A fire door is an essential piece of fire safety equipment, as it can play a significant role in containing a fire in one place, allowing people within a building enough time to escape. These doors can be extremely effective, but they will only do the job that they need to if they are in good working order. Here, we take a look at how long fire doors last and how you can tell whether your fire door needs repair or replacement.
How to tell a Fire Door is damaged
Every fire door should be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure that it is fit for purpose. These inspections will often help to flag up any signs of wear or damage that need addressing. As well as any obvious signs of damage like cracks or splits, you should check whether the door closes firmly and the gaps around the edge of the door are fully sealed when it is closed.
All finger guards and hinges should all be in good working order to prevent any misalignment of the door, and glass panels should not be cracked or broken. Intumescent seals should also be checked for any signs of damage and to make sure that they are fitted properly.
How often should you check your Fire Doors?
You should make sure that your fire doors are checked and inspected at least every six months. However, the frequency of this will depend on the age and the condition of the door.
Newly occupied buildings might need more frequent checks in the first year of use and doors which are in high traffic areas may also need to be checked more often as they are more likely to suffer wear and tear or damage.
Why should you check the condition of your Fire Doors
The condition of your fire door will determine how effective it is when a fire breaks out. Its role is to contain heat, flames and smoke in one area so that a building can be properly evacuated. If it has any faults, then there is a risk it will not be able to perform this task and that safe route out of the building will suddenly become very dangerous, effectively putting lives at risk.
How long do Fire Doors last?
A properly fitted and maintained fire door should have a lifespan of at least 20 years. Of course, this will depend on whether it has been exposed to fire damage, whether it has been misused, and how often the door is used.
Any fire door which has been exposed to fire should be replaced as this could compromise some of its critical fire-resistant components. This is why it is so important to regularly check the door and ensure that it is always up to standard.
Repair your Fire Door with Fire Door Specialists
If your fire door needs any repair or maintenance, then it is important that you speak to fire door specialists who can do this for you. It might be tempting to think that you can do this yourself, but without the right expertise and knowledge, you may not be solving the problem as effectively as you think.
It is essential to make sure that the door is properly fitted and aligned, and all seals are in place, and this will require an expert who can check whether there is any risk of heat or smoke getting through the door. If you have not turned to a fire door specialist, then you could be risking the safety of others as well as leaving yourself liable for claims of negligence and invalidating your insurance.
Do your fire doors need repairing?
Don’t wait any longer to arrange repairs for your fire doors in case there’s an emergency situation. Get in touch with a member of the team and we’ll be happy to arrange an inspection for your fire doors. Alternatively, give us a call on 01773 748 750, or email at enquiries@firedoorspecialists.uk.