Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
- Why are fire doors so important?
Fire doors are an important element of a fire safety strategy. Used correctly, fire doors stop fires from spreading through a building, giving people time to escape and the Fire Brigade time to attend and potentially save your premises. Fire doors are also an important part of building’s passive fire protection system.
- How do fire doors work?
Fire doors have a fire-resistant solid core. These are tested to ensure that they block the spread of fire for a set period of time, normally 30 or 60 minutes. In addition, intumescent strips are installed on fire doors, which expand when exposed to high temperatures to fill the space between the edge of the door and the frame. This effectively prevents the fire from spreading. It also shows why it is so important that doors are fitted correctly, such as avoiding large gaps around the door.
Fire doors can only function if they are closed in the event of a fire, so you should ensure that the fire door has an automatic door closer and a fire door sign.
- What are fire doors made of?
Fire-rated doors are constructed using a combination of wood, steel, gypsum, and aluminium which can affect the performance and protection they offer. Additionally, fire doors can have windows, which are made from borosilicate or ceramic glass.
To improve fire door fire-stopping capabilities, door frames are filled with silicone-based fire-resistant sealant. Fire Doors also frequently have an intumescent strip fastened to the bottom of the door.
Fire doors are commonly designed to include a closing mechanism such as a fire door hold-back device. If fire strikes, fire doors are critical to limiting its spread, and every fire door must either be kept shut using an effective closer or fitted with an approved holdback device.
Fixfire® provides a range of holdback devices suitable for every application.
- How long do Fire Doors hold fires from spreading?
Typically, fire doors and their frames must pass a 30 or 60-minute fire resistance test. They must be correctly installed with the appropriate seals and fire-rated hardware, such as a door hold-back device and 3 fire rated hinges. You should check your fire doors regularly and ensure that any required maintenance has been carried out, as any defect in the door, frame or other hardware could prevent it from working properly.
Fire doors with a rating of more than 60 minutes are not necessary for most circumstances.
- Are fire doors a legal requirement?
All non–domestic properties are required by law to have fire doors. Additionally, they are also required in residential flats.
Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO/FSO) makes it a legal requirement to ensure that fire-resisting doors and escape doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained for them to be fit for purpose. Certain buildings such as high-rise buildings may need an additional fire door inspection.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will make it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:
• undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts
• undertake annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead onto a building’s common parts.
The regulations will also require responsible persons to provide to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.
- Who can fit & maintain fire doors?
Legal requirements and standards can be difficult to meet unless fire door installation and maintenance is carried out by a competent person.
Choosing a professional company will give you the peace of mind that the installation and maintenance of your fire doors is done correctly. Look for evidence of training and third-party industry accreditations when choosing any organisation to assist with your Fire Doors.
Got a question about Fire Doors? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today.
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems, and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 0800089199
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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