Fire Door Installation: What To Look Out For

Fire Door Installation: What To Look Out For

July 29, 2024
close up of checklist being ticked off

If you are responsible for passive fire protection within your building or workplace, the success of your role can depend greatly on the initial fire door installation. Fire doors work by preventing the spread of fire and smoke to provide time for occupants to evacuate effectively. If installed incorrectly, their ability to carry out this critical function is limited and therefore building safety is put at risk.

To ensure that the fire door installation process is completed properly, there are a number of things you should look out for. Prioritising these will help your building to remain compliant with fire door requirements in the UK.

Regulatory Compliance

When arranging the installation of fire doors, your first and foremost consideration should always be regulatory compliance. In the UK, there are stringent guidelines governing fire door installation which must be followed for both new and replacement fire doors. These include:

  • Approved Document B – This regulation mandates that the fire doors installed should meet specific fire resistance ratings (usually FD30 or FD60), be equipped with self-closing devices, and be correctly installed on escape routes and areas that require fire compartmentalisation.
  • British Standards – A range of British Standards, including BS 476-22:1987 and BS EN 1634-1:2014 stipulate the methods and tests that must be utilised to check the performance of different fire door components and hardware. BS 8214:2016 also provides guidance related to the installation of timber fire doors. Only doors that meet these standards should be deemed suitable for fire door installation in your building.
  • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – The Fire Safety Order provides guidance related to the maintenance of fire doors, ensuring that they remain functional and compliant once correctly installed. 

Additional guidance may also apply to a range of commercial premises, including hospitals and hotels. Once you have obtained an understanding of the wider rules surrounding fire door installation, you should always check that regulations specific to your sector are met.

Quality Of Doors

While appropriate regulation will typically dictate the type of fire doors installed in your building, it is still important to be aware that door quality can vary. All fire doors are assigned a fire door rating which indicates how long they can withstand fire (e.g. FD30 doors restrict the spread of fire for 30 minutes). 

Door quality requirements will largely depend on the type and specific needs of your building and the area in which the door will be installed. For example, a higher-rated door might be necessary for buildings and areas with a higher risk of fire, or in places where a longer evacuation time is required. Understanding the nuances and different ways your building is used is therefore key when effectively planning the fire door installation process.

Installation Techniques

Even the highest quality fire door located in the correct place will fail if it is installed incorrectly. A compliant installation requires tight tolerances to be met and, as such, knowledge of the techniques used, as well as understanding the guidelines of specific manufacturers and the needs of the compartment into which the door is being installed. This takes a high level of training and experience, so the importance of having your doors fitted by a certified fire door installer cannot be understated. 

Some of the items that must be considered include ensuring that the door sits properly within its frame, seals correctly, and operates as intended. Doors should be installed with very specific gaps (typically around 3mm) to prevent the passage of fire and smoke, with relevant intumescent seals and smoke seals fitted around the frame if appropriate.

There are a number of certifications you can look out for to verify the quality of the fire door installation and techniques used, including the BM Trada Q-Mark scheme. BM Trada fire door installation is the gold standard across the industry and demonstrates that your fire doors have been fitted to meet the highest standards regarding safety and quality.

Overall Service

When choosing a certified fire door installer, it is also sensible to pay attention to the depth of overall service provided. It is wise to work with a fire door company able to provide a range of services, including the initial fire door survey. This ensures that the same levels of care and attention applied to your fire door installation are applied to the initial recommendations made and that time wasted on repeated surveys is kept to a minimum. 

In a similar vein, quality fire door installation is just the start of your responsibilities regarding passive fire protection. Once the doors have been suitably fitted, they must be maintained to set standards as per the Fire Safety Order. The right company should be able to complete this maintenance on your behalf, guaranteeing continued compliance long after the installation of fire doors.

Here at WGP Maintenance, we are proud to offer a complete range of fire door services, including fire door surveys, installation and maintenance which meets the standards outlined in this article. If you would like to learn more about how our tried and tested approach to fire services can help you, please get in touch with a member of the team today.

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