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Author: Seth Conway Media Tags: FDSW 24, Fire Door Safety Week 2024, Fire Doors, Smoke, Safety, FD30, FD60, FD90, FD120

Fire Door Safety Week 2024

Fire Door Safety Week raises the awareness of the vital role that fire doors have in protecting lives and property in the unfortunate event of a fire.

This year’s campaign runs from 23 – 27 September with a focus on ‘A false sense of security’. This campaign encourages people to engage in fire safety, understand the role fire doors play in the event of a fire and report any issues; with the onus that fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Principal Doorsets support The British Woodworking Federation’s Fire Door Safety Week. Director, Stan Bond, says,

Our fire doors meet the highest standards and go under rigorous testing to ensure that, when used properly, they can contain fire to help protect lives and damage to properties.

He adds, “We hear horror stories about how fire doors have been propped open or there have been damaged components, but people don’t feel it’s their responsibility to question or act upon this. The sobering fact of the matter is that fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. A fire door is not just another door. It is a carefully engineered lifesaver designed to contain the spread of fire and therefore should always be kept closed.”

Product certification is the ultimate endorsement of a product's performance. Q-Mark is regarded as one of the most rigorous certification processes available for construction products, it is recognised by controlling authorities, home warranty providers such as the NHBC (National House Building Council) and is used by world-class construction companies and manufacturers.

Principal Doorsets is third party assessed under the Q-Mark Fire door manufacturing scheme. This scheme is most widely recognised and is probably one of the best systems available.

Let’s help this year’s campaign raise awareness of the importance the role fire doors have.

Research conducted in 2023 by the British Woodworking Federation as part of their Fire Door Safety Week campaign ‘Recognise it, Report it’, found that over half (57%) of the UK public couldn’t spot a problem with a fire door, leading to a failure to report issues. Here’s what to look out for:

Fire Door Safety Checklist

  1. Identification: Ensure the door has a certification identification (label or plugs) showing it is a fire door.
  2. Gaps and Seals: Check the gaps around the door. They should be no larger than 4mm. Make sure the seals are intact and continuous.
  3. Closing Mechanism: Test the door closer to ensure the door shuts (latches) firmly without sticking.
  4. Door Frame: Inspect the frame for cracks or damage.
  5. Signage: Ensure appropriate signage is displayed, indicating the fire door should be kept shut or locked.