Fire Door Regulations and How to Choose the Right One for Your Business

No matter how big or small your business premises is, fire doors are essential for slowing down the spread of a fire in case of an emergency, saving lives, and minimizing the damage to your property.

When it comes to these specialist doors, there are a number of regulations you need to be aware of and adhere to, as well as the different door types available in order to choose the best one for your business.

Regulation 38

Under Building Regulations for England and Wales, Regulation 38 requires the appropriate ‘responsible person’ – the employer in the case of business premises – to be provided with the necessary fire safety information once a fire door has been installed.

It is essential that all of the information relating to components of the door assembly are provided, as these will be needed for future inspections or for any required maintenance. If you are the ‘responsible person’ in your business, you must ensure that you have all the necessary documents for the fire doors on your premises.

New Buildings

All fire doors installed in new buildings must meet the criteria set forth by building regulations (known as Approved Documents in England) which have been designed to ensure that all fire doors meet the minimum legal safety requirements. Because they are doors with a specialist function, fire doors must strict regulations for safety glazing, accessibility, fire safety, and ventilation.

As set out in the Fire Safety Approved Document (volume B), compliance with British Standards alone will not absolve you from your legal obligations, but they can be used to supplement the guidance offered by the Approved Document.

For example, fire resistant steel doors are best used internally to secure rooms where fire risk is high or to secure rooms containing combustibles or other contents susceptible to fire. These doors play an important role in emergency fire procedures and can be installed to help your building comply with fire safety legislation.

Existing Buildings

For all existing buildings, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that in all non-domestic buildings, the responsibility for fire risk assessment must be carried out by the appointed ‘responsible person’ in the business.

In line with the 2005 Order, the responsible person in the business must carry out a fire risk assessment and implement a regularly maintained fire management plan.

Choosing the Right Fire Door for your Business

When it comes to choosing the right fire door – or rather doors – for your business, there are a number of factors you’ll need to consider such as location, ease of access, and the desired door material.

It might sound like an unsafe choice but thanks to technological advancements, you can now get glass fire doors that will look stylish while providing the necessary fire protection. More traditional fire door materials you can choose from are hardwood and metal.

Fire door types can be split into two categories: sliding doors, and hinged doors. Sliding fire doors are ideal for areas where you need to fireproof a large area with heavy footfall and vehicle traffic. For areas of your business premises where there’s only pedestrian traffic, a hinged fire door will offer the necessary protection.