.

Myth #11

I have a fire risk assessment therefore I cannot be prosecuted.

Truth

Simply having a fire risk assessment does not make you fully compliant. It just acts as a method to identify and quantify risk.

Have a question about fire door law? Visit the Fire Door Inspection Scheme website for more information.

Myth #12

I’ve never had a Fire Officer visit so I don’t need to bother with the Fire Legislation.

Truth

All non-domestic premises must adhere to the Fire Safety Order 2005 regardless of whether they have had a visit from a Fire Officer or not. By not adhering to this you and your organisation are risking prosecution or a hefty fine.

Find out more about the important role of passive fire protection.

Myth #13

You need to have established qualifications to be competent.

Truth

Competence is legally defined as having adequate experience and knowledge of your workplace and not necessarily fire safety. Knowledge of this can be obtained from various sources.

Do you know what the Responsible Person should do when it comes to fire doors?

Myth #14

We don’t need to fit any intumescent strip to fire doors because we use a bigger door stop

Truth

A fire door always needs intumescent strips either in the frame or around the door edges to ensure its performance in the event of a fire.

Find out more about intumescent seals.

Myth #15

I can put my own glazed vision panels in fire doors because it’s cheaper and quicker.

Truth

Anyone that carries out this type of work must be licensed to do so, otherwise the manufacturer’s certification on the fire door will be void.

Need help? Get in touch with a BWF-Certifire member.

 ~ Further information

For more information about installing and maintaining fire doors, download a free copy of the BWF-Certifire Best Practice Guide and find out how to help us get the word out about Fire Door Safety Week.

The Institute of Construction Management applaud the BWF in publishing this excellent list to explode the myths ~ yes, to run any business or manage any property using mythology is simply another route to incompetence! ~ Fire Safety must never be compromised through incompetence ~ incompetent persons must never attempt to interfere with the management or control of Fire Safety!

FIRE DOOR SAFETY IS AN ALL YEAR ROUND COMPETENCE!

Ed.