Fire doors are one of the main health and safety features on your premises.

They are directly responsible for the well-being of your staff and should therefore be maintained with regular inspections. Aside from the moral responsibility, you also have a legal requirement under the Fire Safety Act to conduct thorough fire risk assessments and ensure that your fire doors comply with strict criteria.

Fire door maintenance can be complex, time-consuming and costly, which is why Elite Security has created a comprehensive fire door inspection service. In our latest guide, discover everything you need to know about fire door maintenance, including why we are one of the UK’s leading providers.

What are fire doors?

Fire doors are purpose-built to protect you and your employees in case of a fire. They contain the flames in one area and delay the spread, giving fire responders enough time to travel to the scene. These specialist doors use heavy-duty materials, like timber and fire-resistant glass, as well as an intumescent strip around the outside to seal in – or keep out – the smoke and heat from a fire.

The specific type of fire doors required for your premises will be determined via a risk assessment, which considers the potential hazards to health and the nature of your building. Fire doors are used as part of a comprehensive fire protection system, which should also include sprinklers and smoke alarms.

How often should fire doors be inspected?

If a fire breaks out on your premises, your fire doors are all that stands between your employees – for whom you have a responsibility of care – and serious injury or death. Due to this, it is important to have the doors regularly inspected and maintained. The specific frequency of inspections depends on several factors, like the age of the doors.

According to Fire Door Safety Week, a UK-based campaign that aims to raise awareness around fire safety, fire doors should be checked at least every six months. If your fire doors are in poor condition or it is a newly built property, then maintenance should be carried out more regularly. The Elite Security team have the knowledge and experience needed to assess your fire doors and identify how regularly they will need to be maintained.

What happens if I do not upkeep my fire doors?

If you do not maintain your fire doors you will be putting yourself and your employees at risk. In the worst-case scenario, you fail to protect your employees and they suffer serious injuries or even death due to a fire. As the owner of the premises, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of every individual within the building, as failure to do so could result in legal action.

Your fire doors could also be deemed unsafe during a health and safety inspection. This may impact your daily operations and be particularly costly, depending on the maintenance required. Elite Security is well-equipped to survey, maintain and certify fire safety doors, to give you peace of mind.

Who can carry out fire door inspections?

Surveying and maintaining fire doors require a certain standard of experience, competency and knowledge. Though whoever owns the building is responsible for the integrity of their fire doors, that does not mean they should be the ones to carry out the inspection. It is important to have the inspection carried out by a trained professional.

It is important to choose an inspector that is fully certified in maintaining fire doors. As standard, look for a professional who is fully BM trade Q-Mark Accredited – this ensures they comply with the strictest industry regulations and serve to maximise the lifespan of your fire doors.

Why choose Elite Security for your fire door PPM contract?

Elite Security offers a BM trade Q-Mark Accredited fire door inspection service, making us one of the safest and most reliable suppliers of PPM maintenance in the UK. We ensure that our clients fulfil their obligations under the many UK fire safety regulations, ultimately protecting the integrity of their organisation and the lives of their staff.

We offer a fixed planned preventative maintenance contract, which gives our clients financial control. There are no surprise fees with Elite Security; we believe in transparency and integrity. Through our clients’ in-house point of contact, we schedule, survey and conduct any maintenance required to comply with fire safety regulations.

Receive Your Free Quote Today

To enquire about our fire door inspection and maintenance service, contact our experienced team by calling +44 (0)20 8534 1660 or completing our online enquiries form. Simply include your company name and contact information, to receive a free consultation.