How Do I Know If I Need Door Testing? 

- How Do I Know If My Fire Doors Are Fit For Purpose?

 

Just like other life safety devices, such as fire extinguishers and alarms, fire doors and final escape doors need periodic inspection and maintenance to ensure that they will perform as intended in a fire situation. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order places this obligation with the responsible person and for life safety devices it is prudent to seek advice from a competent person.

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- Why Are Fire Doors Important?

 

Fire doors are part of a building's passive fire protection system and are fundamental to fire strategies for buildings.

 

They provide critical protection within a building, such as escape routes (stairs and corridors), and separate different fire hazards in a building.

 

Effective fire doors ensure rooms are compartmented, to help keep fire, and possibly smoke, in the area in which it starts, to protect occupants (and contents) of other compartments safe, and to protect escape routes.

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- How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

 

Depending on the type of building you are responsible for and who occupies it will influence the frequency of fire door inspections required.

 

Some buildings, such as schools and hospitals, are subject to heavy traffic and the doors have a hard time often being subject to repeated misuse.

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BS9999 recommends six monthly inspections and includes guidance on some of the main inspection criteria, but remember that you are responsible for ensuring an adequate inspections and maintenance routine is in place.