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Fire Doors in Flats – Protecting You, Your Neighbours and Your Home
Fire Doors in flats are vital to containing any fire that occurs within a flat and not allowing it spread to communal areas like the hallways and landings,not to mention your neighbours flats.
Whilst this post does cover fire doors in communal areas, when it comes to your responsibility as the owner of your flat, we’re specifically talking about the entrance door to your flat – which protects everyone if there's a fire – in particular, your neighbours. And because these doors are so important, there are rules and regulations which the managing agents need to ensure are followed – without exception - because this is serious. Non-compliance can kill.
A block of flats has lots of doors and many of them will be fire doors – which includes the front door to your flat, as well as doors in corridors, landings and on the stairways. Fire doors are designed to stop the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building. They also prevent smoke from spreading – and smoke is a bigger killer than flames when there's a fire in a residential building. That's why it's vital that the rules and regulations are followed – they're there to save lives – including YOURS!
The Front Door of Your Flat
The front door of your flat is a fire door. It should be constructed and installed correctly, to make sure that, if you do have a fire in your flat, fire … and the smoke that results … won’t spread into the corridor and communal areas of the building (because they're the means of escape for your neighbours). As a flat owner, you're responsible for carrying out checks on the fire doors which are part of your flat, to make sure they're not damaged. The managing agent is responsible for the building as a whole and, consequently, will need to see evidence that the regulations have been followed, fully.
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Meets the requirements of BS EN 1634-1:2014/BS 8214:2016.
In short, it must be “half hour fire rated” to contain a fire for at least 30 minutes, allowing you and your neighbours to escape safely. It also has to be fitted with a self-closing device … to ensure it closes without human assistance. And ‘intumescent strips’ and ‘cold smoke seals’ must be installed in the door and/or door frame. In the event of a fire, these expand with the heat, ensuring smoke doesn't leak around the edges of the door and into the communal hallway or stairway. -
Closes on its own.
Fire doors in flats must be fitted with self-closing devices to ensure the door closes without human assistance. ‘Self-closers’ can be fitted to the top of the door or can be fitted within the door frame … depending upon the design of the closer. You'll need to inspect your door from both sides and make sure that it closes on its own and there's no damage. You also need to ensure the door is NEVER left open, even for a few minutes. -
Doesn't have big gaps around it.
One of the main benefits of a fire door is that it prevents smoke spreading throughout the building. So, it's vital there are no large gaps between the door and the door frame.
You Must Not
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Change your front door without permission.
If you rent the flat, check with your Landlord and the letting agent.
If you own your flat, your Lease will explain what permissions you need. You may also need to obtain Building Control approval (from the Local Authority Building Control Department) to change your front door. If you do not obtain ALL the required permissions, you will be breaking the law – and if a fire spreads from your flat, YOU may end up in prison. -
Remove or damage the self-closing device on your door.
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Remove or paint over any of the strips or seals around the door or door frame.
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Drill any holes in the door. For example, you must not fit a spy hole, change the letterbox or fit a new doorbell. If changes are needed, you need to obtain all the necessary permissions first – and ensure the correct new materials are used – and ensure the works are completed by a qualified tradesman or company.
Fire Doors in Communal Areas
There will be fire doors in other areas of the building as well. These include doors in corridors and landings, the doors onto the staircase and doors which provide access to bin rooms and plant rooms, etc. The managing agents are responsible for ensuring these doors comply with the regulations and they will be carrying out regular checks to ensure and record compliance.
You can assist by NEVER propping open doors in the corridors, hallways or stairways.
Fire Doors in Communal Areas:
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Should be marked as fire doors.
This is normally a blue circle sticker which says ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’. -
Should close behind you.
Fire doors will have a self-closer fitted but it's worth noticing that the door does in fact close behind you – and reporting it if the door doesn't close properly. -
Shouldn't have big gaps between the door and the frame.
The biggest gaps are caused by people rather than damage, so you should ensure the door isn't propped open ….. ever! -
Shouldn't have any visible damage.
For example, broken glass, holes in the woodwork, or cracks or splintered wood. If you see damage – report it immediately.
And You Mustn't
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Wedge open doors.
Fire doors are there to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. A fire door which is propped open might kill you ..... or someone else! -
Damage the door.
If you damage the door, the door frame or the self-closing device – you could be committing a crime. If someone's injured or dies as a result – you could end up in prison. -
If you see a fire door wedged open - close it.
Closing a fire door might save a life. And if you spot damage to a fire door please report it to the managing agents, immediately.
As you can see, there are quite a few rules and regulations relating to Fire Doors in flats and it's important to recognise that they're there for very good reason. To save lives.
But they're generally quite simple and when you live in a flat, it's well-worth becoming familiar with them. That way you can also be vigilant and help keep everyone safe.
Best wishes,
Paul
Paul Casserly
Casserly Property Management
P.S. If you've found this article interesting, informative or useful in any way, please share it using the following links. And I'd love to hear your thoughts, as well. Just leave your comments below. Thank you.
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