Events of recent years have tragically highlighted the importance of suitable passive fire protection measures, including fire doors, in domestic buildings. For business owners, this wider awareness of fire safety has also prompted critical questions and concerns about gaps in their own commercial spaces. In particular, one of the most common questions we get asked now is, “Do I need fire doors in my office?”. The law is very clear on the answer to the question, and we have outlined everything you need to know about office fire doors in this article to ensure that your business is compliant at all times.

Fire Doors In Offices – What You Need To Know

As per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties. Offices fall into this building classification. Therefore, the answer to the question, “Do I need fire doors in my office?” is a clear yes. 

The law is so strict on fire doors in commercial buildings because fire doors play a critical role in the event of an emergency. Should a fire break out in your office building, fire doors contain fire and smoke and restrict it from spreading to other areas of the building. This buys time for employees and visitors to evacuate safely and for the fire to be tackled by the emergency services. 

Where Should Fire Doors Be Located?

The exact placement of office fire doors will vary depending on the use and layout of the building according to your compartment drawings. For this reason, each building must have a valid fire risk assessment that takes into account the nuances of your space and provides you with suitable guidance on where your fire doors should be located to offer the protection you need. Typically, this will be in corridors and stairwells, emergency exit routes, and any rooms or areas housing high-risk and/or electrical equipment.

In the absence of any compartment drawings and in addition to a fire risk assessment, a compartment survey will also help to determine exactly which doors need to be fire-rated and the level of protection they should provide. The person responsible for fire safety in the workplace should be well versed in the building’s compartments and take into account compartment walls, floors and ceilings as well as fire doors. 

Who Is Responsible For Office Fire Doors?

Because fire doors are a legal requirement for offices, understanding who is responsible for their implementation and maintenance is absolutely critical. The Regulatory Reform Order also lays out the rules regarding fire door responsibility and stipulates that all workplaces must have a chosen ‘Responsible Person’ who is responsible for all fire safety measures, including fire doors. 

The Responsible Person will typically be the Office Manager or Facilities Manager, but may also be the Building Owner or Landlord, where applicable. Other members of staff can and often will need to act as Fire Wardens to help in an emergency. However, the responsibility for fire doors rests with the Responsible Person.

Key Office Fire Door Considerations For The Responsible Person

It doesn’t matter how big or small your office building is, the importance of properly implemented fire doors remains the same. This means the Responsible Person must pay close attention to the following considerations:

1. Correct placement of fire doors – As mentioned above, understanding the layout of your office and the position and fire rating of your compartments is vital. The compartment information, in conjunction with a fire risk assessment, will identify areas of high risk and evacuation routes. The correct placement of office fire doors will ensure that these areas are safe compartments preventing the spread of smoke and flames to adjoining spaces.
2. Correct fire door installation – Office fire doors must be installed to meet British Standards requirements. They will need to be fire-resistant for the length of time identified in your fire risk assessment, typically FD30 or FD60 (able to withstand fire for 30 minutes or 60 minutes).
3. Clear signage – Fire doors in offices must also be labelled with the right signage so that building occupants know how to use them. 

Fire Door Maintenance

The office Responsible Person is also required to ensure that regular fire door maintenance is carried out. While a door may be entirely sound when first installed, wear and tear can and will occur, and this can compromise the integrity of fire doors over time. Appropriate fire door maintenance, including regular fire door surveys and appropriate remedial works, helps you to spot and address any issues and keep doors performing as they should in the event of an emergency. 

Get Help From The Experts

While the rules regarding office fire doors are strict and the responsibilities of the Responsible Person are vast, it’s important to know that you can get help when making efforts to stay compliant. In fact, it is far better to work with a trusted professional than try to complete work you are not competent or qualified to do yourself. 

At WGP Maintenance, our expert team can work with you to help you ensure that your office fire doors meet the right standards. We have held the highly regarded BM Trada Q-Mark accreditation for over a decade and can assist you with all matters related to your fire doors by providing comprehensive fire door surveys, appropriate fire door installation and reliable fire door maintenance.

To find out more about how we can assist your office, please get in touch today.