Fire doors safeguard lives and properties in the event of a fire and are a legal requirement in all commercial buildings in the UK. Whether you are a commercial property owner or a business manager, understanding the ins and outs of commercial fire doors and their regulations is essential.
Join us as we dive into all things commercial fire doors!
What is a Commercial Fire Door?
A commercial fire door is a specially designed door used in commercial buildings to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different areas of a building. These doors are essential to a building's passive fire protection system. They are typically installed in stairwells, corridors, and rooms containing electrical equipment that could ignite a fire.
Key Features of Commercial Fire Doors
Fire Resistance Rating: Fire doors are rated based on how long they can withstand fire exposure. FD30 and FD60 doors can withstand 30 minutes and 60 minutes of fire, respectively. This rating indicates the duration for which the door can maintain its integrity and prevent the passage of flames and smoke.
Door Materials: Fire doors are usually made from steel, solid wood, or a combination of fire-resistant cores with veneers. Fire doors are designed, constructed, and tested to meet specific fire resistance standards.
Intumescent Sealant: Fire doors should be fitted with intumescent seals between the door and the frame. When exposed to heat, these seals expand, filling the gaps between the door and its frame to block the passage of smoke and flames.
Self-Closing Mechanism: Many fire doors have self-closing devices that close automatically in the event of a fire. Fire doors must be permanently closed, as an open fire door cannot withstand fire.
Hardware: The hardware, including hinges, latches, and handles, must also be fire-rated and withstand high temperatures without losing integrity.
Certification: Fire doors must be certified by recognised testing agencies to meet the required fire safety standards and regulations.
Labelling: Certified fire doors typically have a label indicating their fire resistance rating, the manufacturer, and compliance with relevant standards. This label is generally found on the top corner of the door and will contain any necessary contact information so you can contact the manufacturer if required.
Fire Regulations for Commercial Buildings
Fire doors are legally required in all commercial buildings as per The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Under this fire safety order, all buildings must have an appointed ‘Responsible Person’ who handles all aspects of fire safety within the commercial building.
These responsibilities include:
Conducting fire risk assessments
Installing fire doors
Creating an emergency evacuation plan
Conduct routine fire door inspections
Organise repair and maintenance of fire doors
Fire doors are mandatory in both new and existing commercial buildings; however, there are slight differences between the two.
Existing Buildings
The Fire Safety Order applies to existing commercial buildings, and the regulation covers all public buildings, from places of employment to entertainment venues, only excluding private homes.
The responsible person should conduct fire risk assessments every six months to ensure all existing fire doors meet legal fire protection standards. As per section 17 of the Fire Safety Order, responsible persons must ensure that all fire doors are "subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and good repair.”
If fire doors appear damaged to the point where they can no longer withstand a fire for at least 30 minutes, the responsible person must replace it immediately with an accredited fire-rated door.
New Buildings
Under the government-approved fire-safety document B, all new commercial premises must contain fire doors. All new or changing buildings must meet minimum construction standards prioritising fire safety. Document B states that all fire doors in new commercial buildings must conform to British or European Standards, such as BS 476-22:1987 or BS EN1634-1:2014.
Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations 2010 within the Fire Safety Order states that when changing the use of a building, all relevant documents and updates relating to fire doors must be shared with the responsible person.
Where Are Fire Doors Required in Commercial Buildings UK?
The placement of fire doors within a commercial building depends on the planned evacuation route in the event of a fire. The main goal when placing fire doors is to maximise the time available to allow occupants to escape safely and effectively.
Any commercial building with more than one floor should have a vertical and horizontal evacuation route to give occupants the best chance of escaping the building no matter which floor they are on. Once the responsible person has outlined these routes, fire doors must be installed appropriately, creating a pathway to safety.
Why Do All Commercial Buildings Need Fire Doors?
Commercial buildings must invest in high-quality fire doors to comply with the Fire Safety Order's legal requirements and prevent the spread of smoke and fire for periods that enable occupants to leave the building safely and for emergency services to arrive.
Fire doors not only save lives, but they help to reduce the damage to the property and any properties in close proximity. Fire doors are, therefore, a crucial component of a building's passive fire protection system.
Commercial Fire Door FAQs
Are fire doors required in offices?
Offices are commercial businesses and must comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Every office building must have a person responsible for conducting a fire risk assessment every 12 months to determine whether it complies with fire regulations.
What are the maintenance requirements for a commercial fire door?
The responsible person must inspect and maintain their fire doors. Regular maintenance includes checking the door, frame, seals, and hardware for damage or wear. Any issues should be addressed promptly to ensure the door maintains its fire-resistance capabilities.
Can commercial fire doors contain glass panels?
Fire-rated glazed glass panels can be installed in commercial building fire doors. These glass panels must be fire-rated to ensure they provide the same level of fire protection as the rest of the door.
Address Your Commercial Fire Door Needs with LFS
The importance of correctly installed high-quality fire doors in commercial buildings cannot be understated. Our forte is designing, manufacturing, testing, and installing exceptional fire doors. At LFS, we are committed to putting fire safety at the core of our services, so allow us to equip your commercial building with our passive fire protection systems. Contact us today, and we will assess your commercial fire door needs.
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